Game 72: Midland Rockhounds (Anthony Capra) @ Frisco RoughRiders (Jake Brigham)

Time: 7:00 PM CT
Location: Dr. Pepper Ballpark (Frisco,TX)
Team Records: Frisco RoughRiders (0-1 1 game back in the Texas League South; 40-31 overall)... Midland Rockhounds (1-0 Tied for First in the Texas League South; 28-43 overall)
Streak: Lost 2 in a row
Last 10: 7-3
Homestand Record: 1-2
Series Record: 10-8-1
2011 Record against Midland: 11-4
All-Time Record against Midland: 114-101
Record on June 23rd since 2004: 5-2
Starting Pitchers: Jake Brigham (3-5 4.96 ERA) is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 2 career starts against the Midland Rockhounds... Anthony Capra (1-3 5.89 ERA) is 1-5 with a 6.03 ERA and 1.78 WHIP in 7 career starts against the Frisco RoughRiders

What to Watch for on the Mound: Frisco sends Jake Brigham to the mound for the 15th time this season, while Midland sends Anthony Capra to the mound for the 14th time this season in a rematch of their June 13th starts... Jake Brigham will be making his 8th start at home this season and is still searching for his 1st win at Dr. Pepper Ballpark. In his last start, Brigham gave up 6 hits, 2 walks, and 4 runs (3 earned) over 6 innings with 7 strikeouts against the Corpus Christi Hooks on the road. After struggling for four starts from May 22nd to June 8th, Brigham has seemed to have regained his command better over his last two starts. In his last start against the Rockhounds on June 13th, Brigham gave up 6 hits, 2 walks, and 6 runs (3 earned) over 6 innings with 6 strikeouts en route to receiving his 3rd victory of the season in Frisco's 13-6 win over Midland. On the season, Brigham has given up 69 hits and 33 walks over 74 1/3 innings with 68 strikeouts... Anthony Capra has had an interesting, inconsistent 2011 season so far and looks to continue his solid pitching on the road. Capra went through a stretch of 4 starts where he gave up 1 earned run over 21 1/3 innings. The stretch followed a 4 start stretch where Capra gave up 22 earned runs over 19 2/3 innings. His dominant stretch has been followed by 2 starts where he's given up 10 earned runs in 8 1/3 innings. So you never do know which Anthony Capra you will get. In his last start against San Antonio, Capra gave up 4 hits, 3 walks, and 3 runs over 5 innings with 3 strikeouts. The last time Capra faced Frisco, on June 13th, he gave up 9 hits, 3 walks, and 7 runs (all earned) over 3 1/3 innings with 1 strikeout. On the season, Capra has given up 72 hits and 33 walks with 49 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings.


Frisco Loses 2nd in Row to Midland: Frisco lost 3-1 on Wednesday to the Midland Rockhounds in what should probably be deemed a sloppy game by both sides. Their losses on Tuesday and Wednesday mark the first time that Frisco has lost two games in a row to a team not named the San Antonio Missions since April 23rd-24th against the Corpus Christi Hooks. In the game, there were more combined errors made (5) than hits (4) or runs (4). It was just one of those kinds of games.

Martin Perez Makes Rare Home Showing: As talked about yesterday, Wednesday was only Martin Perez's 5th home start this season out of the 15 starts that he has made this season. He wasn't terrific, but he wasn't bad either. Perez only gave up 3 hits, 2 walks, and 3 runs (2 earned) over 6 innings with 5 strikeouts. He induced 8 groundouts to 5 flyouts. He also flashed a very good looking curveball at times, usually in the 73-74 range on the stadium gun (which take that for a grain of salt).

Gary Daley Dominant: Gary Daley didn't come in with the best numbers in his career against the Frisco RoughRiders, but if there was one way to describe him on Wednesday it was dominant. Daley held Frisco to just 1 hit and 1 unearned run over 8 innings with 3 walks and 6 strikeouts. Daley induced 17 groundouts in the game to 0 flyouts. 23 of his 24 outs were recorded via a groundout or strikeout. This was also a Frisco RoughRiders team that had scored 9 or more runs in 5 straight games against Midland.

Mendonca's RBI Streak In Tact: It was fortunate in many ways, but Tommy Mendonca somehow managed to keep his RBI streak alive to 10 games with a RBI groundout in the 6th inning. Davis Stoneburner led off the 6th inning by reaching via an error. Renny Osuna grounded into a fielders choice, which put Osuna at first and Stoneburner forced out at second. Osuna then stole second base and reached third via a throwing error by the Rockhound's catcher, Petey Paramore. Tommy Mendonca then grounded out to the second baseman to score Renny Osuna from third base. Mendonca finished 0 for 2 with a walk and a hit by pitch. He has been hit by a pitch in 3 straight games.

