'Riders Pitching Shuts Down Missions Again

San Antonio's scoring struggles continued during a 3-1 loss to Frisco Saturday night in front of 5,146 at Wolff Stadium.

Saturday night's contest featured a tremendous pitching duel between San Antonio's Justin Hancock and Frisco's Andrew Faulkner.

Hancock (1-2) went five for the Missions, allowing just one run on six hits and two walks, while striking out five. His only mistake came in the third when J.T. Wise's one-out solo homer gave Frisco a 1-0 lead.

The RoughRiders added to their lead in the seventh with a pair of runs against reliever Josh Geer. Odubel Herrera drove in the first run with a one-out triple down the right-field line. Later in the frame, Herrera pushed the lead to three when he scored on a Geer wild pitch.

Faulkner, making just his second Double-A start, looked very sharp Saturday, keeping the Missions scoreless through six innings. The left-hander's night ended following Alex Dickerson's leadoff double in the seventh. Dickerson would later score San Antonio's only run on Austin Hedges' RBI fielder's choice off reliever Joseph Ortiz. Faulkner (1-0) struck out eight against no walks, allowing just four hits.

After Martire Garcia kept the Missions off the board in the eighth, Keone Kela struck out a pair in a perfect ninth for his fourth save of the season and his second in as many nights.

San Antonio (21-22, 57-56) and Frisco (25-18, 65-47) wrap up their four-game series Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 PM. The first 500 kids 12 & under will receive a free cereal bowl courtesy of Kellogg's. Joe Wieland (ML Rehab) will get the ball for the Missions in what is expected to be a three-inning outing. He will be followed by fellow righty Leonel Campos (1-3, 4.53). Frisco will counter with right-hander Jake Thompson (0-0, 4.50).

Notes: Wieland went 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA in three rehab appearances for the AZL Padres. The 24-year-old right-hander last appeared in a game on May 6, 2012 while with San Diego. Wieland was placed on the disabled list later that month with a strained right elbow. He underwent Tommy John surgery in July, missing the rest of 2012 and the entire 2013 season.