The 2018 season kicked off Thursday with a beautiful night of baseball and family fun at Dr Pepper Ballpark hosted by the Frisco RoughRiders. Deep Ellum Brewing Company was on hand and hosted Party at the Yard along with 106.1 KISS FM DFW drawing a record Opening Day Crowd of 11,015. Frisco hosted Tulsa Drillers Baseball the Los Angeles Dodgers AA affiliate.
Collin Wiles got the start and looked sharp early, working out of some early inning jams. It was scoreless until the Riders half of the 3rd when DH Hunter Cole took Drillers starter Dennis Santana deep to left to get Frisco up 1-0. Tulsa would storm back on Errol Robinson's grand slam in the top of the 4th. Wiles loaded the bases following a lead off double by Mora and a Will Smith single. Robinson took a fastball out over the plate deep to left center to put Tulsa up for good. If that wasn't enough damage, the following pitch was also smoked to right into the Choctaw Lazy River by Luke Raley to make it 5-1. That would be all the offense the Drillers needed.
The Riders pen was excellent in relief, pitching 4 scoreless innings to keep Frisco in it. Tyler Davis struck out the side in the 6th and Tony Barnette, making a rehab appearance for the Texas Rangers pitched a scoreless 7th. The Frisco RoughRiders made it interesting and actually brought the tying run to the plate a couple times in the ninth but could only muster an RBI ground-out from Yanio Perez to make the final score 5-2, Tulsa.
Frisco looks to earn their first win of the season Friday night when young stud prospect Ariel Jurado takes the hill at 7:05 against Tulsa's Caleb Ferguson. If you missed DJ Spinderella Opening Night, make sure to catch the post game Fireworks on Friday night.
