Chatter from the Press Box: Game 95: Frisco RoughRiders (Richard Bleier) @ San Antonio Missions (Casey Kelly)

Time: 7:05 PM CT
Location: Nelson Wolff Municipal Stadium (San Antonio, TX)
Team Records: Frisco RoughRiders (14-10 1 game back in the Texas League South; 54-40 overall)... San Antonio Missions (15-9 1st place in the Texas League South; 64-30 overall)
Streak: Won 1 in a row
Last 10: 7-3
Road Trip: 1-1
Series Record: 14-9-3
2011 Record against San Antonio: 7-11
All-Time Record against San Antonio: 117-118
Record on July 20th since 2004: 2-4

Starting Pitchers: Richard Bleier (3-3 5.81 ERA) is 1-5 with a 7.01 ERA and 1.64 WHIP in 11 career appearances, including 9 starts against the San Antonio Missions... Casey Kelly (9-3 4.18 ERA) is 0-0 with a 2.77 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 2 career starts against the Frisco RoughRiders.

What to Watch for on the Mound: Frisco sends Richard Bleier to the mound for the 18th time, including his 10th start, while San Antonio sends Casey Kelly to the mound for the 20th time in the third game of a four game set... Richard Bleier looks to rebound from his last start as he looks to help Frisco into a tie for first place with San Antonio. In his last start against the Corpus Christi Hooks, Bleier gave up 8 hits and 7 runs (6 earned) over 5 innings with 3 strikeouts and 0 walks. In his previous 6 appearances before that start, Bleier had given up 15 hits, 1 walk, and 4 runs (3 earned) over 14 1/3 innings. As a starting pitcher this season, Bleier is 2-3 with a 6.66 ERA over 9 starts. He has given up 75 hits and 6 walks with 23 strikeouts over 50 innings. Overall, Richard has given up 95 hits and 8 walks with 37 strikeouts over 69 2/3 innings... Casey Kelly looks to continue his solid pitching of late. In his last start against the Midland Rockhounds, Kelly gave up 12 hits and 2 runs over 5 innings with 2 strikeouts. Over his last 3 starts, Kelly has given up 21 hits, 5 walks, and 5 runs over 17 innings with 12 strikeouts. On the season, he has given up 120 hits and 32 walks over 103 1/3 innings with 77 strikeouts. At home, Casey Kelly is 4-2 with a 3.68 ERA in 8 starts this season. In his last start against Frisco, Kelly gave up 7 hits and 3 runs (2 earned) over 6 innings with 2 strikeouts and 0 walks.

Frisco Evens Series With Win: Frisco got a great pitching performance from 21 year old Joe Wieland and picked up an easy 6-1 victory over the San Antonio Missions on the road. Frisco took a 5-0 lead through 5 innings and added a 6th run in the 8th inning.

Wieland Outstanding: In his fifth start for the Frisco RoughRiders, Joe Wieland was at his best and pitching like a top prospect should. For the 4th time out of his first 5 AA starts, Wieland gave up 1 run over 5 or more innings. This time, Wieland held the Mission's offense to just 2 hits, 2 walks, and 1 run over 7 innings with 7 strikeouts. It marked the most innings he has gone in AA start and his 7 strikeouts were the most he's had in his 5 AA starts. He picked up his 2nd victory to move to 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA over 5 starts. In 29 innings pitched so far, Wieland has given up 27 hits, walked 9 batters, and given up 6 earned runs with 24 strikeouts.

Osuna's Game: Rider's infielder Renny Osuna went 3 for 5 with a double, RBI, and run scored in Frisco's win. He moved to 297 hits for his career for Frisco. It also increased his on base streak to 15 games. Osuna also now has 112 RBI moving him to a tie for 7th on Frisco's all-time RBI list and he also now has 148 runs scored for Frisco, moving him to within 6 of tying Adam Fox for 2nd all-time.

Mendonca Hits #17: Tommy Mendonca ended his season long homerun drought of 9 games with a 1st inning solo homerun off of Simon Castro. The 9 game streak was tied for his longest of the season. Mendonca finished 2 for 5 with the homerun. He now has a .305 batting average and team leading OPS .906 with 65 RBI. Mendonca's 17 homeruns are tied for the most homeruns by a third baseman in AA baseball with James Darnell, who is now with the Tuscon Padres in AAA. His 65 RBI are also the 3rd most among AA third basemen behind Luis Jimenez's 71 (Texas League) and Ryan Wheeler's 66 (Southern League).

Stoneburner Extends Streak: Davis Stoneburner extended his hitting streak to 9 games with a 2-run homerun in the 5th inning off of Simon Castro. He finished 1 for 4 with the homerun, a walk, 2 RBI, and run scored. He is batting .277 for the season now and .300 with an .856 OPS over his last 10 games.

Will Smith, Kelvin Herrera Combined No-Hitter: In other Texas League news, Northwest Arkansas Natural's left handed pitcher Will Smith and reliever Kelvin Herrera combined for a no-hitter against the Arkansas Travelers on Tuesday. Northwest Arkansas won the game 1-0 on a RBI single by Jamie Romak in the first inning. Smith went 7 innings and gave up 2 walks with 5 strikeouts. Herrera pitched the final 2 innings without allowing a baserunner with 2 strikeouts. Arkansas starter Matt Shoemaker was almost as good in the game as he went the full 9 innings, while allowing 5 hits, 0 walks, and he struck out 8 batters. The only run he gave up was an unearned run. Shoemaker has 4 complete games in his last 6 starts.

