The Frisco Roughriders battled the Midland Rockhounds as they fought to keep their Texas League Championship hopes alive.
Starting Pitching
It would start as a quiet night in Frisco with the first 3 and a half innings as both Kohl Drake and the RockHounds Jack Perkins would be on their A-game. They both only allowed one hit through 3 innings, Drake striking out 4 and Perkins getting 8. Drake would get another 1-2-3 inning in the 4th. However, Perkins would make his only mistake of the night as he missed with a fastball out over the plate that Cody Freeman sent to the lawn in left for a Frisco 1-0 lead. That would be the only run given up by either starter.
Perkins going 6 innings with 1 ER and 12 K’s.
Kohl wouldn’t allow a single run in 5 innings of work, allowing only 3 base-runners and striking out 6.
Midland Strikes
Magdaleno would come on in the 6th and get 2 quick outs and had Susac in an 0-2 count until he missed right down the heart of the plate. Susac sent it deep over the wall and then on the very next pitch, Will Simpson sent it way out of the ballpark to give Midland a 2-1 lead in the 6th
Bullpen and Late Innings
Things would quiet down as Kelly, Sborz, and Hales combined for 2 and a third scoreless innings, not allowing a hit while striking out 4. .
The Roughriders went into the bottom of the 9th down 1. Hatcher would fly out and Freeman grounded out leaving the season on the line for Abilemec Ortiz. With the season on the line and in a 2-2 count, Ortiz lifted a towering shot into the lazy river in right field tying the ballgame! Walcott walked, stole 2nd, and was in a prime spot for Cooper Johnson. Johnson hit a hard liner but unfortunately was right to the center fielder to end the inning
Extras
Midland would start off the 10th by popping up on a failed bunt and then grounded to 3rd. But Clark would single home the run giving them a 3-2 lead.
Frisco would have Zavala go down swinging and Rodriguez flied to right leaving Osuna as the final person to save the season. Osuna would go down 0-1 but then lace a single into left tying the game.
Miland would squander the 11th as Acker dazzled in his outing. Acker would strand the runner at 3rd with 1 out as he got Simpson to Strike out swinging and Winkler to ground out softly to 1st. Acker Pitched 3 innings of relief only allowing 1 hit and 1 unearned run via the ghost runner in the 10th. He was Consequential to Frisco’s victory tonight.
Frisco would have Hatcher walk, and Acosta would steal 3rd giving them runners on first and third with no outs. Freeman came up to the dish but hit into a fielder’s choice to short as Midland took the out at 2nd but did not throw to first not wanting to risk Acosta taking off.
Ortiz, the man who tied it up in the 9th would then hit a shallow fly ball into center which Acosta tagged on, Clark hurled the ball off line sealing the night and Frisco forces a game three!
It was a true thriller on Thursday night and had the full playoff feel to it! Friday night will be the decider in a win or go home where the winner advances to the Texas League Championship.
