RoughRiders bullpen holds San Antonio to one run; offense breaks game open
FRISCO — A bullpen plan that featured two Frisco pitchers making their Double-A debuts and a pair of home runs from Dylan Dreiling powered the Frisco RoughRiders to a 7-1 victory over the San Antonio Missions on Aug. 15 at Riders Field.
The win improved Frisco to 23-21 while San Antonio fell to 20-24. The Missions struck first when Tirso Ornelas homered as the second batter of the game, but the RoughRiders answered quickly and then pulled away with a four-run outburst spanning the fourth through seventh innings.
Frisco used an opener approach, with Joey Danielson starting and turning the game over early to Brock Porter. Danielson lasted just beyond the first inning. Porter, making his first start at the Double-A level, walked six, allowed one hit and struck out five over 3.2 innings of relief, frequently working out of trouble to keep the Missions off the board.
- Dylan Dreiling: two home runs (second inning and a three-run shot in the seventh)
- Rafe Perich: opposite-field solo home run gave Frisco the lead in the fourth
- Brock Porter: 3.2 innings, six walks, one hit, five strikeouts in his Double-A start
After Ornelas' first-inning homer, Dreiling tied the score in the second with a homer over the short porch in left off Missions starter Matthew Watson. Watson kept the game even into the fourth, but Frisco seized control in that inning when Rafe Perich lifted an opposite-field home run to put the RoughRiders ahead.
Frisco added to the lead with timely hitting: Sebastian Walcott followed with an RBI double and Frainyer Chavez delivered a sacrifice fly to make it 4-1 after five innings. Alex McCoy's diving catch in right prevented additional runs from scoring and helped limit the Missions' opportunities despite San Antonio leaving 14 runners on base over the course of the contest.
| Team | Runs |
|---|---|
| Frisco RoughRiders | 7 |
| San Antonio Missions | 1 |
The decisive blow came in the seventh inning. Facing Clay Edmondson, Dreiling launched a three-run homer that extended Frisco's cushion to 7-1 and effectively put the game out of reach. San Antonio had a chance to cut into that margin in the eighth, but Ben DeTaeye, also making his Double-A debut, navigated the inning and preserved the six-run lead.
Janser Lara closed the ninth for Frisco, striking out three batters to finish the game and secure the victory for the home club.
What this means for Frisco
The game highlighted Frisco's ability to manufacture runs and rely on depth from its pitching staff. Two pitchers making their Double-A debuts — Porter and DeTaeye — each made meaningful contributions in pressure situations, and the offense produced key extra-base hits at crucial moments.
For local fans, the win is a positive sign that the RoughRiders can rely on younger arms in relief and in rotation transitions while getting production from hitters throughout the lineup. The series between San Antonio and Frisco was scheduled to continue, with this game representing the penultimate win that gives Frisco momentum heading into the remaining matchup(s).
Box-score highlights included:
- Frisco scored seven unanswered runs after falling behind in the first inning.
- Dylan Dreiling accounted for half of Frisco's homers and delivered the biggest blow with a three-run shot in the seventh.
- Brock Porter and Ben DeTaeye each made Double-A debuts; Porter provided extended relief while DeTaeye preserved the late lead.
The RoughRiders' balanced attack, combined with bullpen resilience, produced a comfortable home victory and a strong showing for Frisco's developing pitching staff.
