Thomas Homers, Frias Punches Out Nine In Loss

Tuesday, July 20, 2021 vs Frisco RoughRiders [TEX]

Amarillo Sod Poodles (28-38) | Frisco RoughRiders (40-27)

Amarillo, Texas — Amarillo battled with the Double-A Central South Division leading Frisco RoughRiders on Tuesday night in the opening of a six-game series. After starting the season with 41 of the team's first 65 games on the road, the Soddies dropped the first game of a 12-game homestand 7-3 to Frisco at HODGETOWN.

After a four pitch walk to start the game, right-hander Luis Frias settled in to his start on the mound for Amarillo. He picked off the runner on first before a strikeout and flyout had him out of the top of the first inning after facing the minimum. Diamondbacks No. 4 rated prospect Alek Thomas hit his second leadoff home run - sixth long ball of the year - as the Sod Poodles took a very early 1-0 lead over the RoughRiders.

Frias then struck out the three of the top 11 Texas Rangers prospects in order in the top of the second including No.1 and 2 rated prospects Josh Jung and Sam Huff. Frias kept his dominant stuff rolling into the top of the third, striking out his fifth batter of the ballgame through his first three innings. A bunt single by Frisco's No. 9 hitter extended their inning by a batter before a ground out sent the game into the home half of the third.

Dominic Fletcher kept the inning alive with a two out single through the hole at shortstop. A Stone Garrett walk followed by a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. A nine pitch at-bat to Ryder Jones ended with a ground out to the first baseman as the Sod Poodles were unable to add to their lead.

The first two RoughRiders Frias faced in the top of the fourth reached on a pair of singles. Frias once again battled back, striking out Jung and Huff again before a two-out triple that hugged the right-field line gave Frisco a 2-1 lead.

Buddy Kennedy carried over his hot bat from the series finale in Midland by roping a leadoff double into left field to start the Soddies fourth. A one out single moved Kennedy to third and gave Amarillo runners on the corners. Basabe then stole second base before a sac fly to left field scored Kennedy and tied the game at 2-2 after the fourth.

Frias kept piling up the strikeouts, picking up his eighth of the night through the first 17 batters he faced. Frisco's fifth hit of the night proved to be a non threat after a ground out ended their half of the fifth. Thomas and Fletcher each singled with one out and were followed on base after Garrett reached on a catcher's interference call to load the bases. Ryder Jones scored Thomas on sac fly to left, putting the Sod Poodles ahead 3-2 lead after five innings.

Frias got Jose Trevino to fly out to the warning track in left field before issuing his second walk of the game. That walk came back to immediately hurt Frias as Huff took the first pitch of the at bat and sent it off the batter's eye in dead center field, giving the Riders a 4-3 lead. Another single and throwing error put runners on the corners for Frisco. Garrett hosed Steele Walker at the plate as he attempted to tag up from third on a fly ball into left.

The game remained that way into the top of the eighth inning. Frias' night came to a close after setting a new career-high, spinning 7.0 innings and tying his career-high with nine strikeouts. D-backs' No. 10 rated prospect, Levi Kelly came on in relief of Frias. A hit batter and walk placed two runners on before a three-run home run cleared the bases and gave Frisco a 7-3 advantage. Kelly struck out two of the next three batters before a pop fly in the infield got him out of the inning.

Tyler Holton came on for Amarillo in the top of the ninth and struck out two of the three batters he faced, sending the Sod Poodles to the bottom of the ninth with some work to do.

The Sod Poodles went down in order as Frisco took game of the series 7-3. The action continues tomorrow night as the Sod Poodles transform into the Pointy Boots de Amarillo once again as part of MiLB's Copa de la Diversion initiative. The Sod Poodles will send left-hander and No. 12 rated prospect Tommy Henry (1-4, 5.02 ERA) to the mound to face off against Rangers' No. 7 rated prospect RHP Hans Crouse (2-2, 3.29 ERA). First pitch from HODGETOWN is scheduled for 7:05 PM.

Notes:

Frias' Fine Night:D-backs No. 9 rated prospect Luis Frias spun a career-high seven innings in a losing effort where he also tied a career-high with nine punchouts. The Dominican native allowed eight hits and four runs, including the go-ahead two run home run in the top of the sixth inning. Frias has eight strikeouts to the first 17 batters he faced and had allowed just one hit through his first three frames. A two-out triple plated the first two runs of the night for Frisco in the top of the fourth.

*Start Us Off: *Amarillo got a jolt right out of the gates with Alek Thomas' sixth home run of the year. It marked the second time this season Thomas has hit a leadoff home run. He also started the game on the road in Corpus Christi on May 25th with a home run.

*Taming Their Talent: *Frisco traveled to Amarillo with a plethora of talent on their team bus. The RoughRiders currently have eight of the Rangers Top-11 prospects with the team including No. 1 and 2 rated prospects Josh Jung and Sam Huff. Luis Frias got the better of them their first two times through the lineup, striking them both out as the duo began their night 0-4 with four strikeouts. Huff finished the night 1-for-4 with his one hit being a two-run home run. Jung finished the game 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.

*A Stone's Throw From Left: *Stone Garrett tallied his fifth outfield assist this season when he completed the inning ending double play in the top of the 6th. Garrett has been on SportsCenter on two occasions, including the No. 1 play on the Top-10 plays with a home run robbing catch, highlighting his defensive prowess.

Streaky: Stone Garrett saw his seven game hit streak come to an end after going 0-for-2 in tonight's series opener. Luis Basabe has the longest active streak on the team currently, hitting safely in his last four games after going 1-for-4 this evening.

*Multiplied: *Alek Thomas and Stone Garrett continue their see-saw battle for the team lead in multi-hit games. With a 2-for-4 night tonight, Thomas tied Garrett with the team leading 18th multi-hit game of the season. Dominic Fletcher rounds out the top 3, notching his 16th multi-hit game of the year with his 2-for-4 night. Those are the only three players with double digit multi-hit games for the Soddies so far in 2021.