Roughriders overpower Missions, take game two in dominant 6-1 decision
Just 13 hours separated games one and two, but the Frisco Roughriders were up and early against the San Antonio Missions. The Roughriders pitchers dominated on the mound, recording their sixth no-hitter in franchise history.
Earning his first win of the season, Frisco starting pitcher Kohl Drake left the Missions' bats stunned at the plate. Lasting six innings, Drake picked up six strikeouts, zero hits and two walks in his fifth start this season.
At the plate, Frisco dominated the Missions' arms, ringing out 12 hits, with Keyber Rodriguez going 2-5 at the plate, driving in two RBI with his double in the first and triple in the fifth in the Roughriders' 6-1 victory Wednesday afternoon.
Despite being locked down by Drake on the mound, San Antonio was able to make a stab against the Roughriders’ relievers in the eighth inning.
Frisco was put in a tough spot as Rylan Lobus walked a pair of Missions and an earlier hit-by-pitch set up a loaded bases situation as Skylar Hales entered the game.
Hales was unable to keep San Antonio off the board, hitting Francisco Acuna with a pitch, sending him to first and allowing Kai Murphy to trot home for the Missions' only score of the afternoon.
Keeping San Antonio at bay in the ninth, Hales quickly got the Missions with a pair of groundouts. Hales sealed the deal, stirking out Joshua Mears swinging for the innings' third and final out, leaving San Antonio with its second no-hitter of the season.
Making his first start in a Missions uniform after getting called up from Fort Wayne yesterday, starting pitcher Enmanuel Pinales was not shown any mercy against the Roughriders' batting order in his Double-A debut.
Already walking two batters to open the game, Rodriguez rifled an RBI double off Pinales, allowing Frisco to put their first run on the board. Pinales gave the Roughriders an easy run, throwing a wild pitch and giving Aaron Zavala enough time to come home for the second score of the game.
On the 0-1 count, Cameron Cauley gave Pinales his welcome to the Texas League, shooting a deep solo home run deep toward right center field, putting Frisco up by three early. Pinales ended his debut in the fourth inning after allowing back-to-back hits.
Swapping with Carter Loewen to open the fifth inning, pitcher Sam Whiting had a rough performance on the mound, allowing three hits on consecutive at-bats. Rodriguez picked up his second hit of the day with an RBI triple.
The red-hot Rodriguez did not have to wait long to return to his dugout. Capping off their scoring onslaught, Abimelec Ortiz shot a line-drive RBI single on the next pitch, sending Rodriguez home for their sixth and final score of the game.
San Antonio returns to Nelson Wolff Stadium tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. for game three against the Frisco Roughriders.