Time: 2:05 PM CT
Location: ONEOK Field (Tulsa, OK)
Team Records: Frisco RoughRiders (30-24 6 games back in the Texas League South)... Tulsa Drillers (28-25 1st place in the Texas League North)
Streak: Won 4 in a Row
Last 10: 7-3
Series Record: 7-7-1
2011 Record against Tulsa: 3-1
All-Time Record against Tulsa: 61-70
Record since 2004 on June 5th: 2-4 with 1 off day
Starting Pitchers: Richard Bleier (0-2 5.59 ERA) is 1-0 with a 3.09 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 2 career appearances and 1 start against the Tulsa Drillers... Christian Friedrich (4-3 4.64) is 1-1 with a 6.06 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 3 career starts against the Frisco RoughRiders
What to Watch for on the Mound: Frisco sends Richard Bleier to the mound for the 7th time this season and 5th start, while Tulsa sends Christian Friedrich to the mound for the 11th time this season in a battle of southpaws... Richard Bleier pitched in relief in his last outing and gave up 3 hits and 2 runs (1 earned) over 5 innings with 2 strikeouts and 0 walks against Tulsa. In his last start, Bleier gave up 9 hits, 1 walk, and 6 runs over 6 innings with 3 strikeouts against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. On the season, Bleier has given up 40 hits and 3 walks over 29 innings with 15 strikeouts. In 2 starts on the road, Bleier is 0-1 with an 8.64 ERA. Batters are hitting .374 against him when he is the starting pitcher. The 24 year old pitcher led Frisco in innings pitched last season with 164 1/3... Christian Friederich made his last start against Frisco on Memorial Day and he was dominant in the outing. Friedrich gave up just 2 hits, 1 walk, and 1 run over 7 strong innings with 5 strikeouts. It was the 2nd time in 10 starts that he lasted 7 innings and the fewest hits and baserunners he has given up in a start this year. The 23 year old former 1st round pick has given up 55 hits and 16 walks over 52 1/3 innings for the season. He is 2-1 with a 2.16 ERA in 3 home starts as opponents have hit .190 against him at home. During the month of May, Friedrich went 3-1 with a 2.78 ERA in 6 starts showing flashes of why the Rockies selected him in the first round. Since coming to the Texas League, Friedrich is 7-9 with a 4.90 ERA in 28 starts.
Another Day, Another Win: The Frisco RoughRiders moved to 4-0 in the month of June with a 4-1 victory over the Tulsa Drillers. Frisco got great pitching performances from Robbie Erlin and the bullpen and used 5 extra base hits in the game to help the team defeat the Texas League North first place team, the Tulsa Drillers. The 4-0 record to open June is the team's best start to open a month since opening August 2008 with a 6-0 record. Frisco's 22-10 (.688 winning%) record since May 1st is the best record in the Texas League during that time, the 2nd best in AA baseball overall, and is tied for the 5th best record in all of minor league baseball (full season teams) during that time frame.
Robbie Erlin Victorious Again: Two starts into his AA tenure and Robbie Erlin is already 2-0 for the RoughRiders and 2-0 against the Tulsa Drillers. Erlin gave up just 4 hits, 1 walk, and 1 unearned run over 6 innings with 5 strikeouts. He got 5 groundball outs to 3 flyouts in the start and threw 54 of 90 pitches for strikes. On the season now, Erlin is 5-2 with a 2.15 ERA in 11 starts with 35 hits and 7 walks given up in 67 innings and has struck out 70 batters.
Tommy Mendonca Gets 2 Hits, Ends Streak: Yesterday we talked about Tommy Mendonca's triple and his strikeout streak, which was up to 13 games. Well, on Saturday Mendonca went 2 for 4 with 2 doubles, a RBI, and did not strikeout in the game. He also raised his road batting line (if you can believe it), to .371/.396/.938/1.034. He has a modest 5 game hit streak and 6 game on base streak going. He has driven in a run or scored a run in 5 straight games as well.
Jonathan Greene Continues Road Trip Success: Jonathan Greene has not hit all that well away from Dr. Pepper Ballpark this season, but this road trip has at least brought up his numbers a bit. Greene has hit in all 4 games, has scored at least one run in all 4 games, and has driven in at least one run in all 4 games. Oh and he has 4 extra base hits, including 3 straight games with a double. Altogether, Greene is 7 for 16 with 3 doubles, a homerun, 6 RBI, 7 runs, and 2 walks to 1 strikeout. His batting line on the road is now at: .245/.343/.394/.737 as opposed to his .394/.449/.676/1.125 batting line at Dr. Pepper Ballpark. Still, Greene is the highest qualified RoughRider in season OPS (.902).
Osuna Ties Marcus Lemon: Renny Osuna's 1st inning double to left field was his only hit of the game in 4 at bats, but it tied him with Marcus Lemon for 4th place on the Frisco RoughRider career hits list with 245 career hits. He is 8 away from tying Emerson Frostad, who recently signed with the Corpus Christi Hooks, for 3rd place on the list. The leader, Steve Murphy, had 319 career hits for the RoughRiders. Osuna is also up to 6th place on the runs scored list with 121. Murphy also leads in runs scored with 194.
