Moreland Strikes; Hounds Fall
Frisco finished Wednesday's game with nine runs on 15 hits, but it took a "jump start" from a Major Leaguer to get the RoughRiders going.
Texas Rangers first baseman Mitch Moreland, playing in his third game on a rehabilitation assignment with Frisco, led off with a single in the fourth inning and would score the RoughRiders' first run, slicing an early RockHounds' lead to 2-1. Moreland then put Frisco in the lead for the first time with a two-run home run in the fifth, a high drive just over the wall in left field, as the RoughRiders took a 4-3 advantage.
After the RockHounds rallied back to take a 5-4 lead in the sixth, Teodoro Martinez took a Zach Neal deep to left for Frisco's second two-run home run of the game, giving the RoughRiders the lead for good. Frisco would go on to add three insurance runs in the seventh.
After driving in five runs Tuesday (including a Grand Slam home run), Jake Goebbert again led the RockHounds, going 2-for-5 with a double and a triple, scoring one run and driving in two more. Conner Crumbliss also went 2-for-5 with a run and a "ribbie," the RBI coming on a perfectly executed squeeze bunt in the sixth, giving the 'Hounds the lead for the last time at 5-4. Chad Oberacker went 1-for-3 and drew two walks, also contributing a run and an RBI.
Goebbert finished the four-game series 7-for-18 (.389) with three doubles, a triple (his third in eight games), two home runs (including the Grand Slam), five runs scored and nine RBI.
Kibbles & Bits
- The 'Hounds and Frisco split the four-game series, including the first two games of the second half pennant race (Tuesday and Wednesday). The teams have now met 16 times in 2013, with the season series split evenly. Each club is 8-8 overall … 4-4 at home and 4-4 on the road.
- Tuesday's Texas League games opened the second half pennant race, with all eight clubs reverting back to 0-0. With the exception of a potential wild card playoff entry, the two half-seasons are completely separate pennant races.
- Anthony Aliotti sat out for the second consecutive game due to a bruised right knee sustained when he fouled a ball off the knee in Monday night's game. He had played in each of the RockHounds' first 70 games (the entire first half of the season), collecting a remarkable 96 hits (entering Wednesday's games, no other Texas League hitter had more than 78) and leading the league (by 30+ points) with a .364 average.
- The RockHounds now return home for a four-game home stand, beginning with a "Thirsty Thursday" (June 20) and including Electronics Giveaway Night (sponsored by Best Buy) on Friday the 21st and a post-game fireworks show on Saturday the 22nd.
WP Phil Klein (3-0, 2.20)
LP Zach Neal (5-5, 3.89)
H R Frisco - Mitch Moreland (1) A 2-run HR in the 5th (off Zach Neal)
Frisco - Teodoro Martinez (8) A 2-run HR in the 6th (off Zach Neal)
Next Game
vs. San Antonio Missions (San Diego Padres' AA Affiliate)
Thursday, June 20 7:00 p.m. Radio at 6:55 p.m.
Citibank Ballpark
Probable Starters
San Antonio (RH) Matt Wisler (3-3, 4.26)
RockHounds (RH) Arnold Leon (4-4, 3.75)