Texas League Hitters: The Texas League has always been known as a hitters league, but lately they've been taking it to an extreme level. Over the past two days, Texas League hitters have 109 runs, 170 hits, and 29 homeruns. The Tulsa Drillers alone have 11 homeruns over those two days. Offensive records are in jeopardy for the Texas League and at the same time, so are strikeouts for pitchers.

Tracking Texas League Homeruns: 728 homeruns in 746 games (0.976 HR/G)

Term of the Day: Dollar Sign on the Muscle- A money code expressing an ultimate evaluation of a ballplayer. The term was used as the title of Kevin Kerrane's book Dollar Sign on the Muscle (1984). Kerrane found the term in the Philadelphia Phillies 1981 scouting manual: "A new column titled 'Dollar Evaluation' has been added to your prospect-summary sheet. Your dollar evaluation should be the highest figure you would go in order to sign a player if he were on the open market. The figure would be based solely on the player's ability. Other factors, such as what the player is asking for, or what you think you can sign him for, would not be considered when determining a dollar evaluaiton... Boiled down, it si the 'dollar sign on the muscle' and no more." The dollar amoung was an "investment-analysis" figure by which the scout rates a ballplayer beyond the number grades for his tools, projected skills, and makeup.

Last Year on This Date: Frisco lost 4-0 to the San Antonio Missions on the road. Richard Bleier started for Frisco and gave up 8 hits and 3 runs (2 earned) over 7 innings with 4 strikeouts and 0 walks. Kasey Kiker gave up 1 run over 2/3 of an inning of relief, while Brennan Garr pitched 1/3 of an inning of shutout relief. Marcus Lemon went 1 for 3 with a walk at the plate for the Riders. Joey Butler added a 1 for 3 day with a walk as well.

Around the Ranger's System

Yesterday's Record: 4-0

Round Rock (AAA) scored 6 runs in the 5th inning and crushed the New Orleans Zephyrs 15-6 at home. Eric Hurley started for Round Rock and moved to 4-0 for them after giving up 8 hits, 2 walks, and 5 runs over 7 innings with 1 strikeout. Beau Jones gave up 1 run over 2 innings of relief. Leonys Martin went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI, a walk, and a run scored for Round Rock. Chris Davis added a 3 for 5 day with a homerun, 3 RBI, and 3 runs scored at the plate. Former Rider Chad Tracy went 2 for 5 with a double, homerun, 4 RBI, and run scored, while Joey Butler went 1 for 4 with a walk, stolen base, and 2 runs scored for the Express. Matt Kata also went 3 for 5 with a double, RBI, and run scored. Guilder Rodriguez went 1 for 3 with a RBI, 2 walks, stolen base, and run scored. Brad Nelson also added a hit in 4 at bats, including a homerun, 2 RBI, walk, and 2 runs.

Myrtle Beach (High-A) scored 2 runs in the 14th inning and defeated the Wilmington Blue Rocks 6-4 at home. Miguel De Los Santos started for Myrtle Beach and gave up 6 hits, 1 walk, and 4 runs over 6 innings with 8 strikeouts. Trevor Hurley pitched 2 innings of relief, while Joe Ortiz made 3 scoreless innings. Zach Osborne got through 2 scoreless innings, while Ryan Kelly picked up the win after a scoreless inning. Jared Bolden led Myrtle Beach with a 3 for 6 game including 2 RBI, a stolen base, and a run scored. David Paisano batted 9th and had a 2 for 6 game with a RBI. Ryan Strausborger went 1 for 6 with the walkoff 2-run homerun. Leury Garcia went 2 for 6 with a run scored and a stolen base. Jared Prince and Jared Hoying each went 1 for 4 with 3 walks combined. Santiago Chirino and Travis Adair added a hit each as well.

Hickory (Low-A) had the day off

Spokane (Short Season A-Ball) scored 7 runs in the 5th inning and defeated the Boise Hawks 10-3 at home. Victor Payano started for Spokane and gave up 7 hits, 3 walks, and 2 runs over 4 innings with 2 strikeouts. Phil Klein picked up the win after 3 innings of shutout relief, while Juan Grullon gave up 1 run over 2 innings of relief. Rougned Odor went 2 for 5 with a triple, 2 RBI, and a run scored. Guillermo Pimentel went 2 for 4 with a RBI and a run scored for the Indians. Brett Nicholas added a 1 for 4 game with a double and a RBI as well. Drew Robinson went 1 for 4 with a double and 2 RBI. Trever Adams reached base twice by going 1 for 3 with a walk while Jorge Alfaro and Hanser Alberto each went 1 for 4. Hirotoshi Onaka went 1 for 2 with 3 walks and 3 runs scored.

Minor League Performance of the Day

On June 10th, 2010, first baseman Matt Clark went 3 for 4 with 2 homeruns and 8 RBI for the San Antonio Missions against the Frisco RoughRiders. He had all 8 RBI by 4th inning. Forward a year and a month later and Matt Clark picks up the performance of the day from July 19th after his performance at the plate in the Tuscon Padre's 15-14 11 inning victory over the Tacoma Rainiers. Matt Clark went 4 for 6 at the plate including a double, 2 homeruns, and 8 RBI with 3 runs scored. His homeruns came in the 5th and 7th innings. On the season, Matt Clark is batting .319 with 20 homeruns and 64 RBI. He currently has a .953 OPS for the Tuscon Padres. Matt Clark was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 12th round of the 2008 draft.

As always...

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