Riders score two in the tenth, win pitcher’s duel 2-0 over Arkansas

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (July 1, 2024) – The Frisco RoughRiders defeated the Arkansas Travelers 2-0 on Monday evening from Dickey-Stephens Park.

Box Score

Frisco (5-2, 49-27) and Arkansas (4-3, 40-35) battled scoreless into the top of the tenth inning.

Josh Stephan surrendered a leadoff double in the bottom of the first inning to Ben Williamson, but stranded him at second after striking out the next three batters. Stephan exited after 5.0 scoreless, three-hit innings with a season-high tying seven strikeouts.

Brandyn Garcia, making his Double-A debut, matched Stephan with 5.0 no-hit innings, onyl walking two while punching out seven.

The RoughRiders threatened in the top of the sixth when Kellen Strahm and Maximo Acosta each singled, but were unable to push across a run.

Robby Ahlstrom entered for the bottom of the sixth, spinning 2.0 hitless frames with a walk and three strikeouts.

Locked in a scoreless tie, Skylar Hales (2-0) took the mound in the eighth inning and went on to work 2.0 scoreless frames to send the game to extras.

In the top of the tenth inning, Josh Hatcher shot the first pitch he saw against Troy Taylor (1-3) into left center for an RBI double, breaking the scoreless tie. Cooper Johnson later brought him across the plate with a sacrifice fly, giving Frisco a 2-0 lead.

Tyler Owens came in for the bottom of the tenth, striking out the first two batters he faced before inducing a flyout to earn his fifth save of the season.

The Riders managed just four hits, but pushed across two in extras to earn the win. Acosta provided the lone multi-hit performance and Strahm reached three times.

The RoughRiders continue their six-game home-and-home split series against the Arkansas Travelers (Seattle Mariners) at 6:35 p.m. on Tuesday, July 2nd. RHP Ryan Garcia (5-4, 4.37) will take the mound for the Riders against LHP Danny Wirchansky (4-3, 3.05) for the Travelers.

The Frisco RoughRiders, Double-A affiliate of the World Series champion Texas Rangers, are set to host three-straight nights of fireworks and family fun from Thursday, July 4th through Saturday, July 6th in a three-game series against the Arkansas Travelers.

For tickets and more information about the Frisco RoughRiders, visit RidersBaseball.com or call 972.731.9200.

About the RoughRiders

The Frisco RoughRiders are the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers and the 2022 Texas League champions. In 2023, the team celebrated its 20th anniversary and has consistently finished in the top five among all Double-A franchises in attendance yearly. In August 2014, the RoughRiders were purchased by an ownership group led by Chuck Greenberg. Since then, the new ownership group, together with the City of Frisco, has spearheaded numerous major franchise enhancements, investing over $8 million in a wide array of facility upgrades and improvements, including a state-of-the-art HD video board, sound system, Bull Moose Saloon, Bullpen Bar, Riders Outpost Team Store and the world's largest water feature in a sports facility, the massive Lazy River. These enhancements earned the Riders and the City of Frisco Ballpark Digest's prestigious "Best Ballpark Renovation" award for two consecutive years (2015 and 2016). More than 200 former RoughRiders players have gone on to play Major League Baseball including current Rangers Josh Jung, Evan Carter and Leody Taveras. For more information on the Frisco RoughRiders, please visit RidersBaseball.com or contact [email protected].