Game 108: Frisco RoughRiders (Carlos Pimentel) @ Midland Rockhounds (Shawn Haviland)

Time: 6:30 PM CT
Location: Citibank Ballpark (Midland, TX)
Team Records: Frisco RoughRiders (20-17 2 games back in the Texas League South; 60-47 overall)... Midland Rockhounds (18-19 4 games back in the Texas League South; 45-62 overall)
Magic Number: 19
Streak: Lost 1 in a row
Last 10: 5-5
Road Trip: 2-2
Series Record: 15-11-4
2011 Record against Midland: 13-6
All-Time Record against Midland: 116-103
Record on August 2nd since 2004: 3-2
Starting Pitchers: Carlos Pimentel (4-7 5.06 ERA) vs. Shawn Haviland (4-9 7.42 ERA)

Frisco Loses Finale on Balk with Missions, Splits Series: Frisco and San Antonio played extra baseball for the 7th time this season in 24 meetings and for the 4th time out of those 7 extra inning games, Frisco was on the losing end. Frisco had not gone a 4 game set with San Antonio this season without going extra innings so the odds were Monday was going to be an extra inning game given the first three had ended by the 9th inning. However, this loss ended oddly with Tanner Scheppers balking in the game winning run with the bases loaded and 2 outs in the 11th inning.

Snyder Terrific: Ben Snyder had a rough start against Midland in the last time he took the mound, but on Monday he was much, much better. The other positive news for him is that he won't pitch against Midland over the next four days. Against the Missions Snyder gave up 3 hits, 4 walks, and 1 run over 7 strong innings with 4 strikeouts. It was his longest start of his career.

Inning by Inning Count

1: 19 Pitches- 12 Strikes- 7 Called- 0 Swinging- 3 Fouls- 7 Balls- 2 BPIP- 2 Called K- 1 Hit
2: 11 Pitches- 8 Strikes- 3 Called- 2 Swinging- 2 Fouls- 3 Balls- 1 BPIP- 1 Called K- 1 Swinging K
3: 15 Pitches- 6 Strikes- 2 Called- 0 Swinging- 1 Foul- 9 Balls- 3 BPIP- 2 BB- 1 Hit
4: 11 Pitches- 6 Strikes- 3 Called- 0 Swinging- 0 Fouls- 5 Balls- 3 BPIP- 1 BB
5: 9 Pitches- 8 Strikes- 3 Called- 0 Swinging- 1 Foul- 1 Ball- 4 BPIP- 1 Hit
6: 11 Pitches- 8 Strikes- 3 Called- 0 Swinging- 2 Fouls- 3 Balls- 3 BPIP
7: 16 Pitches- 8 Strikes- 3 Called- 0 Swinging- 3 Fouls- 8 Balls- 2 BPIP- 1 BB

Total: 92 Pitches- 56 Strikes- 24 Called- 2 Swinging- 12 Fouls- 36 Balls- 18 BPIP- 3 Called K- 1 Swinging K- 4 BB- 3 Hits

Osuna's Multi Hit Game: The only RoughRider with more than one hit in the game was Renny Osuna, who's 2 hits brought him to 312 for his Frisco career. With 4 games to go on the road trip, Osuna is 8 hits away from becoming Frisco's all-time hits leader with 320. Steve Murphy (2007-2009) holds the current high with 319 hits. It would be nice if Osuna could break the record in Frisco though with a 10 game homestand coming up it would seem the only things standing in the way would be a promotion to AAA or an injury.

The 60 RBI Club: Jonathan Greene's RBI single in the 2nd inning represented his 60th RBI of the season. To some that may not seem like a huge deal, but to the Statistical Research Department of the Frisco RoughRiders, the RBI represents the third Frisco RoughRider (Tommy Mendonca, 76, and Mike Bianucci, 72) with 60 or more RBIs this season. That means the 2011 Frisco RoughRiders team is the 3rd Frisco team in the 9 year franchise history to have 3 players with 60 or more RBI joining 2003 and 2008. With 10 more RBI from Greene they would be the first Frisco team with 70 or more RBI by 3 players. With Jose Ruiz at 50 and Renny Osuna at 48, there's also a chance to add a couple more to the list of players with 60 or more RBI.

