Welcome to "Chatter from the Pressbox", the website dedicated to the Pressbox of the Frisco RoughRiders, the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers.

Today's Matchups Around the Ranger's System

Today's (5/20) Match-Ups Around the Ranger's System

Round Rock: Martin Perez (3-3 5.27) vs. Fresno Grizzlies: Andrew Kown (3-1 2.61) @ 1:00 PM CT

Myrtle Beach: Kyle Hendricks (1-4 2.91) @ Wilmington Blue Rocks: Sugar Ray Marimon (3-0 2.65) @ 12:30 PM CT

Hickory : Santo Perez (2-2 6.19) @ Asheville Tourists: Daniel Winkler (4-2 6.06) @ 1:05 PM CT



Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Game 121: Frisco RoughRiders (Neil Ramirez) @ Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Chris Dwyer)

Time: 7:00 PM CT
Location: Arvest Ballpark (Springdale, AR)
Team Records: Frisco RoughRiders (27-23 4 games back in the Texas League South; 67-53 overall)... Northwest Arkansas Naturals (26-24 1st place in the Texas League North; 61-56 overall)
Magic Number: 9
Streak: Won 3 in a row
Last 10: 6-4
Homestand: 6-4
Series Record: 17-13-4
2011 Record against Northwest Arkansas: 6-3
All-Time Record against Northwest Arkansas: 70-67
Record on August 17th since 2004: 2-4
Starting Pitchers: Neil Ramirez (0-0 0.00 ERA) vs. Chris Dwyer (6-10 5.83 ERA)

Frisco Ties Game in 9th, Finishes Sweep in Extras: For most of the game on Monday, Frisco seemed out of the game and didn't look like they wanted to win it. However, the nice thing about baseball is that there is no timed clock and anyone can pull off a win at any time. Frisco scored a run in the 9th inning thanks to a broken up double play by a most unlikely hero and Frisco won 3-2 in the 12th inning. Frisco now has

Ross Outstanding Again: For the third time as a Frisco RoughRider, Robbie Ross kept Frisco in the game. The 22 year old southpaw gave up just 4 hits and 1 walk over 5 1/3 innings, struck out 5 batters and allowed just 1 run. He lowered his AA ERA down to 3.44 although he had his second no decision in three starts. Over his 3 starts, Ross now has 17 strikeouts to 2 walks in 18 1/3 innings for the Riders. Left handed batters are hitting just .067 against Ross for Frisco.

Inning by Inning Count

1: 14 Pitches- 7 Strikes- 3 Called- 1 Swinging- 1 Foul- 7 Balls- 2 BPIP- 1 Swinging K
2: 13 Pitches- 11 Strikes- 5 Called- 2 Swinging- 2 Fouls- 2 Balls- 2 BPIP- 1 Called K- 1 Swinging K- 1 Hit
3: 16 Pitches- 10 Strikes- 1 Called- 2 Swinging- 5 Fouls- 6 Balls- 2 BPIP- 1 Swinging K
4: 21 Pitches- 11 Strikes- 2 Called- 0 Swinging- 5 Fouls- 10 Balls- 4 BPIP- 1 Called K- 2 Hits
5: 19 Pitches- 9 Strikes- 0 Called- 2 Swinging- 4 Fouls- 10 Balls- 3 BPIP- 1 BB
6: 9 Pitches- 6 Strikes- 0 Called- 2 Swinging- 2 Fouls- 3 Balls- 2 BPIP- 1 Hit

Total: 92 Pitches- 54 Strikes- 11 Called- 9 Swinging- 19 Fouls- 38 Balls- 15 BPIP- 2 Called K- 3 Swinging K- 1 BB- 4 Hits


Unusual Circumstance Leads to Frisco First: The Frisco RoughRiders entered the game on Monday down their manager and best power hitter. Mike Bianucci, who leads the team with 27 homeruns, was out for not only Monday's game, but possibly more due to an eye infection. So Frisco, who has 10 position players to begin with, had just 9 to start Monday's game. For the first 6.5 innings everything was fine. But when starting centerfielder Engel Beltre got ejected by the home plate umpire after striking out looking, insanity for Frisco ensued. Jonathan Greene, who had already played left field, right field, third base, and first base this season for the Riders and has also played catcher in the minors, made a cameo in centerfield for the first time in his career. Not the fleetest of foot, Greene made every play he could, however. The other first however, was far more interesting...

