Time: 7:00 PM CT
Location: Dr. Pepper Ballpark (Frisco, TX)
Team Records: Frisco RoughRiders (20-18 5 games back in the Texas League South)... Midland Rockhounds (17-21 8 games back in the Texas League South)
Streak: Won 2 in a row
Last 10: 8-2
Series Record: 4-5-1
Record Against Midland: 5-1
All time Record Against Midland: 108-98
Record Since 2004 on May 18th: 5-2
Starting Pitchers: Carlos Pimentel (1-3 4.63 ERA)...Shawn Haviland (1-3 6.75 ERA)
What to Watch for on the Mound: Frisco and Midland send Carlos Pimentel and Shawn Haviland out to the mound for their 8th starts of the season... Carlos Pimentel picked up his first career AA victory last time out when he gave up 6 hits, 2 walks, and 2 runs over 6 innings with 6 strikeouts against Corpus Christi. It was his 3rd start in his last 4 starts in which he went at least 6 innings with 2 runs or less given up. Pimentel faced Midland on May 8th and gave up 4 hits, 2 walks, and 1 run over 6 2/3 innings with 3 strikeouts. He got the no decision in a 2-1 loss to Midland. On the season, Carlos Pimentel has given up 37 hits and 15 walks with 27 strikeouts in 35 innings, although he has given up 23 hits and 11 walks in his last 29 innings pitched... Shawn Haviland is coming off his 2nd strongest outing of the season, although his strongest have been bookends of 5 rough outings. Haviland gave up 4 hits and 4 walks in 6 shutout innings with 1 strikeout against San Antonio last Friday. He faced Frisco on May 7th and gave up 8 hits, 1 walk, and 5 runs with 8 strikeouts in 7 innings. He gave up 3 homeruns in the game and has given up 9 homeruns in 7 starts this season. For the season Haviland has given up 43 hits and 14 walks in 36 innings with 29 strikeouts. This will be only his 3rd road start in 8 starts.
Setting Themselves Up: With a 1-0 walkoff victory over Midland, the Riders have now taken at least 2 of the first 3 games of their last 5 series. They are now 7-1 in their last 8 games as well and 8-2 in their last 10 games. Frisco is also now 12-4 in the month of May.
Jake Brigham's Strong Start: A night after Martin Perez dominated the Midland Rockhound's lineup, Jake Brigham followed Perez's lead with a strong start of his own. Brigham gave up just 2 hits and 2 walks (1 intentional) over 6 shutout innings with 8 strikeouts. The 8 strikeouts marked a season high total for Brigham in 2011. Brigham has now gone 6 or more innings in 4 straight starts and has gone at least 5 in all 8 of his starts. He also has given up less hits than innings pitched in 5 consecutive starts
Pitch Count by Inning (Strikes/Pitches):
1: 6/12
2: 9/11
3: 7/10
4: 9/14
5: 9/18
6: 13/26
Total: 53/91
Didn't Miss a Beat: On a day when Frisco struggled to string hits together, it was only fitting that Jose Ruiz ended the game with the walkoff homerun. He finished the game 2 for 3 with the homerun and walk. Jose Ruiz is now 5 for 12 with 2 homeruns and 3 RBI since he came back from the birth of his child. All 3 of his homeruns this season have come at Dr. Pepper Ballpark as he is batting .375 at home with an OPS just shy of 1.000 at .998.
Sigh of Relief: Ramon Aguero (2-0) picked up another Frisco RoughRider reliever victory on Tuesday as he and Fabio Castillo combined for 3 shutout innings without a hit allowed, 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts. On the season, the bullpen is now 13-7, including a 5-1 record against Midland.
Josh Hamilton to Rehab With Frisco Tonight: The Texas Rangers announced that their star outfielder Josh Hamilton will join Frisco to begin rehab on Wednesday night when the Riders face the Rockhounds. Hamilton will join fellow star outfielder Nelson Cruz in the Rider's lineup, who is also rehabbing. Hamilton has been on the DL since April 12th with a non-displaced hairline fracture of his right humerus bone. He is expected to DH both Wednesday and Thursday as Cruz moves to right field tonight.