Tanner Scheppers Pitches for Frisco: Tanner Scheppers came in relief for Frisco in the 8th inning and struggled to get calls on the edges, which definitely caused him to throw more pitches. On the stadium gun, Scheppers was hitting upper 90s and also flashed a changeup and a few curveballs. He finished the outing after 2/3 of an inning when he had given up 2 walks and hit a batter with 2 strikeouts. He left with the bases loaded. Corey Young relieved Scheppers and got the first batter he faced to ground into a fielders choice forceout at second base.

Grant Green Heating Up: Shortstop Grant Green got off to a slow start this season, but seems to be heating back up, at least against Frisco. The Oakland Athletic's 2009 first round pick went 2 for 2 at the plate with his second homerun in this series and walked twice at the plate as well. His homerun landed in the berm in left centerfield. He has a 5 game RBI streak going himself and is 4 for 12 with 3 RBI against Frisco in this series. For the month of June, Green is batting .315 with 8 extra base hits and a .797 OPS in 21 games.


Martin Perez Selected to Futures Game: Major League Baseball came out with the Futures Game rosters today and among the players selected was Frisco starter Martin Perez. He was one of two from the Ranger's organization, along with Hickory shortstop Jurickson Profar. You can find the rosters here.

Among those from the Texas League:
C Wilin Rosario (Tulsa Drillers)
2B Jose Altuve (Corpus Christi Hooks)
3B James Darnell (San Antonio Missions)
SS Grant Green (Midland Rockhounds)
OF Wil Myers (Northwest Arkansas Naturals)
OF Mike Trout (Arkansas Travelers)
RHP Shelby Miller (Springfield Cardinals)
LHP Martin Perez (Frisco RoughRiders)
RP Kelvin Herrera (Northwest Arkansas Naturals)


Tracking Texas League Homeruns: 538 in 562 games (0.957 HR/G)

Term of the Day: Make-or-break season- That baseball season late in a player's career during which he must either produce or retire from active participation in the game.

Last Year on This Date: Frisco defeated the Midland Rockhounds 6-1 on the road. Martin Perez started for Frisco and gave up 3 hits and 1 walk over 7 shutout innings with 6 strikeouts. Adalberto Flores pitched 2 innings of relief and gave up 3 hits and 1 run with 3 strikeouts and 0 walks. Taylor Teagarden and Andy Jenkins both went 2 for 4 with a RBI. Jenkins added a double as part of his 2 hits. Marcus Lemon went 1 for 5 with a double, 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored. Renny Osuna went 1 for 4 with a double and 2 RBI. Mitch Hilligoss, James Tomlin, and Guilder Rodriguez each added a hit as well.

Around the Ranger's System

Yesterday's Record: 1-1

Round Rock (AAA) had their game suspended due to rain. They will complete the suspended game today and play their scheduled game as well.

Myrtle Beach (High-A) had the day off and begin the second half today at home against the Potomac Nationals.

Hickory (Low-A) had the day off and begin the second half today at home against the West Virginia Power.

Spokane (Short Season A ball) defeated the Yakima Bears 9-5 in 16 innings on the road. David Perez started for Spokane and gave up 4 hits and 2 runs over 5 innings with 6 strikeouts and 0 walks. Andres Perez-Lobo gave up 1 run over 2 innings of relief, while Francisco Mendoza gave up 2 runs over 0+ innings of relief. Matt West and Christopher Hanna pitched 4 scoreless innings of relief. Juan Grullon got his 3rd win of the season already after pitching 3 scoreless innings of relief. Rougned Odor went 3 for 8 at the plate with a homerun, 2 RBI, a run scored, and 2 stolen bases as the leadoff hitter. Nick Vickerson went 3 for 8 at the plate as well for Spokane with 2 doubles, a triple, 2 RBI, and a run scored. Zach Cone went 3 for 8 with 2 doubles and 2 runs scored. Guillermo Pimentel went 2 for 7 with a double, RBI, and run scored, while Edwin Garcia went 2 for 5 with 3 RBI and a run scored. Hanser Alberto, Brett Nicholas, and Carson Vitale added a hit a piece as well. Ruben Sierra Jr. had a rough game going 1 for 8 with 7 strikeouts.

Minor League Performance of the Day

On a day when a player had 3 homeruns and another player went 5 for 6 with 2 homeruns and 5 RBI, it was a pitcher who has already appeared on here once before that took home the minor league performance of the day honor. Phillies minor league pitcher Trevor May has had a very good year in high-A so far, but on Wednesday he took that to the next level. Pitching for the Clearwater Threshers, May gave up just 1 hit and 2 walks over 7 shutout innings with a season high 14 strikeouts. He will receive the no decision as the Tampa Yankees scored 2 runs in the 9th inning to tie the game 2-2 and the game was then suspended due to rain. On the season, Trevor May is 4-4 with a 3.23 ERA in 14 starts. He has given up just 57 hits and 37 walks over 78 innings with 102 strikeouts. Trevor May, 21 years old, was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 4th round of the 2008 draft. He was rated by Baseball America as Philadelphia's 5th best prospect entering the 2011 season.

As always...

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- By Michael Damman