Time: 7:05 PM CT
Location: Whataburger Field (Corpus Christi, TX)
Team Records: Frisco RoughRiders (9-14 7 games back in the Texas League South)... Corpus Christi Hooks (9-14 7 games back in the Texas League South)
Streak: Won 2 in a row
Last 10: 3-7
Series Record: 1-5-0
Record against Corpus Christi: 3-4
Record Since 2005 on May 2nd: 3-2 with 1 postponement
Starting Pitchers: Miguel De Los Santos (1-2 5.23 ERA)... Dallas Keuchel (2-1 3.81 ERA)
What to Watch for on the Mound: Miguel De Los Santos and Dallas Keuchel take the mound for the 5th time this season for Frisco and Corpus Christi... Miguel De Los Santos is coming off his most dominant start of the year against the San Antonio Missions when he gave up 4 hits, 1 walk, and 2 runs over 7 innings with 10 strikeouts. De Los Santos took the loss in the start, but made only one mistake in the game, which ended up being a 2-run homerun by Cody Decker. De Los Santos comes into the start with the team lead in strikeouts with 27 on the season. It also ranks as the 2nd best total in the Texas League this year behind Juan Nicasio's 40 strikeouts for the Tulsa Drillers. His 7 innings pitched in the start was the most he's ever pitched in a start in his career and his 1 walk tied a season low. In his last start against Corpus Christi, De Los Santos gave up 1 hit and 5 walks in 5 shutout innings and received the win in the start... Dallas Keuchel is coming off a solid start as well, when he gave up 6 hits, 2 walks, and 2 runs in 6 2/3 innings against the Midland Rockhounds with 6 strikeouts. Keuchel gave up a solo homerun to Stephen Parker in the start. Keuchel has 3 "quality starts" in 4 starts this season with his only non-quality start coming against Frisco on April 22nd in Frisco. Keuchel gave up 12 hits, 1 walk, and 7 runs (all earned) in the start. 3 of the 12 hits were homeruns and 2 more went for extra bases. The 12 hits given up matched a career high for Keuchel, as he gave up 12 hits against Bakersfield (Ranger's high-A affiliate at the time) last season in high-A. The 7 earned runs set a career high for Keuchel. This season he has given up 27 hits and 3 walks in 26 innings pitched with 16 strikeouts. He also has a 3.07 GB/FB ratio coming into the start...
Jacob Brigham Breaks Streak... In a Good Way: Jacob Brigham came in to his start yesterday with a streak of 4 straight starts with 5 innings pitched and 3 earned runs given up. Then he broke it by going 7 strong innings, where he gave up 5 hits, 2 walks, 1 run (earned), struck out 3 batters, and made 96 pitches (61 for strikes) in the Rider's 9-2 victory over the Hooks. It was his first start going 7 innings while allowing 1 earned runs since going 7 innings with 1 earned run on August 4th last year in low-A ball. Brigham's start earned him his second victory of the season, as well, which ties reliever Mike Perconte for the team lead in wins. It marked the second time a RoughRiders starting pitcher has gone 7 innings this season and Brigham's 96 pitches set a new Rider starting pitcher high this year.
Hit Parade: Five Riders hitters had 2 hits in the win over the Hooks and 3 different players hit a homerun in the game. The Riders were down 1-0 for the first 6 innings before scoring 9 runs in the final 3 innings of the game. Jonathan Greene's solo homerun in the 7th tied the game. The Riders took a 2-1 lead in the 7th when Travis Adair was able to score following back to back wild pitches by reliever Matt Nevarez. Catcher Elio Sarmiento capped an 8th inning rally with a 3-run homerun after Jose Ruiz had grounded into what could have been a rally killing double play. Tommy Mendonca finished off the Hooks hopes with a 3-run homerun in the top of the 9th, which marked his 2nd, 3rd, and 4th RBIs in the game.
Hooks Tired of Mendonca/Greene: Both Jonathan Greene and Tommy Mendonca hit homeruns in the game, which gave each of them 3 homeruns on the season against Corpus Christi Hooks pitching. Tommy Mendonca is now batting .379 with 9 RBIs as well and 22 total bases in 7 games against the Hooks. Greene is batting .370 with 3 RBI and 19 total bases against them. Mendonca's OPS is 1.125 against the Hooks this season, while Greene's is 1.155.
Practice Patience: The Riders got 12 hits in the game against Corpus Christi, their 4th game against the Hooks with at least 10 hits. However, the Riders also walked 6 times in the game, which matched a season high that they achieved on Thursday against the Missions. Guilder Rodriguez, who batted 2nd, walked twice in the game and has now walked 4 times in 7 games against Corpus Christi. He has walked twice against everyone else.
