Three-run sixth propels Riders to 5-3 win over Tulsa, earn series victory

FRISCO, Texas (July 27, 2024) – The Frisco RoughRiders defeated the Tulsa Drillers 5-2 on Saturday evening from Riders Field.

Box Score

The RoughRiders (16-10, 60-35) threatened early against Tulsa (13-12, 47-47) starter Carlos Duran as they had two reach in both the first and second innings, but were unable to manufacture a run.

Ryan Garcia (8-4) cruised through 3.0 scoreless innings, but Damon Keith broke the scoreless tie with a solo homer to left in the top of the fourth.

Frisco responded in the home half of the fourth inning when Abimelec Ortiz launched an opposite field shot, tying the game at 1-1 with his seventh homer of the season. Daniel Mateo gave the Riders the lead with a two-out RBI single, plating Keyber Rodriguez.

Garcia exited after recording the first out of the sixth inning, spinning 5.1 one-run innings in which he allowed five hits and a walk while striking out seven. Robby Ahlstrom picked up the final two outs of the sixth before going on to allow one unearned run in the seventh.

In the bottom of the sixth, the RoughRiders extended the lead on an Alejandro Osuna RBI single, scoring Frainyer Chavez. Liam Hicks made it a 5-1 advantage with a two run single that brought Osuna and Jung across the plate.

The Drillers cut the deficit to 5-2 in the top of the seventh. Reid Birlingmair turned in 1.1 scoreless innings with four punchouts while surrendering a hit and a pair of walks.

Tyler Owens earned his eighth save of the year, tossing a 1-2-3 top of the ninth inning.

Offensively, the Riders snagged 10 hits with Osuna and Chavez leading the way with two-hit nights. Hicks paced the offense with two RBI as Jung went 1-for-4 and scored a run.

The RoughRiders continue a six-game homestand against the Tulsa Drillers (Los Angeles Dodgers) at 6:05 p.m. on Sunday, July 28th. The Riders will turn to RHP Winston Santos (1-1, 5.40) against RHP Kendall Williams (4-9, 6.75) for the Drillers.

It will be a festivus Sunday to have A Night About Nothing! Head to Riders Field to meet John O’Hurley who played J. Peterman on Seinfeld. Plus, enjoy postgame fireworks presented by TruMoo. It's also Kids Sunday Funday presented by Raising Cane's with pregame catch in the outfield from 5:00-5:30 p.m.

Ticket offer: Meet John O'Hurley with a $35 ticket add-on at checkout here.

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].