Game 68: Frisco RoughRiders (Brandon Webb) @ Corpus Christi Hooks (Ross Seaton)

Time: 6:05 PM CT
Location: Whataburger Field (Corpus Christi, TX)
Team Records: Frisco RoughRiders (38-29 9 games back in the Texas League South)... Corpus Christi Hooks (24-43 23 games back in the Texas League South)
Streak: Won 2 in a row
Last 10: 6-4
Road Trip Record: 5-2
Series Record: 9-8-1
2011 Record against Corpus Christi: 8-7
All-Time Record against Corpus Christi: 103-96
Record on June 19th since 2004: 6-1
Starting Pitchers: Brandon Webb (0-1 7.11 ERA) is making his first career start against the Corpus Christi Hooks ...Ross Seaton (2-5 5.30 ERA) is 1-1 with a 4.58 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 3 career starts against the Frisco RoughRiders.

What to Watch for on the Mound: Frisco sends Brandon Webb to the mound for the 3rd time this year, while Corpus Christi sends Ross Seaton to the mound for the 14th time this season in the final game of a four game set... Brandon Webb looks to build on his last outing in Midland when he gave up just 1 hit and 1 walk over 3 shutout innings. The former Cy Young award winner is making his third professional start of the season and 3rd since 2009. His last start came in Frisco's 10-4 win over Midland on Tuesday. On the season, Brandon Webb has given up 9 hits and 3 walks with 5 strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings. Webb, who finished in the top 2 in the National League Cy Young vote for 3 consecutive years from 2006-2008, turned 32 in May. He holds a career 87-62 record in the major leagues with a 3.27 ERA and 1.24 WHIP... Ross Seaton has had a fairly up and down season so far this year in the Texas League. In his last outing, Seaton gave up 8 hits, 2 walks, and 5 runs over 5 innings in a loss to the San Antonio Missions. He has made three starts against Frisco this season. In his last start against Frisco, Seaton gave up 10 hits, 1 walk, and 7 runs (6 earned) over 6 innings with 3 strikeouts. He received a no-decision in the 10-7 loss to Frisco. At home this season, Ross is 1-3 with a 5.30 ERA in 6 starts. He is 1-4 with a 6.71 ERA in the Hook's 10 night games this year. Opponents are hitting .386 against him in the first inning this year as he has posted a 9.69 ERA in the first inning and 4.38 ERA in every other inning this season.

Frisco Takes Game Three 9-6 in Extras: Frisco was down 3-0 after the first inning, but battled back to tie the game in the 6th and took a 2 run lead in the top of the 8th, before giving up 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th. Frisco defeated Corpus Christi with 3 runs in the 13th inning, however, to give them a guarantee of a split on the road and a guaranteed winning road trip.

Offense Comes Back for Another Game: They didn't quite score 10 runs again, but the offense got 15 or more hits for the 4th time in 7 games on the road trip. They have averaged 7.86 runs per game and accumulated 91 hits for an average of 13 per game on the road trip. It was also the 4th time this road trip that Frisco has had at least 3 players with 3 hits in the same game and Frisco had 11 3 hit games over the 7 games. Every player except Renny Osuna in the lineup had at least one hit and every player in the lineup reached base at least once.

Jake Brigham's Start: After having a few rough starts, Jake Brigham seems to be getting his command back lately as he had another solid start. Brigham gave up 6 hits, 2 walks, and 4 runs (3 earned) over 6 innings with 7 strikeouts. The 24 year old right hander received a no decision for the effort as Frisco took the lead and then gave it up. He threw 97 pitches, 64 of which went for strikes and induced 6 groundball outs to 1 flyout. Over his last 2 starts, Brigham has given up 4 walks and struck out 13 batters over 12 innings. His 13 strikeouts are more than his previous 4 starts combined.

Mike Bianucci Goes Yard: It's been a season of cat and mouse with Mike Bianucci and Tommy Mendonca in the RBI and homerun categories. Both have had terrific first half seasons. On Saturday, Bianucci took the lead in homeruns after he went 3 for 6 with his 15th homerun of the season. He also drove in 3 runs to bring his RBI total to 52 for the season. In total, Bianucci reached base 4 times as he also walked. He scored 2 runs as well.

