Nipped in the ninth

MIDLAND, TEXAS (MAY 14, 2014) - A Billy Burns RBI single to left field in the bottom of the ninth inning scored Beau Taylor, and the Midland RockHounds overcame a three-run deficit in the final frame to shock the Frisco RoughRiders by a 7-6 final score on Wednesday night at Security Bank Ballpark.

An out-of-character performance by the Frisco bullpen cost the RoughRiders, who blew a 6-4 lead and a chance to lock up the series against the RockHounds.

Jimmy Reyes (2-2) suffered the loss and began the ninth inning on the bump for the 'Riders. The southpaw entered in the previous frame and registered two strikeouts in three batters faced.

Reyes looked like a different pitcher in the ensuing inning. Leadoff hitter Josh Whitaker reached on an infield single that was originally scored an error.

Reyes proceeded to walk the next two batters to load the bases with no outs. Jason Wood dialed the bullpen for right-hander Ryan Bores, who entered in a disadvantageous situation, but could not provide an answer.

Bores came unhinged on his first offering and hit Dusty Coleman to walk home a run and make the score 6-5 Frisco.

Midland tied the game shortly thereafter on an RBI single by Taylor with no outs.

The RoughRiders took a step towards extra innings when Miles Head grounded into a 6-2-5 double play, but Burns ensured free baseball would not happen when he scored Taylor from second on a single down the line.

Seth Frankoff (1-1) earned his first win of the season after he pitched a scoreless ninth inning. He allowed a two-out double to Odubel Herrera, but escaped in the same sequence when Herrera was thrown out at third base in an attempt to secure a triple.

With the loss, Frisco (25-14) snapped a 93-game win streak when the team owns a lead after eight innings.

Midland (22-17) wins for the second time this season against the RoughRiders in seven tries and narrows the gap for first place in the south division to three games.  

Alec Asher started on the hill for the RoughRiders in search of his third straight win. The RockHounds wasted no time getting to work against the sturdy right-hander.

After the first two batters of the ballgame reached base, Whitaker lofted a sacrifice fly to right field to put the Hounds on the board.

In similar fashion to the matinee on Tuesday, Frisco took advantage of Midland miscues to score runs. With two men on and no outs, RockHounds starter Chris Jensen uncorked a wild pitch and Teodoro Martinez darted home from third to tie the game at 1-1.

A solo home run off the bat of Colin Walsh sparked a two-out rally for the RockHounds in the bottom of the third. The home team tacked on another run in the frame when Whitaker belted in his sixth RBI of the series to put the RockHounds up 3-1.

The 'Riders left men stranded on third base five times in the game.

The first instance occurred in the third. Jake Skole reached third on the aforementioned wild pitch by Jensen with one out, but skipped home on his way to the dugout when Patrick Cantwell popped out to retire the side.

Cantwell later grounded into a double play in the fifth to strand Skole once again on third.

The 'Riders also left a man 90-feet away in the sixth inning, but it came on the heels of a three-run spree.

Jake Smolinski opened the output with a solo home run to left field. It was the sixth home run of the season for the left fielder and all half-dozen have been of the solo variety.

On the board for the first time in the game, Frisco tallied five consecutive base hits to open the sixth and sent eight men to the plate.

After Martinez cracked an RBI single to bring Frisco within one, Midland relieved Jensen of duty and placed southpaw Frank Gailey on the mound.

Jensen allowed four runs on nine hits with one walk and three strikeouts over his five-plus innings of work. The righty's fourth run crossed after he hit the showers when Edwin Garcia sacrificed Ryan Rua home on a fly ball to right. 

Frisco has displayed a proclivity in the series to score runs in bunches and Wednesday was no exception.

After the three-run sixth, the 'Riders tacked on a pair in the seventh when a deflected single to the left side by Herrera scored Rua and Trever Adams to extend the lead to 6-3.

Midland earned a run back in the bottom half when Hiroyuki Nakajima connected on his first Double-A home run of the season to make the score 6-4.

Asher finished out the seventh and left in line for the win after four runs, seven hits, one walk and seven strikeouts over seven innings.

Frisco concludes its four-game series with the RockHounds on Thursday at 7 p.m. Coverage begins at 6:40 p.m. on www.ridersbaseball.com with the Frisco RoughRiders Pregame Show.

The RoughRiders 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.