Location: Dr. Pepper Ballpark (Frisco, TX)
Series: San Antonio up 2-1
Starting Pitchers: Adalberto Flores(0-0 0.00 ERA; 5-4 3.32 ERA regular season w/ Frisco) vs. Robbie Erlin (0-0 0.00 ERA; 1-0 1.38 ERA regular season w/ San Antonio)
Season Record vs. San Antonio: 14-21
Loss Puts Frisco on Brink of Elimination: Frisco never led in Friday's game, but tied San Antonio three times before eventually losing the tie and the game for a final time. Neither team scored more than 1 run in an inning in San Antonio's 5-3 victory over the Riders. The loss means Frisco is a loss from being eliminated in the playoffs in 2011. Former Rider Robbie Erlin will take the mound for San Antonio with the chance to eliminate his former team.
Pimentel Struggles With Command Early: It took 55 pitches for Carlos Pimentel to get through 2 innings, which included a 13 pitch battle by Jason Hagerty, who ended up drawing one of 4 walks by Pimentel. Pimentel lasted 4 innings in the start and gave up 2 hits, 4 walks, and 2 runs with 2 strikeouts. He threw 80 pitches, 47 of which went for strikes. He got a no decision in the start after leaving with the game tied 2-2.
Mitch Hilligoss Comes Up Big: The offensive performance of the night for and postseason so far for Frisco, surely goes to Mitch Hilligoss, who finished the game 3 for 5 with a double and 2 RBI. Hilligoss, who had 14 of his 15 extra base hits at home this season, came up with a 0 out game tying RBI single in the 3rd inning after Renny Osuna stole 2nd and wound up at third on a wild pitch. Hilligoss doubled to lead off the 5th inning as Frisco then put 2 on with 0 outs before hitting into a fielders choice and a double play to end the threat. Hilligoss tied the game again with a single to score Jared Bolden in the 7th inning.
Osuna Gets Two Hits: Renny Osuna also broke out of a mild funk with a 2 for 3 game including a RBI, a walk, and a run scored. Osuna batted just .250 over his last 10 games of the regular season and is batting .250 in the postseason through 3 games. The Rider's hits leader has been one of the most consistent producers over the season, however.
Greene Walks Twice: For just the second game this season Jonathan Greene walked more than once in a game. In fact, he walked twice in a row to begin the game, which was a first for him. No matter who the player is, it's rare to have 2 walks in a row, but the fact that it was only the 2nd time he walked at least twice in a game this season is quite amazing. Greene hit .292 during the regular season and had 2 hits, including a double, in Frisco's 2-1 win over San Antonio in game two. He went 0 for 2 with the 2 walks on Friday.
Erlin Takes Mound in Game Four: It was fate really that the Riders playoff hopes would come down to beating former teammates Robbie Erlin and/or Joe Wieland. The moment that both were traded to San Diego on July 31st, Frisco had to know that the Mission's already strong rotation just got even stronger. Beating them in the postseason would have been a difficult task with Erlin and Wieland, let alone going up against the tough Missions and the two pitchers. Erlin, who went 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA in 6 starts for San Antonio, finished the 2011 season with a 9-4 record and a 2.99 ERA between high-A and AA. Erlin had a remarkable 154-16 K-BB ratio during the regular season, including a 92 K-11 BB ratio in 17 games/16 starts in the Texas League for the Frisco RoughRiders and San Antonio Missions. Erlin faced Frisco in Dr. Pepper Ballpark on August 8th and gave up 2 hits and 1 run over 6 innings with 9 strikeouts and 0 walks. He picked up a no-decision in the start.
As always...
A special thanks to any blog followers from Sandwich, MA!
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- By Michael Damman
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