Strikeout Woes: While the homeruns and RBI from the trio of Tommy Mendonca (21 and 76), Mike Bianucci (25 and 72) , and Jonathan Greene (15 and 60) have been tremendous this year for Frisco, they have also come with a price. The trio has struck out 343 times this season and walked just 79 times. It is the first time that Frisco has had 3 players with 100+ strikeouts in a season. A 4.34 K/BB ratio is much higher than you want from your top 3 run producers. Already the second team with 2 players with 20+ homeruns in Frisco's history, if Greene could have an August like his July (7 homeruns) he would join Mendonca and Bianucci as the only Riders trio with 20+ homeruns in a season. I think they'd settle for the first Frisco trio with 15+ homeruns and 60+ RBI though.

Tracking Texas League Homeruns: 820 homeruns in 850 games (0.965 HR/G) still outpacing the record (0.952 HR/G)

Term of the Day: Factory Set- A complete set of baseball cards assembled and collated by the manufacturer rather than by a dealer or collector. It is sold directly to a dealer or card-shop owner, and is not available through the usual retail outlets. The set usually includes a distinct box with a security seal or inner packing to secure the cards.


Last Year on This Date: Frisco lost 4-2 to the San Antonio Missions at home. Michael Schlact started for Frisco and gave up 7 hits, 2 walks, and 4 runs over 5 1/3 innings with 4 strikeouts. Brennan Garr pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless ball, while Tyler Tufts pitched a scoreless inning as well. James Tomlin went 3 for 4 with a homerun, RBI, and 2 runs for Frisco. Joey Butler added a 2 for 4 day with a RBI. Renny Osuna went 1 for 3 with a walk for the Riders, while Andy Jenkins also went 1 for 3. Johnny Whittleman chipped in a 1 for 4 game.


Around the Ranger's System

Yesterday's Record: 2-1

Round Rock (AAA) scored 2 runs in each of 4 different innings and defeated the Nashville Sounds 9-4 on the road. Zach Jackson started for Round Rock and gave up 8 hits, 3 walks, and 4 runs (3 earned) over 6 innings with 2 strikeouts. Michael Kirkman and Cody Eppley combined for 3 shutout innings of relief. Leonys Martin went 2 for 6 with a RBI in the game. Chad Tracy added a 2 for 4 game with 2 RBI and a walk. Esteban German added a 2 for 4 game with 2 walks for the Express. Nick Green added a 2 for 5 game with a double and a RBI. Brad Nelson powered up with a 2 for 5 game including a homerun and 2 RBI. Val Majewski added a 2 for 4 game with a RBI and a walk. Matt Kata and Guilder Rodriguez each added a hit in the game as well.

Myrtle Beach (High-A) had the day off.

Hickory (Low-A) scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th and beat the Hagerstown Suns 14-13 in 10 innings. Nick Tepesch started for Hickory and gave up 9 hits, 1 walk, and 5 runs over 5 innings with a strikeout. Andrew Doyle gave up 4 runs in 0 innings of relief. Colby Killian gave up 3 runs in 1 2/3 innings as well, while Ben Rowen gave up a run in 2 1/3 innings and Jimmy Reyes got the win after pitching a scoreless 10th inning. Jurickson Profar went 2 for 4 with 2 walks and 3 runs scored. Christian Villanueva went 3 for 4 with 3 RBI, a walk, 2 stolen bases, and 3 runs scored. Andrew Clark went 3 for 5 with 2 RBI. Alejandro Selen added a 3 for 5 game with a double, homerun, 3 RBI, and 2 runs scored for the Crawdads. Odubel Herrera added a 3 for 5 game with a RBI, a stolen base, and 2 runs scored. Josh Richmond added a 1 for 4 game with 3 RBI and Tomas Telis and Jhonny Gomez each went 1 for 5.  

Spokane (Short Season A-Ball) had the day off

Minor League Performance of the Day

Jhiomar Veras had his entire season practically on Monday. In the Florida Marlin's Gulf Coast League team's 17-5 win over the St. Louis Cardinal's Gulf Coast League team, Veras went 5 for 5 with a double, 2 homeruns, 8 RBI, and 3 runs scored. He came into the game with 0 homeruns, 1 RBI, and 2 doubles through 18 games. He left with 2 homeruns, 9 RBI, and 3 doubles. On the season, the 21 year old outfielder is batting .175 with a .656 OPS. Jhiomar Veras was drafted in the 15th round of the 2011 draft by the Florida Marlins out of Western Oklahoma State College.

As always...

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- By Michael Damman