Magic number down to one with 5-3 win

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS (JUNE 12, 2014) - A three-run triple by Odubel Herrera in the sixth inning gave the Frisco RoughRiders a lead they would not relinquish and the 'Riders topped the Corpus Christi Hooks 5-3 on Thursday at Whataburger Field.

With the win, Frisco (39-26) is one victory shy of its eighth playoff berth in team history. The Midland RockHounds (36-30) remain mathematically alive in the race and trail the RoughRiders by 3 1/2 games with four to play in the first half.   

Corpus Christi (32-34) falls to 5-9 against the 'Riders this season and 18-24 in the division.

Another gritty performance from Edwar Cabrera (3-3) put Frisco in position to win the game. The Dominican righty allowed two runs on three hits over six innings with five walks and four strikeouts.

Jordan Jankowski (1-2) suffered the loss. He allowed one run on five hits through the first five innings, but the RoughRiders tagged the righty for four runs and four hits in the sixth inning to take their first lead on the scoreboard in the series.

Phil Klein earned a six-out save and notched his eighth of the season, the most on the team. Klein allowed one baserunner on a bunt single by Tyler Heineman in the eighth. When Klein took the mound in the ninth, he struck out the side in order to seal the win for Frisco.

Playing before a national television audience on the CBS Sports Network, the Hooks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third inning.

Power-hitter Telvin Nash blasted his sixth home run of the season to open the frame. Cabrera continued to struggle with his command and put two men on with a walk and a hit batsman.

Andrew Aplin drove in the second run on a single to right. An attempt by Nolan Fontana to tack on another run ended well for the RoughRiders when Fontana was caught in a rundown and tagged out by Tomás Telis to end the inning.

Joey Gallo halved the lead in the fourth when a line drive screamed off his bat and over the fence just left of the batter's eye for a solo home run. It was Gallo's third homer in four Double-A games and he matched his jersey number with his 24th jack of the season, the most in Minor League Baseball.

The RoughRiders reached Jankowski for good in the sixth inning. With one out, Frisco loaded the bases on consecutive singles and a walk to Ryan Rua.

Herrera then smashed his triple over the head of Corpus Christi center fielder Delino DeShields, Jr. and wiped the bags to give his team the lead for good.

One batter later, a fly ball from Drew Robinson wavered in the 23-mph winds and landed outside of the glove of Ruben Sosa in left field. Herrera scored to put the 'Riders up 5-2.

Corpus Christi threatened in the seventh on back-to-back doubles against Wilmer Font. Field manager Jason Wood lifted Font from the game with one out and runners on second and third.

Keone Kela entered the contest and although he surrendered a walk to load the bases, he bookended the base on balls with a pair of strikeouts to abbreviate the Hooks' run.

Frisco continues its four-game series in Corpus Christi on Friday at 7:10 p.m. Coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on www.ridersbaseball.com with the Frisco RoughRiders Pregame Show.

The 'Riders next play at Dr Pepper Ballpark on Wednesday, June 25 against the Arkansas Travelers at 7:05 p.m. For tickets to see the 'Riders in 2014, call 972-731-9200, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.ridersbaseball.com.

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