Game 82: Arkansas Travelers (Trevor Reckling) @ Frisco RoughRiders (Ben Snyder)

Time: 7:00 PM CT
Location: Dr. Pepper Ballpark (Frisco, TX)
Team Records: Frisco RoughRiders (6-5 2 games back in the Texas League South; 46-35 overall)... Arkansas Travelers (7-4 1st place in the Texas League North; 43-35 overall)
Streak: Won 3 in a row
Last 10: 6-4
Homestand: 4-1
Series Record: 11-9-2
2011 Record against Arkansas: 4-4
All-Time Record against Arkansas: 85-44
Record on July 5th: 3-3
Starting Pitchers: Ben Snyder (6-1 3.35 ERA) is 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in 6 career appearances, including one start against the Arkansas Travelers ...Trevor Reckling (3-6 3.65 ERA) is 1-1 with a 1.42 ERA and 0.84 WHIP in 3 career starts against the Frisco RoughRiders.

What to Watch for on the Mound: Frisco sends Ben Snyder to the mound for the 29th time this season, including his third start, while Arkansas sends Trevor Reckling to the mound for the 16th time this season as Frisco tries to get their fourth sweep of the season... Ben Snyder looks to continue his steady pitching of late for Frisco as the left hander makes his 3rd consecutive start. In his last outing, Snyder gave up 7 hits, 1 walk, and 3 runs over 5 innings with 3 strikeouts against the Springfield Cardinals. As a starting pitcher, Snyder is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA in his 2 starts. He has struck out 7 batters to 1 walk in 10 innings of work. Over his last 10 games, Snyder is 3-1 with a 1.90 ERA over 23 2/3 innings pitched. On the season, he has given up 45 hits and 14 walks with 32 strikeouts over 48 1/3 innings pitched. Snyder is tied with Justin Miller for the team lead in wins this season. Left handed batters are hitting just .194 against Snyder this season... Trevor Reckling looks to salvage a game for Arkansas on Tuesday as the Travelers hope to avoid a 5th consecutive loss. In his last start against the Midland Rockhounds, Reckling gave up 8 hits, 3 walks, and 4 runs over 6 innings with 3 strikeouts. For the month of June, Reckling went 2-0 with a 3.44 ERA over 6 starts, despite opponents hitting .299 against him. On the season, Reckling has given up 91 hits and 34 walks with 59 strikeouts over 86 1/3 innings. He is 2-3 with a 3.61 ERA over 7 road starts this year. In his last start against Frisco, Reckling gave up 5 hits and 1 run with 5 strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings, but took the loss in the rain shortened April 19th game where Martin Perez threw the perfect game.


Frisco Cruises To Third Straight Victory: Frisco took a 2-0 lead through 5 innings and a 6-1 lead after 6 innings. It was all the Riders needed as they defeated the Arkansas Travelers 6-3. The win guaranteed a series victory over the Travelers and ensured their 5th consecutive series victory against a Texas League North opponent. Frisco is now 18-11 against the Texas League North this season. They have 19 remaining games against the Texas League North this season, including 7 at home.

Robbie Erlin Great Again: Robbie Erlin kept Arkansas Travelers batters off balance a lot on Monday and continued to show that he easily belongs in AA despite being only 20 years old. Erlin gave up 5 hits and 1 unearned run over 6 innings and struck out 6 batters. He used just 79 pitches and threw 59 strikes to get through the start and induced 5 groundballs to 4 flyouts. The win moved him to 5-0 as a Frisco RoughRider in 7 appearances/6 starts this season. It was the 2nd time as a RoughRider that Erlin did not allow a homerun and 5th time this season in 16 appearances/15 starts. I don't have the exact number of curveballs thrown, but Robbie Erlin certainly seemed to throw a number of curveballs in the start, more than he had in either of his other two home starts in Frisco.

Mendonca Back With a Bang: Tommy Mendonca was not with the team since the all-star due to personal reasons, but he made his presence known early in Monday's win. Mendonca singled with Osuna on base and 1 out in the 1st inning. He then hit a 2-run homerun in the 3rd inning to put Frisco on the board. The homerun was another opposite field homerun for Mendonca, his 8th such homerun of the season out of 16 total homeruns. He also has 6 opposite field homeruns in Frisco out of his 9 homeruns at Dr. Pepper Ballpark. Mendonca also walked in the game as he reached base 3 times in 4 plate appearances. Tommy is now hitting .328 with 64 RBI in 71 games this season. He is well ahead of where Chad Tracy was through the same point in 2009 when he set the single season Frisco record with 107 RBI in the season. Tracy had two big months though in July and August when he drove in 59 runs over the 2 months combined.