Bullpen Work: When Erlin left the game with a 4-1 lead in the 7th, the bullpen cruised to get Erlin the win. Tyler Tufts relieved Erlin and struck out the side in the 7th. Corey Young relieved Tyler Tufts and got a strikeout and 2 groundouts. Then Fabio Castillo took over and gave up a single, but induced a groundball double play and a line out to end the game to get his 6th save of the year. Castillo has given up 1 hit, 0 walks, and 0 runs over his last 5 appearances and innings with 5 saves. He has had scoreless appearances in 8 of his last 10 appearances. Since May 1st, Fabio Castillo is 2nd in the Texas League with 6 saves (1 behind San Antonio's Brad Brach) and he has a 0.95 WHIP with a .130 opponents average over that same time in 11 appearances (14 2/3 IP). He took over as closer on May 19th as well.
Streaking In the Texas League: The Midland Rockhound's Jermaine Mitchell has really had an incredible year so far, but there is a streak to note that he currently on. Jermaine Mitchell has reached base in 27 consecutive games, including a 11 game hitting streak. He also has reached base in 41 of the last 42 games and 50 of the 52 games he has played in during this season. It's a no wonder that he is currently 2nd in all of minor league baseball with a .486 on base percentage and 3rd in OPS. His full batting line is: .366/.486/.659/1.145.
Last Year on This Date: Frisco scored 3 runs in the top of the 9th to defeat the Tulsa Drillers 7-4 on the road. Ryan Tatusko started the game for Frisco and gave up 7 hits, 1 walk, and 4 runs with 6 strikeouts. Beau Jones picked up the win with 2 innings of shutout relief, while Cody Eppley picked up his 4th save. Ironically Christian Friedrich started that game for Tulsa and 1 year later will be starting on June 5th at home against Frisco again. Renny Osuna went 3 for 5 with 2 RBI at the plate for Frisco. Guilder Rodriguez also had 3 hits in 4 at bats with 2 RBI. James Tomlin and Emerson Frostad each had 2 hits. Joey Butler had a RBI triple, Taylor Teagarden had a double, RBI, and walk, and Marcus Lemon had 1 hit and a walk.
Answer to Yesterday's Question of the Day: Jim Bottomley (September 16, 1924) and Mark Whitten (September 7, 1993), both playing for the St. Louis Cardinals, had 12 RBI in a single game.
Around the Ranger's System
Yesterday's Record: 1-3
Round Rock (AAA) lost 8-3 to the Albuquerque Isotopes at home. Tommy Hunter started for Round Rock on rehab and gave up 5 hits and 3 runs over 2 innings with 1 strikeout and 0 walks. Seth McClung pitched 6 innings of relief and gave up 10 hits, 2 walks, and 5 runs with 5 strikeouts. Cody Eppley pitched a scoreless 9th inning. Julio Borbon, also on rehab, went 0 for 4 with a walk and a stolen base (his 4th). Chad Tracy, a former Rider, went 2 for 4 with a solo homerun, while Joey Butler, also a former Rider, went 1 for 3 with a RBI and a walk. Taylor Teagarden also added 2 hits in the game for the Express. Brad Nelson, Matt Kata, and Doug Deeds had a hit a piece.
Myrtle Beach (High-A) gave up 4 runs in the 6th inning and lost 8-6 to the Lynchburg Hillcats on the road. Barret Loux started for Myrtle Beach and received a no decision in the start. Loux gave up 8 hits and 3 runs over 5 innings with 5 strikeouts and 0 walks. Zach Osborne took the loss after giving up 4 runs over 1 inning of relief. Former Rider Kasey Kiker gave up 1 run over 2 innings of relief. Mike Olt went 1 for 4 at the plate for Myrtle Beach. Ryan Strausborger went 2 for 5 with a double for the Pelicans. Zach Zaneski led the team with 3 hits in the game, including a solo homerun. Jared Prince had 2 hits of his own. Jared Bolden, David Paisano, Leury Garcia (a triple), and Andres James each had a hit as well.
Hickory (Low-A) gave up a run in the 8th inning and lost 7-6 to the Delmarva Shorebirds on the road. Matt Thompson started for Hickory and had control problems again as he walked 5 batters, gave up 1 hit, and allowed 3 runs over 3 1/3 innings with 4 strikeouts. Ben Rowen took the loss for Hickory after giving up 2 runs (1 earned) over 2 innings of relief. Jurickson Profar went 1 for 5 with a RBI double and a run scored at the plate for Hickory. Odubel Herrera went 3 for 5 with a double, 3 RBI, and a run scored for the Crawdads. Tomas Telis added 3 hits in 5 at bats with a RBI as well. Christian Villanueva went 1 for 5 wtih a double and a RBI, while Kellin Deglan went 1 for 3 with a walk and 2 runs scored.
Minor League Performance of the Day
While Julio Teheran was the highlight name in the game between the Gwinnett Braves and Buffalo Bisons, it was Stefan Gartrell who put on the show. The 27 year old career minor leaguer went 4 for 4 at the plate with 2 doubles, 2 homeruns, 5 RBI, and 4 runs scored in Gwinnett's 7-1 victory over Buffalo. Gartrell supplied all of the support that the 20 year old starting pitcher needed. Gartrell is hitting .284 with 14 doubles, 9 homeruns, and 31 RBI for the Braves now on the season. He has an .872 OPS through 38 games for Gwinnett. Stefan was drafted in the 31st round of the 2006 MLB draft by the Chicago White Sox. He was traded to the Atlanta Braves on April 16th this year for cash considerations.
As always...
Station to Listen to the Game on: 1630 AM (KKGM)
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And Check Out the Riders Insider Blog for more Frisco RoughRiders info: http://ridersinsider.mlblogs.com/
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