Chatter from the Press Box: Game 80: Arkansas Travelers (Garrett Richards) @ Frisco RoughRiders (Martin Perez)

Time: 6:00 PM CT
Location: Dr. Pepper Ballpark (Frisco, TX)
Team Records: Frisco RoughRiders (4-5 2 games back in the Texas League South; 44-35 overall)... Arkansas Travelers (7-2 1st place in the Texas League North; 43-33 overall)
Streak: Won 1 in a row
Last 10: 4-6
Homestand: 2-1
Series Record: 11-9-2
2011 Record against Arkansas: 2-4
All-Time Record against Arkansas: 83-44
Record on July 3rd since 2004: 4-3
Starting Pitchers: Martin Perez (4-2 3.28 ERA) is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP in 3 career starts against the Arkansas Travelers ... Garrett Richards (9-1 3.30 ERA) is 1-0 with a 4.15 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP in 2 career starts against the Frisco RoughRiders.

What to Watch for on the Mound: Frisco sends Martin Perez to the mound for the 16th time this season, while Arkansas sends Garrett Richards to the mound for the 15th time this season in the first of a three game set... Martin Perez looks to build on his last start against the Midland Rockhounds as he faces the Arkansas Travelers for the first time since his April 19th rain shortened 5 inning perfect game. In his last start against the Rockhounds, Perez gave up 3 hits, 2 walks, and 3 runs (2 earned) over 6 innings with 5 strikeouts. For the month of June, Perez struggled to a 2-2 record and a 5.65 ERA in 5 starts as he gave up 35 hits over 28 2/3 innings. However, Perez cut his walks down to just 7 with 25 strikeouts. Overall on the season, Perez has given up 77 hits and 32 walks with 78 strikeouts in 82 1/3 innings. His FIP for the season is 3.46 right now, his best since 2009 in low-A ball. At home, Perez is 1-1 with a 2.93 ERA in 5 starts. Left handed batters are hitting just .188 against Perez this season... While Perez struggled a bit in June, Garrett Richards looks to feed off of his outstanding month of June and use the success in July and beyond. In his last start Richards gave up 3 hits, 1 walk, and struck out 7 over 7 shutout innings against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. In his last start against Frisco, Richards gave up 10 hits, 0 walks, and 2 runs over 8 innings with 4 strikeouts. On the season, Garrett has given up 77 hits, 28 walks, and struck out 75 batters in 92 2/3 innings. In the month of June, he went 4-0 with a 2.31 ERA in 5 starts, including 2 complete games. Garrett Richards is 3-1 with a 5.18 ERA in 7 road starts this season compared to 6-0 with a 1.76 ERA in 7 home starts.

Frisco Scores 2 in 7th inning to Take Series from Springfield: Frisco led 1-0 for most of the game, but 3 walks in the 6th inning helped Springfield tie the game at 1-1. A key 2 run double in the 7th inning gave Frisco a 3-1 lead, which remained the score despite a controversial ending. Frisco won the series as they took 2 out of 3 from the Springfield Cardinals. Frisco was also the only team in the Texas League South to win on Saturday, so they moved to 2 games back in a tight division early on in the 2nd half.

Joe Wieland's Home AA Debut: After making his AA debut on the road with 5 solid innings, Joe Wieland was put on the spot by having his home debut on TV around the DFW area on TXA 21, and he lived up to the billing by allowing 5 hits, 3 walks, and 1 run over 6 innings with 1 strikeout. Wieland set a career high for walks in an inning with 3 in the 6th inning. They were his only walks in the start and in AA so far. Wieland was regularly in the low 90s with his fastball.

Leonys Martin Leads Offense: For most of the day the offense was lethargic at best, but the one guy that had a good game was 23 year old outfielder Leonys Martin. Martin extended his on base streak to 23 games with a leadoff homerun in the 1st inning. The homerun was blasted to right field off of Springfield starter Scott Schneider and landed in Frisco's pool zone splashing into the pool. It was Martin's 2nd splash ball of the season out of his 4 homeruns. It's the first time a Frisco RoughRider hitter has hit more than one homerun into the pool. Martin also walked in his second plate appearance and stole second base, his 10th of the season.

