Mieses Powers Frisco to a game one victory in Amarillo

After spending two weeks away from Hodgetown, the Sod Poodles returned to Bomb City. Amarillo lost both series during their trip to Springfield and Corpus Christi and aimed to regain the winning momentum they had before the long road trip, having won three consecutive series. However, Frisco had different plans.

The Sod Poodles offense quickly got on the board with a hit, as Kristian Robinson hit a single off Frisco starter Daniel Missaki, and LuJames Groover followed with a single to bring Robinson home, giving Amarillo an early 1-0 advantage.

Sebastian Walcott made an early impact when, after being hit by a pitch in his first at-bat, he demonstrated his renowned ability for hard contact. Following a Zavala 2-RBI double, Walcott smashed a 2-1 pitch to the top of the left field wall, narrowly keeping the ball in the park for his 12th double of the season. Abimelec Ortiz joined the action at Jose Cabrera's expense by singling to bring Walcott home, extending the Roughrider lead to 4-1 in the second inning.

In the bottom of the second, Amarillo loaded the bases but only scored one run on a Tommy Troy walk, reducing the deficit to 4-2.

The Roughriders continued to challenge the Sod Poodles' starter, with Luis Mieses inflicting further damage on Cabrera by hitting a solo home run in the third and an RBI double in the fifth, completing his night with three extra-base hits.

Ivan Melendez 8th Home Run [Parker Liles for Sideline Sports}

In the third inning, first baseman Ivan Melendez took the first pitch from Missaki and launched a home run, narrowing the Sod Poodles' gap. The ball left his bat at 111 MPH and soared 445 feet into the Amarillo night, reducing the deficit to 5-4. However, Mieses' second double soon extended Frisco's lead back to two.

{Parker Liles for Sideline Sports]

Jose Cabrera battled through 5 innings for Amarillo, allowing six earned runs on 8 hits, 2 walks, and 6 strikeouts over 93 pitches, with 62 of them being strikes (66%). Cabrera then passed the ball to Alec Baker. Baker performed well, aside from one error. After retiring Frisco in order in his first inning, Baker delivered a pitch to Ortiz on a 1-0 count that the designated hitter capitalized on, sending it into the stands with barely a glance from the Amarillo outfielders. Jack Hurley made the defensive highlight of the game in the sixth inning by robbing Sebastian Walcott of a hit and doubling off the runner to conclude the inning.

Jhosmer Alvarez took the baton from Baker in the 8th and provided one of his best outings of the season, pitching 2 innings of 1 hit baseball and didn't give up a run.

Jack Hurley robs Sebastian Walcott of a hit and cuts down the runner retreating back to first to end the inning

Gavin Conticello attempted to energize the Amarillo fans by hitting a triple into the right field corner. LuJames Groover then drove him in with a sacrifice fly, finishing his night with a 2-for-2 performance that included two singles, a walk, a hit by pitch, and a sacrifice fly. Following that, aside from a double by Manuel Pena, Gavin Collyer shut down Amarillo and secured the first game of the series for Frisco 7-5.

Despite the loss, Amarillo's offense seemed to regain its form a little. They were hitting the ball hard, but a few hits tonight, including a pair of ninth-inning shots to the warning track, felt like they would have been home runs on most nights. However, after a rainy weekend, the humidity had an impact.

Wednesday's Pitcher Previews

LHP Kohl Drake (2.48 ERA - 3.03 FIP / 47 K - 12 BB)

Outside of Sebastian Walcott, the biggest standout in Amarillo's first series against Frisco was Drake. The Rangers #12 prospect dominated the Sod Poodles in April. Drake shoved for 5 innings of one hit baseball with the only hit coming off the bat of Jack Hurley for a double. Drake struck out six Amarillo batters in those five innings while only walking one, with a 75% strike rate that day. The former 11th round pick out of Walters State Community College in Tennessee has almost gone step for step with Ray in May so far outside of having one less start. Drake has pitched to a 1.65 ERA (2.54 - FIP) in May, striking out 19 batters and only having walked 3.

RHP Dylan Ray (4.15 ERA - 4.47 FIP / 47 K - 16 BB)

It's Ray Day ladies and gentlemen! While they were away on their road trip Dylan Ray kept shoving. Ray has acumulated a 1.88 ERA (2.15 FIP) in the month of May so far after struggling in April. Ray will be coming off the outing where he "struggled" the most, giving up just 3 earned runs on 3 hits against the Hooks last week.

"He gets after hitters. I think when I first got down here, he was trying to be too perfect and he's had a mindset change to where he wants to get on the mound." Sod Poodles catcher Drake Osborn said of Ray "He's got a really good heater, and he's going to trust that heater and get after guys."

That heater has sat in the low to mid 90s all season, demonstrating superb accuracy in the month of may. You will also see a high 80s slider from Ray that has seen some swing and miss as of late, a changeup in the in the low 80s, and a curveball that when Ray has control of it has been a gamechanger for the right hander.

Dylan Ray vs Tulsa

Ray has already seen this Roughrider lineup once this season, tossing 4 innings and giving up a single earned run despite walking 3. Abimelec Ortiz took Ray deep that night on a 2-0 count for Rays only earned run of the night.

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