First-inning fireworks propel Riders over Travelers on Independence Day

FRISCO, Texas (July 4, 2024) – The Frisco RoughRiders defeated the Arkansas Travelers 7-6 on Thursday evening from Riders Field.

Box Score

Frisco (6-4, 50-29) erupted for six runs in the bottom of the first inning in front of the second-largest crowd in franchise history (12,051), notching five hits as they sent 10 batters to the plate against Arkansas (6-4, 42-36) starter Reid VanScoter (4-7).

Josh Hatcher delivered the first run, plating Alejandro Osuna with an RBI triple. Aaron Zavala gave the Riders a 3-0 lead with a two-run single before Maximo Acosta doubled to bring Zavala across the plate. Cooper Johnson drove in a pair of runs with a single to left center to bring the RoughRiders advantage to 6-0.

Nick Krauth cruised through the first two frames, but surrendered a run in the top of the third when Cole Young roped an RBI double to put the Travelers on the board, 6-1.

The Riders got that run back in the bottom of the fourth inning when Hatcher pushed a perfect bunt down the third base line, allowing Johnson to score to make it a 7-1 lead for Frisco.

In the top of the fifth, the Travelers notched four consecutive hits against Krauth. Brock Rodden provided an RBI single before scoring on a double by Alberto Rodriguez. Victor Labrada capped off the inning with a single, bringing the score to 7-4 and chasing Krauth from the game.

Skylar Hales (3-0) worked 1.2 one-hit frames before handing the ball to Robby Ahlstrom who spun a scoreless seventh inning.

Arkansas cut the Riders lead to 7-5 with an RBI single from Rodden in the eighth. They were able to get the game within one when Kaden Polcovich grounded into a fielder’s choice that brought Hogan Windish across the plate. Owens worked out of the jam, earning his team-leading sixth save of the season while allowing two runs on three hits across 2.0 innings

Offensively, Hatcher and Johnson each snagged multi-hit performances. Hatcher, Zavala and Johnson all recorded two RBI in the win.

With their win tonight, the RoughRiders became the first Double-A team to reach 50 wins and just the fourth in all of minor league baseball to do so this season.

The RoughRiders continue their six-game home-and-home split series against the Arkansas Travelers (Seattle Mariners) at 7:05 p.m. on Friday, July 5th. RHP Winston Santos (0-0, 16.88) will take the mound for the Riders against RHP Michael Morales (0-0, -.--) for the Travelers.

Stars & Stripes Weekend continues July 5th with the second game of the three-game series. Stick around after the game for a patriotic postgame fireworks show powered by Pyro Shows of Texas!

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].