Going Opposite Field

Singles: 17 of 55 (31%)
Doubles: 6 of 20 (30%)
Triples: 0 of 3 (0%)
Homeruns: 8 of 16 (50%)
Total Bases: 61 of 168 (36%)


To Center Field

Singles: 16 of 55 (29%)
Doubles: 6 of 20 (30%)
Triples: 3 of 3 (100%)
Homeruns: 4 of 16 (25%)
Total Bases: 53 of 168 (32%)

To Right Field

Singles: 22 of 55 (40%)
Doubles: 8 of 20 (40%)
Triples: 0 of 3 (0%)
Homeruns: 4 of 16 (25%)
Total Bases: 54 of 168 (32%)

Six Riders With a Multi Hit Game: Frisco's offense was locked in against the Travelers on the 4th of July as the offense pounded out 15 hits with every player except Jonathan Greene getting a base hit in the game. Six Riders hitters finished with 2 or more hits in the game: Mendonca (2), Renny Osuna (3), Jose Ruiz (2), Engel Beltre (2), Elio Sarmiento (2), and Guilder Rodriguez (2).  They also produced 5 extra base hits in the game and walked more times (2) than they struck out (1). The last 3 hitters in the order finished 6 for 11 with 2 runs scored, a triple, 2 RBI, and a walk.

Elio Sarmiento Continues Big Season: If there is one player who has shown a lot of improvement for Frisco since first coming up, it's probably Elio Sarmiento. The 25 year old switch handed hitting catcher brought a career .178 batting average and 14 extra base hits (in 230 AB) into this season as he has been used mostly as a backup in his time with the Riders. This season, however, Sarmiento is batting .261 and is slugging .534. Sarmiento went 2 for 3 with a triple, RBI, and walk in the victory and now has 13 extra base hits in 88 at bats this season. His .850 OPS would be the best of his career by 34 points. Sarmiento's triple was also his 3rd triple of the season, which ties him with Tommy Mendonca and Engel Beltre for the team lead.

Don't Look Now, But...: Engel Beltre is beginning to hit better over the last couple weeks. Even with a batting line that is subpar to what many expected of him, Engel Beltre has been hitting the ball better with a .314 average and .743 OPS over the last 10 games, including 3 extra base hits. He has hit the ball harder on this homestand than he had at any other point this season as well. With another 2 for 4 day on Monday, Beltre has hit in a modest 7 straight, including all 5 home games this homestand. He still has work to do, but Beltre is improving a bit at least as his batting average is nearing .250.

Leonys Martin, Justin Miller Extend Streaks: Leonys Martin went only 1 for 5, but the 1 hit extended his on base streak to 25 games.  Since returning to the lineup since the All-star break, Martin is 5 for 21 (.238) with a double, a homerun, 5 RBI, 1 walk, 2 steals, and a .304 OBP and .429 SLG. Justin Miller pitched the 9th inning on Monday for his 6th save of the season and extended his scoreless appearance streak to 11 consecutive appearances spanning 18 1/3 innings. At Dr. Pepper Ballpark, Miller is 3-0 with 3 saves and a 0.75 ERA in 14 appearances. He has struck out 24 batters to 6 walks and 10 hits in 24 innings at home this season. 


Final Look At Trout?: It's very likely that this could be the Frisco RoughRider's last look at Mike Trout, the #2 prospect in baseball as rated by Baseball America, in Frisco. The 19 year old phenom is probably not going to return to AA next season with the way that he has handled the Texas League very easily. The only other way that Trout would return to Frisco would be if Frisco played Arkansas in the Texas League championship this season and even then it's possible Trout could get promoted by then. Trout, who went 2 for 5 with a run scored in their loss on Monday, is batting .327 with a .419 OBP and a .537 SLG in 73 games this season. He has scored 67 runs and has 12 doubles, 10 triples, 9 homeruns, with 28 steals in 36 attempts. He is batting .348 with a .982 OPS (.444 OBP) since May 1st and currently has an 11 game hit streak going with a 12 game on base streak. He will be representing the Los Angeles Angels organization in the XM All-Star Futures Game this Sunday. You can see the rosters and more info on the game here.

Tracking Texas League Homeruns: 611 in 642 games (0.952 HR/G)

Term of the Day: Green Book- The annual administrative manual and directory for the National League. Its contents include: history, office information, committees, and administrative rules for the league; franchise histories, directory of club officials, rosters, and logos for each team; prior year's standings, player statistics, and awards, and postseason results; All-Star Game information; attendance figures; and information on beat writers and broadcasters.

Last Year on This Date: Frisco lost 8-6 to the Arkansas Travelers at home. Blake Beavan started for Frisco and gave up 9 hits and 7 runs (5 earned) over 5 2/3 innings with 2 strikeouts and 0 walks. Kasey Kiker pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings, while Beau Jones followed up with a scoreless inning of his own. Josh Lueke gave up a run over 1 inning of relief. Trevor Reckling, who starts today for Arkansas, also started the game a year ago on this date for the Travelers and was the winning pitcher in the game. Engel Beltre went 2 for 4 at the plate with a triple, 2 RBI, and a run scored. Renny Osuna went 2 for 5 with a RBI and a run scored for the Riders. Taylor Teagarden doubled in 3 at bats with 2 RBI and a walk. Andy Jenkins and Guilder Rodriguez each added a hit in the game as well.


