Frisco’s season ended in the harshest way possible Thursday, with Amarillo edging the RoughRiders 8-7 in the decisive Game Three of the Texas League Division Series.
The game got away early and never fully came back under control. Frisco starter Blake Townsend gave up six runs in the first without recording an out, and Amarillo added two more against Bryan Magdaleno in the ninth.
Still, the RoughRiders made it interesting late. Dylan Dreiling launched a homer in the ninth to pull Frisco within a run, but the rally stopped there.
There were bright spots in the pitching line beyond the rough opening. Leandro Lopez struck out four and walked three over 2.2 scoreless innings. Ismael Agreda followed with 4.2 shutout frames, punching out five.
At shortstop, Sebastian Walcott went 2 for 5 and swiped a pair of bags. The bigger question now is whether he finishes the season with Round Rock…or in Arlington…
Rafe Perich turned in a 3-for-4 night with a homer, and Arturo Disla chipped in a hit and a walk.
Round Rock also got work from a number of arms, with mixed results. David Davalillo battled command issues again, walking four and striking out five in 2.2 innings while allowing one run.
Ryan Lobus surrendered a run in 1.1 innings. Luis Curvelo worked two scoreless innings despite issuing two walks, while Ben Peoples threw a scoreless frame and Wilian Bormie struck out one and walked one in a scoreless inning.
Rehabbing Kyle Higashioka served as the DH again - and it sounds like he will be limited to DH the rest of the season - and went 1 for 3 with a walk. Cam Cauley added a hit and a stolen base, and John Taylor homered.
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The Rangers have already leaned on other options atop the lineup, which has only sharpened the question of whether it makes sense to rush Pederson back while he is still limited and coming off a slump. For a club trying to steady its offense and avoid a misstep in a key stretch, this is the kind of decision that can shape more than one series. [Read more 🡒]
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Sebastian Walcott Just Put A Real Rangers Decision In Play
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Round Rock will only have him for the final two days of its season, but the timing matters for Texas because Walcott is already viewed as one of the organizations top prospects. The late promotion gives the Rangers another look at how he fits against upper-level pitching, and it also puts a real decision in play about how soon he might be part of the major league mix. [Read more 🡒]