Riders lead early but fall to RockHounds

FRISCO, Texas (July 8, 2023) – The Frisco RoughRiders took two early leads but the Midland RockHounds racked up seven runs in the fifth inning and won 16-4 on Saturday at Riders Field.

Box Score

Frisco (5-6, 36-43) allowed a franchise record 14 walks in the ballgame to go with 18 hits from Midland (8-3, 40-40).

Josh Hatcher banged a three-run homer off the waterfall in right field to put Frisco ahead 3-0 in the second inning. Trevor Hauver and Aaron Zavala started the rally despite both encountering 0-2 counts. Hauver drew a walk, Zavala singled, and both scored on Hatcher's homer.

Midland tied the score with three runs in the fourth, but Frisco jumped back in front the next half inning. Luisangel Acuña singled to shallow right field to score Liam Hicks, who had doubled to lead off the frame. It was Acuña's 10th single of the series and the first of two singles on the night, putting him at 11-for-21 on the week. He also is now riding a hitting streak of 12 games.

Noah Bremer's third start for Frisco in 2023 was a strong one, going 2.2 scoreless innings with two strikeouts. His 54 pitches were the most he had thrown for the RoughRiders since returning from Tommy John surgery.

Thomas Saggese collected three hits including a double and is now 9-for-18 versus Midland this week.

Jack Cushing (3-3) went five innings with four runs allowed in his start for Midland to take the win.

Aidan Anderson (0-2) gave up the go-ahead run in the fifth, allowing five runs. The RockHounds scored seven runs in the fifth, including three runs on a fly ball that dropped in center field amid gusty winds.

The series concludes on Sunday, July 9th at 6:05 p.m. at Riders Field when RHP Dane Acker (0-0, 6.75 ERA) takes the ball for Frisco. Midland turns to RHP Jack Perkins (0-0, 4.95 ERA) for the final game before the All-Star break.

Take in a fireworks show after the game and every Sunday the rest of the season. During the game, travel back to the Cretaceous Period at Riders Field with Dino Night with the Dino Company on Sunday, with a fossil dig and animatronic dinosaurs. Plus, enjoy kid-centered themes and pregame catch from 5 to 5:30 p.m. as part of Kids Sunday Funday, presented by Raising Cane’s. Get your tickets now at RidersBaseball.com or call 972.731.9200.

About the RoughRiders

The Frisco RoughRiders are the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers and the 2022 Texas League champions. In 2023, the team is celebrating its 20th anniversary and has consistently finished in the top five among all Double-A franchises in attendance yearly. In August 2014, the RoughRiders were purchased by an ownership group led by Chuck Greenberg. Since then, the new ownership group, together with the City of Frisco, has spearheaded numerous major franchise enhancements, investing over $8 million in a wide array of facility upgrades and improvements, including a state-of-the-art HD video board, sound system, Bull Moose Saloon, Bullpen Bar, Riders Outpost Team Store and the world's largest water feature in a sports facility, the massive Lazy River. These enhancements earned the Riders and the City of Frisco Ballpark Digest's prestigious "Best Ballpark Renovation" award for two consecutive years (2015 and 2016). More than 185 former RoughRiders players have gone on to play Major League Baseball including current Rangers Josh Jung, Cole Ragans and Bubba Thompson. For more information on the Frisco RoughRiders, please visit RidersBaseball.com or contact [email protected].