Guilder Rodriguez Sets Career Best: Guilder Rodriguez had one hit in the game in 3 at bats on Saturday, but it was the most important hit of the day as he had a 2 RBI double in the 7th inning with 2 outs. The RBIs are his 31st and 32nd of the season giving him a career high 32 RBI for the season. His previous high was 31, which he achieved last year between Frisco (23) and AAA Oklahoma City (8). Of his 32 RBI, 31 have come with runners in scoring position. Rodriguez is batting .348 with RISP with a .429 OBP and .435 SLG.

Tufts Continues Relief Work: Frisco reliever Tyler Tufts has been outstanding this season and continued that work for Frisco on Saturday. Tufts pitched 1 2/3 innings of shutout relief to get his 2nd save of the season for Frisco. Over his last 10 appearances, Tufts has 2 saves in 12 2/3 innings with 12 hits given up, 2 walks, and 14 strikeouts. Over 35 appearances for Frisco since 2010, Tufts is 2-3 with 4 saves and a 2.09 ERA. He has given up 44 hits and 7 walks over 47 1/3 innings with 39 strikeouts.

Mike Trout Returns to Frisco: Baseball America's #2 overall prospect and the best prospect in the Los Angeles Angel's system comes with the Arkansas Travelers to Frisco for the first time since early April. Mike Trout, 19 years old, is batting .330 with 12 doubles, 10 triples, 9 homeruns, and 64 runs in 71 games for the Travelers. He has a .424 on base percentage, .548 slugging percentage, and a .972 OPS. He has stolen 26 bases in 34 attempts. The most games he has gone in a row without reaching base was two games. Consistency is the name of the game for the 19 year old phenom, who's lowest monthly OPS this season was his .877 OPS in April. In the month of June, Mike Trout batted .365/.445/.625/1.070.

Tracking Texas League Homeruns: 592 in 626 Games (0.946 HR/G)

Term of the Day: Player Development- Providing experience and instruction for minor-league players. In response to a dangerous decline in minor-league attendance that threatened the future of the minors, the major leagues adopted a "player development plan" on May 18, 1962. The majors increased funding of the minors in return for authority over personnel issues. This transformed the minors into being primarily developers of talent for the majors, and the "career" minor leaguer became effectively extinct, replaced by younger prospects. The plan also abolished classes B, C, and D and replaced them with the rookie league.

Last Year on This Date: Frisco swept a double header with the Springfield Cardinals at home. They won the first game 10-5 and the second game 3-1.

Richard Bleier started the first game and gave up 7 hits, 3 walks, and 4 runs over 3 innings with 4 strikeouts. Brennan Garr picked up his 6th win of a season with 2 shutout innings of relief. Ben Snyder gave up 1 run over 2 innings. Endy Chavez went 3 for 5 at the plate for Frisco. Matt Lawson went 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored. Engel Beltre went 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and a walk. Emerson Frostad went 3 for 3 with a RBI and a walk for the Riders. Joey Butler went 2 for 3 with 2 RBI and a walk. Mitch Hilligoss 1 for 2 with 2 RBI and 2 walks, while Taylor Teagarden went 1 for 4 with a RBI and a walk.

Ryan Tatusko started the second game of the double header and gave up 3 hits, 2 walks, and 1 run over 5 2/3 innings with 7 strikeouts. Josh Lueke pitched 1/3 of an inning with 1 strikeout, while Cody Eppley pitched the scoreless 9th inning for his 7th save. Mitch Hilligoss went 2 for 3 with a double and 2 runs scored. Renny Osuna went 0 for 2 with 2 RBI and a hit by pitch. Engel Beltre went 1 for 3 with a RBI for the Riders. Andy Jenkins, Emerson Frostad, and Joey Butler each added a single as well.

