Riders come back, win on dropped strike three in extras

FRISCO, Texas (July 15, 2022) – The Frisco RoughRiders rallied late Friday night over the Midland RockHounds for their first walk-off win of the year with an 11-10 win at Riders Field. Charged by a four-run ninth, Frisco rattled seven unanswered runs to erase a 10-4 deficit in the eighth for the club's largest comeback win of the season and edge Midland in 11 innings.

Box score

Friday night's comeback is the most runs hurdled by a Frisco club since June 16th, 2021, when the Riders topped Corpus Christi in 11 innings on the road by overcoming a six-run deficit and winning, 10-8.

RockHounds righty Charles Hall (0-1) struck out two batters in his inning of work, including a dropped third strikeout on Riders designated hitter Justin Foscue and Frisco’s Blaine Crim at second in the bottom of the 11th. Crim advanced on the dropped strike and scored after Midland catcher William Simoneit threw wildly to first to bring in the winning run.

Frisco reliever Fer Ozuna (4-0) struck out four batters in the 10th and 11th innings to pick up the win. With Midland shortstop at second to begin the 11th inning, Rockhounds 12-4, 43-42) first baseman Kyle McCann singled to right field before the Riders (9-7, 45-40) relayed the throw to catcher Jordan Procyshen, who applied the tag on Eierman and preserve the 10-10 game.

The Riders were led offensively by a 2-for-5 effort from Crim at the plate, also homering for the 13th time this season. Frisco also got homers from third baseman Trey Hair and shortstop Jonathan Ornelas.

Midland scored first for the second consecutive night with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning, thanks to a two-run double from RockHounds right fielder Shane Selman.

Frisco conceded two more runs in the top of the third, this time on a two-run home run from Midland first baseman Kyle McCann to find a 4-0 deficit.

In the bottom of the fourth, Crim slugged his 13th home run of the season to post the first Riders run of the and cut into Midland’s lead, 4-1.

In the ensuing inning, Ornelas cracked his second solo blast of the series and his ninth of the season, as Midland led, 4-2.

The RockHounds responded with three runs in the top of the sixth inning to stretch their lead to 7-2 after reliever Kevin Gowdy replaced Brennan to start the inning. Frisco pitcher Triston Polley relieved the right-hander later in the inning after Gowdy allowed the first five batters to reach base.

As a response, Frisco plated two runs in the bottom of the seventh to cut Midland’s lead to 7-4. RockHounds reliever Nick Highberger walked three batters to begin the inning before departing for fellow righty Bryce Conley. A wild pitch scored Hair from third, followed by a sacrifice fly off Crim’s bat to plate the second run of the inning.

The RockHounds posted their largest deficit thanks to two more home runs in the top of the eighth inning. Midland left fielder Marty Bechina knocked a solo homer, followed by a two-run homer from shortstop Jeremy Eierman to take a convincing 10-4 advantage.

The Riders responded again in the bottom of the eighth with two additional runs. Frisco right fielder Kellen Strahm doubled to right field to begin the frame and scored on a ground ball from second baseman Jax Biggers. With the bases clear, Hair knocked his 14th home run to score the second run of the inning and move Friday’s score to a 10-6 RockHounds lead.

The comeback began in the bottom of the ninth with a one-out triple from J.P. Martinez off new RockHounds pitcher Chester Pimentel, followed by a Crim RBI single to make Friday’s score, 10-7. Frisco walked consecutively to load the bases, capped by an RBI single from left fielder Sandro Fabian to move the Riders closer, trailing 10-8.

With the momentum teetering, Biggers ripped a two-run single to right field to plate Foscue and Strahm and put the winning run at third with only one out. In the next at-bat, pinch runner Josh Stowers attempted to tag from third after Hair popped out in foul ground but was tagged out to force the 10th inning.

The Riders staved Midland off the scoreboard in extras to align the walk-off in the bottom of the 11th and even up this week’s series, two games apiece.

The series continues on Saturday night at Riders Field as LHP Avery Weems (1-4, 5.81 ERA) makes his first appearance this week, opposing RockHounds fellow southpaw David Leal (2-4, 5.37 ERA) at 7:05 p.m.

On Saturday, the RoughRiders play as their Copa de la Diversion identities as Los Quesos Frisco, complete with a Cheddy Roosevelt bobblehead giveaway and live music from Mariachi Perla de Mexico and followed by postgame fireworks.

The homestand wraps up on Sunday, July 17th, as Marvel Super Hero Night presented by Buckner International smashes into Riders Field with a character appearance from Thor! 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. The team was founded in 2003 and has finished first among all Double-A franchises in attendance for 15 consecutive seasons (2005-2019). 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, InTouch Grille, 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 170 former RoughRiders players have gone on to play Major League Baseball. For more information on the Frisco RoughRiders, please visit RidersBaseball.com or contact [email protected].