Zavala hits 1st AA home run in 12-5 win
Frisco, TX– Prior to the game the RoughRiders sat with a 16-12 record in the 2nd half of the season and really need to string together more wins to have a shot at the postseason.
The temperature at first pitch was 101 and it felt it but didn’t stop the crowd of 3,139 who made their way to Riders Field. Right-hander Zak Kent (1-2, 4.92) got the start for the RoughRiders against right-hander Bryce Jarvis (2-3, 7.44) for the Sod Poodles.
Kent allowed four runs in the top of the 1st. A mound visit by pitching coach Jeff Andrews seemed to help. He induced an RBI-scoring groundout and then a pop out to end the inning.
The RoughRiders got a run back in the bottom of the 2nd after Blaine Crim hit his 14th home run of the season. He later hit his 15th home run as part of a six-run 7th for the RoughRiders. His 15th home run ball traveled 402 feet.
Zak Kent hit up to 95 mph from what I saw on the radar gun. He settled in after the rough 1st inning and pitched four additional scoreless innings. His line: 5ip, 4r, 7h, 5so, 86/58 strikes.
He was replaced in the 6th by Triston Polley who allowed one run on a home run in his inning of work.
The RoughRiders chipped into the lead with two runs in the bottom of the sixth
On a 2-1 count, Aaron Zavala gave the ball a 401-foot ride for his first Double-A home run. Sandro Fabian later singled to score Justin Foscue. The Sod Poodles still had a 5-3 lead.
The RoughRiders broke the game open with their six-run bottom of the 7th. It featured a two-run home run by Brad Miller, who is in Frisco on a rehab assignment, an rbi double by Aaron Zavala (4th double), and Blaine Crim’s two-run home run.
Joe Barlow, who is also on a rehab assignment, earned the win with his 1.2 scoreless innings. He hit up to 95 mph on the fastball. He issued one walk and struck out three.
Josh Smith pitched 1.1 innings giving up one hit.
The RoughRiders move 53-45 on the season with a 17-12 record in the second half. The game took 2 hours and 40 minutes.
Player of the game
Blaine Crim went 4-for-5 with two home runs and 3 RBI.
Here is the boxscore.
Up Next
Right-hander Tim Brennan takes the mound for the RoughRiders against the Sod Poodles and RHP Slade Cecconi (5-3, 4.11 ERA) Thursday August 4, 2022.
First pitch 7:05 PM