Abandoned: 'Riders strand 11 in loss

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (MAY 17, 2014) - A grand slam from Rymer Liriano in the seventh inning capped a five-run frame for the San Antonio Missions, who defeated the Frisco RoughRiders by an 8-1 margin at Wolff Stadium on Saturday night.

The RoughRiders placed men on base in the first eight innings, but plated one run and left 11 men stranded. Nine of the runners were left in scoring position.

Luke Jackson (4-2) suffered his second loss of the season. Over six innings, the right-hander surrendered three runs over six hits with no walks and seven strikeouts.

Jackson's three runs all crossed in the fourth inning, but with the score at 3-1 San Antonio, the game remained in reach for the 'Riders until the bottom of the seventh inning.

Ryan Rodebaugh took the mound in relief of his starter and allowed four of the first five batters to reach in the inning (three singles and one walk).

Now behind 4-1, Rodebaugh's rough outing culminated when Liriano blasted his tenth home run of the season-the second-highest mark in the Texas League-to put the Missions in front 8-1.

The night for the 25-year-old Rodebaugh ended abruptly when home plate umpire Ramon Hernandez ejected him from the game after Liriano's grand slam.

Reliever Matt Branham (2-1) earned the win for the Missions. Pitching in relief of starter Jesse Hahn, the tall righty shut out the 'Riders for 1 1/3 innings on three hits.

With the loss, Frisco (26-16) falls to 3-3 on the current eight-game road swing.

San Antonio (18-24) snaps a three-game skid and evens the season series with the RoughRiders at five games apiece.  

The 'Riders drew first blood in the third inning when Tomás Telis blasted a two-out double to left field. Jake Smolinski, who had reached in the previous at-bat with a double to left as well, scored to put the Frisco on top 1-0.

Telis connected on the first pitch he saw from Hahn and drove in his 12th run in ten games.   

Jackson retired eight straight batters after the Missions tallied two hits in the first inning. The native of Florida faced adversity three innings later with two outs.

A breaking ball to Austin Hedges missed and the San Antonio catcher sent one to left field and drove in the first Missions run of the game.

Hedges later scored on an RBI single by Jake Lemmerman to give San Antonio its first lead of the series.

Lemmerman's knock also advanced Yeison Asencio to third base. Asencio initially reached when Jackson hit him with a pitch, and the extra runner haunted the Frisco starter.

With runners at the corners, the Missions successfully executed a double steal to increase their lead to 3-1.  

Saturday's game is the final one of the series beneath the lights at Wolff Stadium. The second half of the four-game set takes place under the sun, and Sunday's installment begins at 2:05 p.m. Coverage begins at 1:40 p.m. on www.ridersbaseball.com with the Frisco RoughRiders Pregame Show.

The 'Riders return to Dr Pepper Ballpark on Wednesday, May 21 to begin a three-game series with the Tulsa Drillers. For tickets to see the 'Riders in 2014, call 972-731-9200, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.ridersbaseball.com.