Undefeated Rivals Clash as RoughRiders Host RockHounds

FRISCO, Texas (Interstat) — Two early-season perfect records will be on the line Wednesday when the Frisco RoughRiders host the Midland RockHounds in Texas League action at Riders Field.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. under cloudy skies with temperatures around 67 degrees.

Both clubs enter with identical 3-0 marks, setting the stage for a showdown after Frisco dominated the series opener Tuesday, 8-1. The RoughRiders have outscored opponents 16-3 this season, while the RockHounds have a 14-8 run differential.

Midland will send left-hander Blake Townsend to the mound. Townsend owns a season record of wins and losses. He will face a Frisco lineup that pounded out 12 hits in Tuesday’s victory.

A key player to watch for the RockHounds is reliever JJ Goss, who has been dominant in his early outings. Goss earned the win in relief on April 4 against Arkansas, throwing 3 1/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. He followed that with another 3 1/3 scoreless frames in Saturday’s 4-2 win over the Travelers.

Frisco’s pitching has been equally formidable. A standout has been David Davalillo, who delivered 5 1/3 shutout innings with seven strikeouts in a 1-0 win at Corpus Christi on April 4. The RoughRiders’ staff has posted two shutouts in three games.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, Wednesday’s contest projects as a high-scoring affair, with a predicted final of Frisco 7, Midland 6.

Following Wednesday’s game, the four-game series continues through Sunday. Midland then returns home to face the San Antonio Missions for a six-game set starting April 14. Frisco will hit the road for a six-game series against the Amarillo Sod Poodles beginning the same day.