Cantwell's blast carries 'Riders to win

FRISCO, TEXAS (MAY 21, 2014) - There weren't a lot of hits to be found for the RoughRiders on Wednesday night, but Patrick Cantwell's late solo homer was the difference as Frisco slipped by the Drillers 2-1 in game one of the series. The win snapped a three-game losing streak and increased Frisco's divisional lead to two games.

Touted as a pitchers duel going into the game, both starters lived up to the advanced billing.

After giving up a ground-rule double on his fourth pitch of the game, Edwar Cabrera reestablished his location by inducing three ground balls to end the inning. Daniel Winkler had a similarly strong start to his night, using ten pitches and two strikeouts to retire his first three batters.

Both Cabrera and Winkler earned quality starts, showing command from the very beginning. The two pitchers only gave up three hits through the first three scoreless innings.

The game continued to have a scoreless trend, as neither team could get a runner to home plate. During both the first and third inning, the Drillers had a man on third before Cabrera used a groundball to get out of the inning unharmed.

With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Teodoro Martinez jumpstarted the offense with a single to center field. He then got a jump on Winkler's 2-2 pitch which Guilder Rodriguez knocked into right field. Martinez made his way all around the bases to give Frisco the first run of the game. Martinez was almost tagged out as he crossed the plate but narrowly avoided Dustin Garneau's swipe tag attempt.

The Drillers (24-21), however, responded in the top of the seventh with a run of their own. After Harold Riggins started the inning with a flare to shallow center field, Jared Simon hit an infield single to put two men on base, and then Delta Cleary Jr. knocked one past a diving Drew Robinson in right to bring Riggins home, which tied the game at 1-1.

Cabrera received a no-decision after giving up one earned run on seven hits through seven innings. He had good control for the majority of his time on the mound; he struck out four and didn't walk a batter while throwing 71 percent of his pitches for strikes.

Winkler also received a no-decision for the game, pitching seven similar innings and only giving up one earned run. He recorded five strikeouts to increase his league-leading total to 56 for the season.

In the bottom of the eighth, the 'Riders (27-18) struck again with two outs. On Ken Roberts' (2-2) second pitch to Cantwell, Frisco's catcher blasted one out to left field for his first homer of the year to give his team the 2-1 lead.

Phil Klein entered in the ninth to close the game and did so in an efficient manner. After Jayson Langfels singled into center field, Klein induced a double play to end the game and send the 5,566 fans in attendance home happy.

The RoughRiders will look to win the second game of the series on Thursday at 11:05 a.m. at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Right-hander Jerad Eickhoff (3-2, 4.06 ERA) will take to the bump for Frisco and face off against fellow righty Jon Gray (4-2, 2.98 ERA). For tickets to see the 'Riders in 2014, call 972-731-9200, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.ridersbaseball.com