Mitch Bratt’s Brilliance Shines, but Missions Walk Off RoughRiders 2-1
Just days after Kohl Drake, Ryan Lobus, and Skylar Hales twirled a combined no-hitter, Frisco’s other lefty Mitch Bratt unleashed a masterpiece of his own against the San Antonio Missions last night. Despite his brilliance, the RoughRiders fell 2-1 on a gut-punch, two-out, walk-off homer by Romeo Sanabria, who launched a 2-run shot with a runner on third to steal the game.
Bratt’s Brilliance Not Enough
Mitch Bratt was dealing, carving up the Missions with a career-best performance in strikeouts: 6 innings, 1 hit, 1 walk, 10 strikeouts (a personal high), 75 pitches (52 strikes), and 11 swings and misses. His 1.99 ERA shines in the Texas League, with three of his six starts this season qualifying as quality outings.
Bratt was in line for the win until Sanabria’s late heroics. As former Rangers skipper Ron Washington once quipped, “That’s the way baseball go,” but it doesn’t dim the shine on Bratt’s gem.
RoughRiders’ Bats Knock in One Run
Frisco’s lineup scratched out just 1 run on 6 hits, with the lone run coming in the sixth when Keyber Rodriguez’s single scored Sebastian Walcott. The hits came off the bats of Sebastian Walcott (double), Aaron Zavala, Rodriguez, Josh Hatcher (triple), Cam Cauley, and Kale Emshoff, each with one hit.
Bullpen Battle Ends in Heartbreak
Larson Kindreich kept things scoreless, tossing a scoreless inning with 1 hit allowed and 1 strikeout. Ryan Lobus followed with a clean frame of his own. But Skylar Hales, after entering with two outs in the ninth, couldn’t close the door. He pitched 2/3 of an inning, surrendering 2 runs on 2 hits, including Sanabria’s walk-off homer, and fanned 1. Hales took the loss, dropping Frisco to a 20-12 record.
A Nod to Recent Magic
The sting of the defeat doesn’t overshadow Frisco’s recent wizardry. Bratt’s gem follows hot on the heels of Drake, Lobus, and Hales’ combined no-hitter from earlier in the week, a testament to the RoughRiders’ pitching prowess. Even in a loss, Bratt’s 10-K clinic kept the Missions’ bats quiet until the final swing.
What’s Next for the RoughRiders
The RoughRiders (20-12) look to rebound today as RHP Trey Supak, fresh off a stint in Triple-A, takes the mound to close out the series against the San Antonio Missions (16-16). First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. CT.