Around the Ranger's System

Yesterday's Record: 4-1

Round Rock (AAA) outslugged the Albuquerque Isotopes in their 13-10 victory on the 4th of July as there were plenty of fireworks to go around. Brett Tomko started for Round Rock and gave up 7 hits, 4 walks, and 7 runs over 5 innings with 3 strikeouts. Manny Delcarmen gave up 5 hits and 3 runs over 2 innings and picked up the win. Cody Eppley pitched the final 2 innings for his 7th save. Omar Quintanilla led Round Rock with a 6 for 6 day in the 2 spot in the lineup. Quintanilla had a double, 5 singles, drove in 4 runs, scored 3, and added a stolen base for good measure. Chris Davis went 3 for 6 with a double, homerun, 3 RBI, and scored 2 runs as well. Chad Tracy went 3 for 5 with 2 doubles, a homerun, 2 RBI, and scored a run for the Express. Joey Butler also added a homerun as his lone hit in 5 at bats. Julio Borbon went 4 for 5 with a double, RBI, and 3 runs scored. Esteban German added a hit, while Kevin Cash added 3 in 5 at bats and Matt Kata added 2 in 5 at bats. Round Rock accumulated 23 hits in the slugfest.

Myrtle Beach (High-A) fell 4-1 to the Lynchburg Hillcats on the road as they were the lone team in the Texas Ranger's organization to lose on the 4th of July. Justin Grimm started for Myrtle Beach and gave up 9 hits, 1 walk, and 4 runs over 7 innings with 8 strikeouts. Zach Osborne pitched a scoreless 8th inning in the loss. Travis Adair led Myrtle Beach with a 2 for 4 day and a RBI at the plate. Santiago Chirino went 1 for 4 with a double as well. Jared Prince went 1 for 4 for the Pelicans, who have lost 5 in a row. Zach Zaneski, Mitch Hilligoss, David Paisano, and Jared Bolden each added a hit as well.

Hickory (Low-A) scored at least a run in all, but 2 of the 8 innings that they came to the plate and defeated the Delmarva Shorebirds 9-2 at home. Nick Tepesch started for Hickory and gave up 8 hits, 1 walk, and 2 runs over 6 innings with 2 strikeouts. Ben Henry earned his 1st save with 3 shutout innings of relief. Jurickson Profar went 2 for 3 with 2 RBI, 2 walks, a stolen base, and 2 runs. Odubel Herrera went 2 for 4 with a double, 2 RBI, and a run scored. Kellin Deglan had 2 hits in 3 at bats with 2 doubles, a walk, and 3 runs scored. Tomas Telis went 1 for 5 with a RBI, while Christian Villanueva went 1 for 4 with a double, RBI, and a stolen base. Jake Skole added a 1 for 4 game with a RBI and Josh Richmond went 1 for 4 with a double and a RBI, while Jonathan Roof added a 1 for 3 game with a sac bunt.

Spokane (Short Season A-Ball) scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 5th and defeated the Tri-City Dust Devils at home 6-4. Santo Perez started for Spokane and gave up 8 hits and 4 runs over 5 innings with 3 strikeouts. Chris Hanna pitched 4 scoreless innings of relief for the save, his first of the season. Guillermo Pimentel led Spokane with 2 hits in 4 at bats, including a double. Braxton Lane added 2 hits in 4 at bats with a run and a stolen base as well. Zach Cone went 1 for 4 with a RBI and a stolen base for the Indians. Drew Robinson added a 1 for 3 day with a double, RBI, walk, and run scored. Hanser Alberto and Trever Adams added a hit a piece as well. Jorge Alfaro hit a homerun and drove in 2 runs with his lone hit in the game in 4 at bats.

Minor League Performance of the Day

On a day when there were great performances all around, it was southpaw Austin Kirk's no-hitter that took home the minor league performance of the day. Pitching for the Peoria Chiefs, Austin Kirk gave up 2 walks and struck out 10 in Peoria's 2-0 victory over the Clinton Lumberkings. Kirk faced 1 over the minimum as he also got one double play to eliminate one of the 2 walks and he induced 6 groundouts to 7 flyouts in the start. At 21 years old, Kirk is having a nice year for the Peoria Chiefs. He is 5-5 with a 2.60 ERA in 17 appearances/16 starts for the Chiefs and has given up 63 hits and 22 walks with 82 strikeouts in 93 1/3 innings. Austin Kirk, an Owasso, Oklahoma native, was selected in the 3rd round of the 2009 draft by the Chicago Cubs.

As always...

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- By Michael Damman