Loving Groundballs: Riders starting pitchers have induced 31 groundball outs over the last 3 starts against the Corpus Christi Hooks with just 8 flyball outs. On the season, Riders starting pitchers have gotten 112 groundball outs with 60 flyball outs, a ratio of 1.87 GB/FB. The groundball outs have also helped Riders starting pitchers to 5 consecutive starts of at least 6 innings, their only 5 starts of 6 or more innings on the season.
Last Year on This Day: Frisco lost 5-2 on the road to the Corpus Christi Hooks. Kasey Kiker took the loss after giving up 1 hit, 7 walks, and 4 runs (all earned) in 3 2/3 innings pitched. Jordan Lyles got the win for Corpus Christi. James Tomlin and Andy Jenkins both hit homeruns for the Riders as part of 2 for 4 days each.
US Military Victory: On Sunday night, President Obama made a speech about a great moment in U.S. history. Osama Bin Laden, the leader of the 9/11 attacks, had been killed by the U.S. Military forces. I couldn't go a post without mentioning this because it truly was a big moment in US history. It also happened that Bin Laden was confirmed dead on May 1st, which was the same day that 66 years ago Adolf Hitler was confirmed dead. Odd how it happened that way, but the world works in crazy ways. I think the military of the United States does amazing things and I hope everyone honors them for what they have done to protect this country.
Remembering 9/11: I don't think any American who lived through 9/11 will ever forget where they were for that day. It was such a big deal. I remember I was in religion class at a high school in St. Louis, MO. Here are a few baseball related moments/videos that will honor 9/11:
Jack Buck 9/11 Poem
U-S-A Chants at Philadelphia Phillies-New York Mets Game Sunday Night (via MLB.com)
President Bush's First Pitch in game 3 of the 2001 World Series
Around the Ranger's System:
Round Rock (AAA) game was postponed due to rain. The game will be played as part of a double header at a date to be determined still.
Myrtle Beach (high-A) used a run in the 5th and 6th to defeat the Frederick Keys 2-1. Robbie Erlin started for Myrtle Beach and gave up 1 hit, 1 walk, and 1 run in 7 innings with 6 strikeouts. Erlin's sole run and hit and were part of a homerun given up. Joseph Ortiz pitched 2 scoreless innings of relief for his 1st save of the season. Michael Olt went 1 for 3 with a walk. Ryan Strausborger went 2 for 4 at the plate in the game to finish off a great week. Jared Hoying and Jared Prince each added a double in the game and Hoying added a RBI. Jared Bolden went 1 for 3 with a RBI as well. Robbie Erlin was named the Carolina League pitcher of the week, while Ryan Strausborger was named the Carolina League hitter of the week.
Hickory (low-A) used a 3 run 2nd inning to help defeat the Kannapolis Intimidators 4-3. Justin Grimm 4 hits, 0 walks, and 2 runs (both earned) in 7 innings with a career best 11 strikeouts to get his second victory of the year. Jurickson Profar went 0 for 2 with a walk and a sacrifice fly at the plate. Odubel Herrera went 1 for 4 at the plate as well. Andrew Clark, Christian Villanueva, and Jhonny Gomez combined to go 7 for 11 at the plate with a RBI and 3 runs. Kellin Deglan went 1 for 2 with 2 RBI and a walk. Jorge Marban picked up his 1st save of the year with 2 innings of relief.
Minor League Performance of the Day:
Juan Nicasio of the Tulsa Drillers (Colorado's AA team) has put up some dominant numbers over the years in the minor leagues. Last year in the California League, Nicasio averaged nearly a strikeout an inning with 171 in 177 2/3 innings and he allowed just 31 walks. However, on Sunday he continued to perform at an even more impressive level in a 3-0 rain shortened victory over the Springfield Cardinals. Nicasio gave up 4 hits in 6 2/3 shutout innings with 10 strikeouts and just 1 walk. He threw 105 pitches (73 for strikes) and got 5 groundouts to 3 flyouts Nicasio improved his K-BB ratio to 40-4 on the season in 28 2/3 innings. He is now 4-1 with a 1.88 ERA in the Texas League. The 24 year old righty is going from sleeper to a need to know name pretty quickly in AA. Nicasio was signed by the Colorado Rockies as an international free agent in 2006 and was ranked as the Rockie's 8th best prospect coming into 2011 by Baseball America. In 79 games/71 starts in the minors, Nicasio has struck out 404 batters in 415 innings with just 94 walks given up.
As always...
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