Hooks stymie 'Riders 5-1

FRISCO, TEXAS (May 10, 2014) - The Frisco RoughRiders were not able to push their winning streak to five games as Tommy Shirley and the Hooks defeated Frisco 5-1 on Saturday night at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Ranger rehabber Joe Saunders suffered the loss and pitched 5.1 innings in his outing.

Delino DeShields Jr. welcomed Rangers rehab starter Saunders to the game by dropping a single into shallow center for his 17th hit of the season and utilized his speed to earn his seventh stolen base. Hooks second baseman Nolan Fontana bunted DeShields to second and Andrew Aplin picked up his 22nd RBI on a ground ball to first making it 1-0. Corpus then used the long ball to take a 2-0 lead on Matt Duffy's fourth home run of the year to left.

In the top bottom of the third Jake Smolinski smashed a ball deep into the hole in between shortstop and third. Hooks shortstop Jio Mier fired over to first and Smolinski appeared to be safe on the play, but was called out by first base umpire Ryan Simmons. After a few words to Simmons, Smolinski was thrown out of the ballgame. Frisco manager Jason Wood came out to defend his left fielder and was also sent to the showers early.

The Hooks channeled some two-out magic to plate an insurance run in the fourth when Rene Garcia hit an RBI single that deflected off of Saunders. Second baseman Ryan Rua fielded the ball and did not have a play at first.

Frisco (22-13), looking for a momentum shifter, received what they needed in the form of a Trever Adams one-out triple to deep left-center. Jake Skole followed suit by sending an RBI double to left and the 'Riders made it 3-1.

Corpus Christi (18-17) counter punched the next inning to push their lead back to three and they used the small ball again to do it. Telvin Nash walked, DeShields laid down a perfect bunt to reach first on the infield single and Fontana bunted the runners over. Aplin grounded out to second base to score Nash and make it 4-1 Hooks.

Saunders (0-1) exited his second rehab start of the year after pitching 5.1 innings and allowing four earned runs on seven hits, while walking one and striking out two. Shirley (no decision) pitched four innings while allowing one run on four hits, while walking and striking out three. Travis Ballew (1-0) earned his first win of the season.

Corpus added to the run column in the eighth frame after three consecutive singles loaded the bases. Jio Mier hit a sacrifice fly to center and the Hooks pushed the score to 5-1.

The RoughRiders look to win the series tomorrow at 2:05 Dr Pepper Ballpark. Righty Jerad Eickhoff (2-2, 4.13 ERA) takes the bump for the RoughRiders on Mother's Day and will look to defeat right-hander Brady Rogers (1-3, 2.72 ERA). For tickets to see the 'Riders in 2014, call 972-731-9200, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.ridersbaseball.com.