Ricky Vanasco makes AA Debut
Frisco, TX – Ricky Vanasco was promoted from the High-A Hickory Crawdads to the Frisco RoughRiders on Friday September 9th.
He got the starting nod as the RoughRiders continue their pursuit of a post-season spot. It also happened to be the RoughRiders last home-game of the season.
Vanasco has long been a favorite of mine so I took the opportunity to go see him in person.
A crowd of 5,086 got to see a little of everything from the RoughRiders. They saw good pitching, multiple home runs and a Jared Goedert ejection.
It was 83 degrees, the coolest game time temperature for a game that I’ve attended in months.
Vanasco touched 97 MPH
Vanasco pitched 3.1 innings and hit up to 97 MPH with the fastball. He allowed three runs on five hits, two walks and five strikeouts.
Vanasco has been working his way back from Tommy John surgery this season. He’s been pretty strong recently. In his last four starts for Hickory spanning 19.1 innings, he had a 2.33 earned run average with 26 strikeouts.
At the plate
The RoughRiders scored 18 runs on only 11 hits. The line-up worked 11 walks.
Josh Stowers (.228) has to be the player-of-the-game. He hit two home runs and had a career-high 6 RBI on the night. He went 3-for-4 with 2 HR’s, 6 RBI, 3 runs and a walk.
Blaine Crim hit a Grand Slam ball 418 feet
Blaine Crim (.295) could make a case as well. He went 4-for-5 with a home run (Grand Slam), 5 RBI, 3 runs and a walk. In the 8th Blaine Crim had sent a 99 mph fastball, 99 mph out off his bat for a single.
Crim and Stowers were the only RoughRiders with a multi-hit game.
The RoughRiders used 5 relievers with lefty Josh Smith (4-0, 3.72) earning the win. He threw a total a 5 pitches in his 2/3 of an inning.
Up next
The RoughRiders have six games remaining in the regular season against Northwest Arkansas Naturals at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Arkansas.
They currently have a two-game lead for 1st place in the 2nd half of the season. If they make the post-season, they will play at Riders Field on September 20th.
