'Hounds rock Frisco 8-6

FRISCO, TEXAS (July 28, 2014) - Frisco fell to the RockHounds by a score of 8-6 on Monday night at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Andrew Faulkner made his Double-A debut by pitching five quality innings and Jake Skole popped his third homer in the loss.

Frisco got off to a fast start behind Faulkner who was making his 2014 Double-A debut. The tall lefty walked one batter and gave up one hit through his first three innings.

The RoughRiders (21-17, 61-46) got to Midland starter Shawn Haviland in the third and sent eight men to the dish. Chris Grayson led off the inning with a single to right and Skole popped his third homer of the season to put Frisco out in front 2-0.

Guilder Rodriguez was called out on strikes but Trever Adams singled to right to put another run on base. Odubel Herrera walked to put two men on for Haviland and the RockHounds, and J.T. Wise ripped a double to score Adams and put the 'Riders on top 3-0.

The RockHounds (24-14, 62-46) answered with some pop of their own in the following inning. Hiro Nakajima reached first on a rare fielding error by the shortstop, Rodriguez, and Jefry Marte singled with one out to put a pair of 'Hounds on base.

Kent Matthes crushed a first-pitch fastball to deep left-center for a two RBI double and Midland cut the deficit to 3-2.  

Haviland had a perfect fourth inning and Midland was able to tie the ballgame in their offensive half of the fifth. D'Arby Myers hit a two-out single and stole second to advance into scoring position, and Nakajima plated him on a single to centerfield to even the contest 3-3.

The score would not stay tied for long, however, as Herrera scored Adams with an RBI single to right. Adams split the outfielders for a double in left-center for his second hit, and Herrera slapped a ball to Jeremy Barfield in right to give the RoughRiders a 4-3 advantage in the bottom of the fifth.

Frank Gailey came on in relief of Haviland after he walked Wise and a first-pitch wild pitch advanced Herrera and Wise to third and second, respectively. The lefty struck out Joey Gallo for a huge second out, but Drew Robinson cranked a triple down the first-base line and into the corner to plate two and put the 'Riders up 6-3.

Midland answered the 'Riders push once again in the sixth with their second multiple-run inning of the ballgame.

Marte and Matthes hit consecutive line drive singles to right off of Ryan Rodebaugh, in relief of Faulkner, and Marte swiped third to advance 90 feet closer to scoring. Barfield was called out on strikes, but Dusty Coleman hit a two RBI double into the left field corner to make the score 6-5.

A passed ball advanced Coleman to third and he later scored when Bruce Maxwell singled to right to tie the game once again 6-6.

Rodebaugh struck out Blake Forsythe swinging for a huge second out in the frame but another fielding error by Rodriguez allowed Myers to reach base safely for the second time in the game.

Nakajima put the RockHounds in front 7-6 on a base hit to right scoring Maxwell, but the second baseman was caught trying to advance to second by a diving Gallo who tagged him out to save what would have been a fifth run of the frame for Midland.

The 'Riders went down 1-2-3 in the seventh and eighth, while Midland got a couple runners on via walk in the eighth, but the score stayed put at 7-6 RockHounds into the ninth inning.

Matthes changed that, however, with a solo shot to left in the top of the ninth off of Will Lamb to give the 'Hounds an insurance run and an 8-6 lead.

Jose Flores encountered trouble in the ninth in the form of Gallo at the dish with two men on in a two-run game, but the righty nailed down his fifth save of the year by getting Gallo to strike out swinging.

Faulkner went five innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits, while walking one and striking out seven. The lefty tossed 61 of his 93 pitches for strikes. Haviland went 4.1 innings and allowed six runs on seven hits, while walking three, striking out six and allowing one homer. The right-hander threw 48 of his 79 pitches for strikes.

The RoughRiders look to even up the series Tuesday night at Dr Pepper Ballpark at 7:05. RHP Jake Thompson, a native of Rockwall, Texas, makes his organizational debut for the 'Riders and faces off against fellow righty Chris Jensen (9-7, 3.47 ERA). For tickets to see the 'Riders in 2014, call 972-731-9200, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.ridersbaseball.com.