Travis Adair Leads Off: Since Leonys Martin went on the DL, Travis Adair has been the leadoff hitter when he has played, which has been roughly half the time. On Saturday, Adair led off and led off well as he reached base 4 times in 7 trips to the plate. He went 3 for 6 with a double, RBI, walk, and run scored. He raised his average to .257 and RBI total to 13.

Mendonca Extends Streaks: He didn't have his best road game, but Tommy Mendonca extended his road on base streak to 34 games this year and 40 overall with a double in the 7th inning. He finished the game 1 for 6 with the double, RBI, and walk (intentional). It was the first game that his batting average and OPS went down since June 8th to June 9th  He currently has three other notable streaks going beyond the on base streak. He has 6 consecutive games with a RBI, he has 9 consecutive games with either a RBI or run scored, and he hasn't struck out for 4 consecutive games, which ties a career best with a 4 game streak last year from July 5th-9th for Bakersfield.

Engel Beltre Gets 3 hits: Another player with 3 hits in the game was Engel Beltre, who had his 2nd 3 hit game this year. He finished the game 3 for 7 with 2 runs scored. It was his first multi hit game since June 9th, when he had 2 hits against San Antonio. On the road trip he is 7 for 31 (.226) with 1 double, 1 RBI, and 4 runs scored.

Guilder Rodriguez Continues to Hit Well: The fourth player with 3 hits in the game was Guilder Rodriguez who continues to hit the ball well for Frisco. He finished 3 for 6 with a RBI and a run in the game. He is currently batting .323 in the month of June On the road trip he is 11 for 29 (.379) with 2 doubles, 4 RBI, and 9 runs scored. He has had 3 3 hit games in the 7 games and has scored a run in 6 consecutive games.

Flores Gets Win With Perfect Relief Effort: Adalberto Flores has pitched very well for Frisco this season, which is probably why he will be pitching in the Texas League All-star game this year. On Saturday he showed why with 4 perfect innings of relief. Flores faced 12 batters and struck out 6 of them without issuing a walk or hit. He went through the Hook's 3-4-5 hitters in the 13th inning to earn the win.

Tracking Texas League Homeruns: 493 in 520 games (0.930 HR/G)

Term of the Day: Chicken Winger- A pitcher who leads with his elbow with limited extension, shortening his delivery into a more awkward and less fluid motion. The term is generally applied to left handed pitchers who lack strong fastballs.

Last Year on This Date: Frisco scored 7 runs in the first 3 innings and defeated the Corpus Christi Hooks 7-3 on the road. Tanner Roark made the start for Frisco and gave up 6 hits, 2 walks, and 3 runs over 5 1/3 innings with 5 strikeouts. Josh Lueke and Cody Eppley pitched 3 2/3 innings of shutout relief. Mitch Hilligoss led Frisco with a 3 for 4 day. Renny Osuna added a 2 for 5 day with a RBI and 2 runs scored. Guilder Rodriguez added a 2 for 4 day for the Riders. Matt Lawson went 1 for 5 with a 2-run homerun in the first inning. Taylor Teagarden, Joey Butler, and Marcus Lemon each added a hit as well for Frisco.

Answer to Yesterday's Question of the Day: Bryce Harper was rated by Baseball America as the #1 prospect in baseball entering 2011. The 18 year old 2010 1st overall pick is batting .330/.429/.586/1.014 with 14 doubles, 1 triple, 14 homeruns, and 45 RBI in 64 games for the low-A Hagerstown Suns.