Around the Ranger's System

Yesterday's Record: 2-3

Round Rock (AAA) scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to tie the game at 7-7 and defeated the Nashville Sounds 9-7 with 2 runs in the bottom of the 12th. Eric Hurley started for Round Rock and gave up 7 hits, 3 walks, and 6 runs over 5 1/3 innings with 2 strikeouts. Ryan Tucker pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. Beau Jones gave up 1 run in 1 inning of relief. Cody Eppley pitched 2 innings of relief without allowing a run and Mark Hamburger picked up his 2nd win with 2 scoreless innings of relief as well. Mike Napoli went 2 for 5 with 2 homeruns, 4 RBI, and 2 runs on rehab for Round Rock. Chad Tracy went 2 for 6 with a double, homerun, and 2 RBI as well. Joey Butler added a 2 for 6 day with a double for the Riders. Julio Borbon added a 1 for 5 day with a walk and his 14th stolen base. Doug Deeds went 2 for 6 with a double and 3 RBI. Omar Quintanilla, Esteban German, and Matt Kata each added a hit as well.

Myrtle Beach (High-A) scored 3 runs in the top of the 8th inning, but fell just short 5-4 to the Lynchburg Hillcats on the road. Miguel De Los Santos started for Myrtle Beach and gave up 5 hits, 2 walks, and 4 runs over 4 innings with 5 strikeouts. Kennil Gomez gave up a run over 3 innings of relief, while Zach Osborne pitched 1 scoreless innings. Jared Prince went 2 for 4 with a homerun, 3 RBI, and run scored at the plate for Myrtle Beach. Andres James went 2 for 4 with a double for the Pelicans. Zach Zaneski and Jared Hoying each added 2 hits a piece as well, while Santiago Chirino and Jared Bolden added a hit too.

Hickory (Low-A) gave up the tying run in the 9th inning and lost 4-3 to the Greenville Drive. Roman Mendez started for Hickory and had a complete turnaround from his last start. Mendez gave up 6 hits, 2 walks, and 2 runs over 7 innings with 10 strikeouts. Ben Rowen pitched 1/3 of an inning without allowing a run in relief. Ryan Rodebaugh gave up 1 unearned run over 1 2/3 innings, while Jorge Marban gave up 1 run over 1 1/3 innings of relief. Shortstop Jurickson Profar went 1 for 3 with a walk. Yefry Castillo went 1 for 4 with a double, while Jonathan Roof went 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored for the Crawdads.

Spokane (Short Season A-Ball) lost 6-5 to the Tri City Dust Devils in 11 innings after each team scored a run in the 10th inning. David Perez started for Spokane and gave up 2 hits, 5 walks, and 2 runs over 3 2/3 innings with 8 strikeouts. Francisco Mendoza gave up 3 hits and 2 runs in 1 1/3 innings of relief. 2011 draft pick Will Lamb pitched 2 shutout innings of relief with 4 strikeouts. Kyle Hendricks followed Lamb with 2 scoreless innings of his own. Matt West took the loss with 2 runs in 1 inning of relief effort. Jorge Alfaro led Spokane with 3 hits in the game in 5 at bats. Nick Vickerson went 2 for 5 for Spokane with a double, triple, and a RBI. Zach Cone went 1 for 3 with a double, 2 RBI, a walk, and a stolen base for the Indians. Trever Adams, Guillermo Pimentel, and Edwin Garcia each added a hit as well.

Minor League Performance of the Day

When the Washington Nationals drafted Destin Hood in the second round of the 2008 draft they knew they were taking a chance on a raw player who was committed to Alabama as a wide receiver. Days like Hood's day on Saturday are reasons for why the Nationals drafted him. In the Potomac National's 14-1 victory over the Wilmington Blue Rocks, Destin Hood went 3 for 5 with a double, 2 homeruns, 5 RBI, and 3 runs scored. On the season, Hood is now batting .270/.363/.476/.839 with 23 doubles, 4 triples, 7 homeruns, and 45 RBI in 71 games. His 34 extra base hits are already closing in on a career high amount of extra base hits with still most of the second half remaining. His 35 walks are already a career high as well.

As always...

A special thanks to any blog followers from Bountiful, Utah!