Homestand Struggles: Michael Bianucci has struggled mightily since coming back to Frisco. Bianucci is batting 4 for 22 (.189) with 2 doubles and 3 RBI on the 6 game homestand so far. He has 9 strikeouts to 2 walks in the 6 games as well.
May Struggles: While Bianucci has struggled on the homestand, Jonathan Greene seems to have hit a wall since May began. In 57 at bats in the month of May, Greene has hit .246 with a .306 OBP and .386 SLG. He has 4 extra base hits in the 57 AB's after having 9 extra base hits in 62 AB's in April. Greene has also struck out 23 times in May with just 4 walks.
Keeping Mitchell Off Third: Midland Centerfielder Jermaine Mitchell came into the series with Frisco with 9 triples on the season already. With no surprise, Mitchell hit his 10th triple yesterday and then hit a double on Tuesday. He has already made an impact on the bases, as pitchers take their time when he's on base and in Tuesday's case, the respect for his speed induced at least half a dozen pickoff attempts while he was on base three times. The 26 year old outfielder already has tied his career high in triples this season, which he had last year as well.
Last Year on This Date: Frisco defeated the Midland Rockhounds 8-4 on the road. Ryan Tatusko made the start for Frisco and gave up 2 hits, 5 walks, and a run over 3 innings with 3 strikeouts. Brennan Garr picked up the win as he gave up 2 hits, a walk, and run in 3 innings of relief with 3 strikeouts. Renny Osuna went 2 for 5 with a RBI at the plate for the RoughRiders. Taylor Teagarden finished 1 for 2 with 3 walks and 2 RBI. Guilder Rodriguez had a 2 for 4 day and RBI. Six different Frisco batters drove in a run and scored a run in the game.
Yesterday's Question of the Day Answer: 1 time
Around the Ranger's System:
Yesterday's Record: 1-1
Round Rock (AAA) gave up 6 runs in the final 2 innings to lose 9-8 to the Las Vegas 51s. Round Rock lost on a walkoff walk to Adam Loewen in the 9th inning. Derek Hankins started for Round Rock and gave up 4 hits, 1 walk, and 3 runs (2 earned) in 6 innings with 5 strikeouts. Former Rider Mark Hamburger had another rough relief outing for the Express as he gave up 2 hits, a walk, and 3 runs in 1 inning without a strikeout. Brian Barden, Chad Tracy, Brad Nelson, and Luis Cruz combined to go 11 for 18 with 6 RBI and 7 runs for the Express. Joey Butler went 2 for 4 with a run in the game.
Myrtle Beach (high-A) got rained out and are scheduled to have a double header today.
Hickory (low-A) also got rained out and are also scheduled to have a double header today.
Minor League Performance of the Day
The Brevard County Manatees (Milwaukee Brewers high-A team in the Florida State League) had a very good day on offense on Tuesday. It was so good that it was difficult to decide between who had the best performance on the team, so I'll just give it to the team. Brevard County clobbered the St. Lucie Mets by the score of 19-9. Brevard County bashed out 23 hits as a team, including 2 or more hits from 7 of their 9 hitters. First baseman Hunter Morris went 4 for 5 with 3 doubles, a walk, 4 RBI, and 5 runs in the game. Khristopher Davis went 2 for 6 with a double, 4 RBI, and a run. D'Vontrey Richardson went 6 for 6 with a double, RBI, and 3 runs scored. Brock Kjeldgaard led the team in power with a 3 for 6 day including 2 homeruns, 7 RBI, and 2 runs. Altogether, the Manatees had 9 extra base hits in the game and scored 2 or more runs in 6 of the 9 innings, including 11 in the last 3 innings. Amazingly they trailed 9-8 going into the 7th inning.
As always...
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