Snyder Gets First Hit By Frisco Pitcher: Because the team was already using every position player available, Ben Snyder made an appearance in right field for the first time in his minor league career. Snyder came in with a career batting average of .235 and OPS of .631. The only reason he had those numbers, however, was because he began in the San Francisco Giant's organization. In the minor leagues the only way a pitcher bats is if both teams are National League affiliates. Ben Snyder singled in his first at bat in the 9th inning and then took Thomas Field, Tulsa's second baseman, out hard on a slide to break up a double play, which allowed the game tying run to score in the 9th inning. Snyder finished the game 1 for 2 and the hit was the first time a Frisco RoughRider's pitcher recorded a hit. The only other pitcher to get an at bat was reliever Jesse Chavez, who went 0 for 1 in 2005.

Felix Has Big Game: Jose Felix had the game winning RBI on Saturday when he got the game winning 2-run single in the 5th inning of a 2-1 win. On Monday, Felix went 2 for 5 with 2 doubles, drove in the game tying run on the fielders choice in the 9th inning, and scored the game winning run in the 12th inning after doubling and getting to third on a wild pitch. Overall Felix was involved in all 3 runs as he scored 2 and drove in the other.

Bolden's Big First Hit: Jared Bolden hasn't hit a ton in his first two games, but his first AA hit came on Monday and was the game winning, walkoff single in the 12th inning with 1 out. Bolden finished the game 1 for 4 with 2 RBI as he also had a sacrifice fly earlier in the game. Bolden, who was promoted on Sunday to Frisco from Myrtle Beach after Jose Ruiz was promoted to Round Rock (AAA) batted .271 with a .731 OPS for Myrtle Beach.

Miller Continues Strikeout Binge: Justin Miller came into Monday's game in the 11th inning and he struck out 6 consecutive batters in the game with five via swings. Including his appearance on Saturday, Miller has struck out 7 consecutive batters and 9 of the last 10 batters that he has faced.

Yan Still Has Not Given Up an Earned Run: Johan Yan did give up a run on Monday, but it went down as an unearned run. The 22 year old right hander with an interesting delivery, has not given up an earned run through his first 18 AA innings covering 12 appearances. He has given up 3 unearned runs during that time frame. Overall on the season, Yan is now 5-3 with a 1.06 ERA in 38 appearances between Myrtle Beach (High-A) and Frisco (AA).


Friedrich Takes No-Hitter Into 6th Inning: He may have come in having given up 15 hits and 17 runs over his last 5 1/3 innings spanning 2 starts, but in baseball that doesn't mean anything when you start a new game. Christian Friedrich instead took a no-hitter on Monday into the 6th inning before Frisco's all-time hits leader, Renny Osuna, broke up the no-hitter with a 1 out single in the 6th inning for his 325th career hit. Friedrich ended up going 6 innings, gave up 1 hit, walked 4, struck out 7 batters, and did not allow a run.

Tracking Texas League Homeruns: 894 homeruns in 954 games (0.937 HR/G)

Term of the Day: Hardball- A term that seemingly refers to baseball--- the game as well as the ball. When the term is used in the context of baseball it refers to a tough style of play.

Last Year on This Date: Frisco had the day off.


As always...

A special thanks to any blog followers from Cheesequake, NJ!


Station to Listen to the Game on: 1630 AM (KKGM)
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And Check Out the Riders Insider Blog for more Frisco RoughRiders info: http://ridersinsider.mlblogs.com/

- By Michael Damman

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