Around the Ranger's System

Yesterday's Record: 5-0

Round Rock (AAA) scored in 4 different innings and defeated the Omaha Storm Chasers 7-5 at home. Brett Tomko started for Round Rock and gave up 5 hits and 4 runs (3 earned) over 6 innings with 2 strikeouts. Zach Phillips gave up a run in 1 2/3 innings of relief and Cody Eppley finished the game with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for his 6th save. Chris Davis went 2 for 3 with 2 homeruns and 4 RBI for Round Rock. Former Rider Joey Butler went 1 for 4 with a homerun and 2 RBI. Luis Cruz also hit a homerun and went 2 for 4 in the game. Robbie Diaz went 2 for 4 for the Express. Omar Quintanilla, Brian Barden, and Matt Kata each added a hit as well.

Myrtle Beach (High-A) scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th to defeat the Frederick Keys 8-5. Kennil Gomez started for Myrtle Beach and gave up 2 hits, 3 walks, and 2 runs over 4 innings with 2 strikeouts. Chad Bell gave up a run over 2 1/3 innings of relief with 3 strikeouts. Trevor Hurley received the win after getting a blown save with 2 runs given up in 1 2/3 innings of relief. Ryan Kelly pitched a scoreless 9th inning for his 9th save. Leury Garcia went 3 for 5 at the plate with a RBI. Jared Hoying also had 3 hits in 5 at bats with a double, RBI, and run scored. Jared Prince went 2 for 5 with 2 RBI. Ryan Strausborger went 1 for 4 with a walk for the Pelicans. Zach Zaneski and Mitch Hilligoss each added 2 hits at the plate as well. Jared Bolden and Chris McGuiness each had a hit in 4 at bats with each getting a double. McGuiness added a RBI and a walk.

Hickory (Low-A) scored 5 runs in the 7th and 8th innings to win 5-3 over the Charleston RiverDogs. Nick Tepesch gave up 5 hits, 3 walks, and 2 runs over 5 innings with 1 strikeout and 10 groundball outs to 4 flyouts. Ben Rowen, Joseph Van Meter, and Ryan Rodebaugh combined to give up 1 unearned run over 4 innings of relief. Rodebaugh got his 10th save of the season. Jurickson Profar went 1 for 4 with a triple and a RBI. Andrew Clark finished 2 for 3 with a homerun and 2 RBI for the Crawdads. Jake Skole went 1 for 3, while Teodoro Martinez went 1 for 3 with a double at the plate for Hickory. Christian Villanueva went 0 for 2 with a walk and his 16th steal of the year.

Spokane (Short Season-A) scored 5 runs in the 4th inning and defeated the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 7-2 at home. Victor Payano started for Spokane and gave up 2 hits and 4 walks over 4 shutout innings with 3 strikeouts. Juan Grullon earned the victory with 2 shutout innings of relief. Kyle Hendricks pitched a scoreless 7th inning, Leonel De Los Santos gave up 2 runs in the 8th, and Matt West pitched a scoreless 9th for the win. Roughned Odor went 2 for 5 at the plate with a RBI and a run scored. Hanser Alberto went 2 for 5 with a double and 2 RBI. Braxton Lane led the Indians with a 3 for 4 day including double, RBI, and 2 runs scored. Carson Vitale and Hirotoshi Onaka each added a hit in the game.

Minor League Performance of the Day

Trevor Plouffe is in the middle of having his best year yet as his .947 OPS is over 200 points higher than his previous career best in the minor leagues. On Saturday, Plouffe had a couple big games for the Rochester Red Wings when they played a double header with the Indianapolis Indians. Plouffe went 2 for 4 with a double, a homerun, and 2 RBI in the first game. He then went 3 for 5 with a double, triple, and homerun along with 3 RBI and 3 runs scored in the second game. Rochester lost the first game 7-5, but won the second game 12-7. Overall, Plouffe was 5 for 9 with 2 doubles, a triple, 2 homeruns, 5 RBI, and 5 runs scored. He is now batting .277 with a .947 OPS after the offensive outburst. The recently turned 25 year old shortstop was selected in the first round by the Minnesota Twins in the 2004 draft. In 115 plate appearances in the major leagues, Plouffe has a career line of: .178/.248/.356/.604.

As always...

Station to Listen to the Game on: 1630 AM (KKGM)
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- By Michael Damman