Location: Whataburger Field (Corpus Christi, TX)
Team Records: Frisco RoughRiders (34-29 6 games back in the Texas League South; 74-59 overall)... Corpus Christi Hooks (24-39 16 games back in the Texas League South; 49-84 overall)
Magic Number: 1
Streak: Lost 1 in a row
Last 10: 7-3
Road Trip: 2-1
Series Record: 20-14-4
2011 Record against Corpus Christi: 15-13
All-time Record against Corpus Christi: 110-102
Record on August 30th since 2004: 4-3
Starting Pitchers: Adalberto Flores (5-3 2.81 ERA) vs. Jarred Cosart (0-1 2.96 ERA)
Frisco Blows 2-0 lead, Will Wait Another Day to Clinch: Frisco and Midland were tied 0-0 through 7 innings before Frisco scored 2 runs in the top of the 8th inning to get within 6 outs of officially owning the second playoff spot in the Texas League South. Frisco's defense, however, had other ideas as the Riders committed 3 errors in the bottom of the 8th inning, all coming with 2 outs, which allowed Midland to score 3 runs with 2 outs and take a lead that they held onto. With San Antonio's loss to Corpus Christi as well, Frisco will wait until at least today to clinch the playoff spot. The magic number remains at 1, which means with one San Antonio Missions's victory the Riders would secure a playoff bid to San Antonio.
Pimentel's Strong Start: Carlos Pimentel seemed to be headed for his 7th win of the season and second straight victory, but an unfortunate blown lead cost Pimentel that win. Still, Pimentel had a terrific start as he gave up 3 hits and 2 walks over 7 shutout innings with 2 strikeouts. Since giving up 10 runs in 3 2/3 innings on August 2nd against Midland, Pimentel has been very strong on the mound for Frisco. Spanning over 5 starts, Pimentel has gone 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP. He has struck out 29 batters in the 28 innings that he has pitched in as well. He has also gone at least 6 innings in 4 of the 5 starts with the only non 6 inning start being a August 13th start where he left early due to a strained groin. Pimentel continues to struggle with command at times, but he has certainly produced better over the last 5 starts.
Inning By Inning Count
1: 10 Pitches- 6 Strikes- 3 Called- 0 Swinging- 0 Fouls- 4 Balls- 3 BPIP
2: 18 Pitches- 11 Strikes- 3 Called- 2 Swinging- 4 Fouls- 7 Balls- 2 BPIP- 1 Swinging K- 1 BB- 1 Hit
3: 9 Pitches- 6 Strikes- 1 Called- 1 Swinging- 1 Foul- 3 Balls- 3 BPIP
4: 10 Pitches- 6 Strikes- 2 Called- 1 Swinging- 0 Fouls- 4 Balls- 3 BPIP
5: 19 Pitches- 12 Strikes- 3 Called- 1 Swinging- 3 Fouls- 7 Balls- 5 BPIP- 1 Hit- 1 ROE
6: 13 Pitches- 6 Strikes- 1 Called- 0 Swinging- 2 Fouls- 7 Balls- 3 BPIP- 1 BB- 1 Hit
7: 13 Pitches- 9 Strikes- 2 Called- 4 Swinging- 1 Foul- 4 Balls- 2 BPIP- 1 Swinging K
Total: 92 Pitches- 56 Strikes- 15 Called- 9 Swinging- 11 Fouls- 36 Balls- 21 BPIP- 2 Swinging K- 2 BB- 3 Hits- 1 ROE
Hilligoss Cruising: Mitch Hilligoss is heating back up again as he had another strong game going 2 for 3 with a RBI, a walk, and a run scored. Over his last 10 games, Hilligoss is batting .300 with an .814 OPS. He has 3 extra base hits, has driven in 4 runs, scored 6 runs, and walked 3 times during that time. On the season for Frisco, Hilligoss is now batting .271 with a .721 OPS. He is still waiting for his first extra base hit on the road. Perhaps it can come against Corpus Christi this week.
Osuna Ties Tracy: Renny Osuna went 1 for 3 in the loss on Monday with a walk and a run scored as well. His 2 out single in the 8th inning sparked Frisco's 2 run rally to take the lead as his single was followed by a single from Mitch Hilligoss and a double by Jonathan Greene. The single was Osuna's 149th hit of the season and 343rd as a Frisco RoughRider. The single season hit total is now tied for 3rd highest by a RoughRider with Chad Tracy, who had 149 hits in his big 2009 season. With 7 games to go, Osuna is 8 hits away from tying Joaquin Arias's single season Frisco RoughRider hits record of 157 in 2005.
Strikeout Kings: Jonathan Greene and Tommy Mendonca both added to their strikeout totals with 2 more each in the loss. The two players have combined for 307 strikeouts this season with Greene having 155 and Mendonca having 152. Since July 1st, Greene has 72 strikeouts and Mendonca has 68 strikeouts. To put that into perspective, Renny Osuna has 60 strikeouts all year. Mike Bianucci also struck out for the 127th time to give the trio a total of 434 strikeouts. Coming into this season, the highest strikeout total by a Frisco RoughRider was 126 by Jason Botts in 2004. Now, Frisco has 3 players with more than that in the same year. It's a common theme, however, around the league as the Texas League currently has 7,612 strikeouts, which is 217 behind last year's record breaking total of 7,829 strikeouts. With 7 games to go for each team, the league is on pace to break the record.
Wheeler Catching Fire In Tulsa: When Tim Wheeler hit his 29th homerun on July 25th he was pacing for a team best in homeurns for the Tulsa Drillers and was looking like a possible 40 homerun contender. But it would be nearly a month before he hit another homerun on August 24th to finally enter the 30 homerun club. By that point Matt Adams already had 31 homeruns and the same day Mike Bianucci would join Wheeler and Adams with 30 homeruns as well.
However, the homerun has gotten the centerfielder back on another tear as he has begun to make the impossible look possible for Tulsa. The Drillers entered a seven game stretch with the Arkansas Travelers and Northwest Arkansas Naturals on the brink of elimination as they were 6 back with 15 to play. A couple losses here or there would have put them out of the race. Now, 4 homeruns, 7 RBI, 10 runs scored, 13 hits, 4 walks, and 2 stolen bases later for Wheeler, the Drillers are riding a 7 game win streak, back to back sweeps, and a hot Wheeler bat into a series with Springfield with the Drillers only being 1 game behind the Naturals for first place in the Texas League North. With 7 games to go anything is possible, especially with Tulsa's last series coming at home against Northwest Arkansas.
Tracking Texas League Homeruns: 982 homeruns in 1058 games (0.928 HR/G)
Term of the Day: Tear- A winning streak for a team or a hot period for an individual.
Last Year on This Date: Frisco lost 6-4 to the Midland Rockhounds at home. Richard Bleier started for Frisco and gave up 9 hits, 1 walk, and 5 runs (4 earned) over 6 2/3 innings with 3 strikeouts. Chris Mobley gave up 1 unearned run in 2 1/3 innings of relief. Marcus Lemon led Frisco's offense with a 2 for 5 game including a double and 2 runs scored. Renny Osuna had a 2 for 4 day for the Riders with a run scored. Ian Kinsler went 1 for 4 with a triple and 2 RBI on rehab. Emerson Frostad added a hit in 5 at bats including a double with a RBI. Andy Jenkins and Christian Guzman each added a hit as well.
As always...
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- By Michael Damman
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