SPRINGDALE -- Northwest Arkansas couldn't come up with a big hit in its season opener Thursday night at Arvest Ballpark.
Four Frisco pitchers combined on a four-hitter to claim a 2-0 win in Texas League action.
Frisco 2, Northwest Arkansas 0
Frisco^001^000^001^—^2^5^1
Northwest Arkansas^000^000^000^—^0^4^1
Frisco^AB^R^H^RBI^BB^SO^LOB^AVG^
Kiner-Falefa, 3B^4^0^1^0^0^1^1^.250
Cordell, RF^3^1^1^1^1^1^0^.333
Brinson, CF^4^0^2^0^0^1^1^.500
Burg, DH^4^0^0^0^0^2^3^.000
Guzman, R, 1B^3^0^0^0^1^0^0^.000
Cone, LF^3^0^0^1^0^2^0^.000
Triunfel, A, 2B^4^0^0^0^0^0^2^.000
Deglan, C^3^0^0^0^0^2^0^.000
Marte, L, SS^3^1^1^0^0^0^0^.333
Lopez, F, P^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^.000
Pena, R, P^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^.000
Valdespina, P^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^.000
Bush, P^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^.000
Totals^31^2^5^2^2^9^7^.161
2B: Cordell (1). TB: Marte, L; Kiner-Falefa; Cordell 2; Brinson 2. RBI: Cordell (1); Cone (1). SF: Cone. RISP: 2-for-5. LOB: 5. SB: Brinson (1). E: Deglan (1).
NW Arkansas^AB^R^H^RBI^BB^SO^LOB^AVG^
Torres, Ra, 2B^2^0^0^0^2^0^0^.000
Mondesi, SS^4^0^0^0^0^1^4^.000
Starling, CF^4^0^0^0^0^3^2^.000
Dozier, 3B^4^0^0^0^0^1^3^.000
Calixte, RF^3^0^1^0^1^1^0^.333
Evans, C^4^0^2^0^0^2^2^.500
Ramos, M, DH^4^0^0^0^0^1^3^.000
Schwindel, 1B^3^0^0^0^0^0^1^.000
Garcia, C, LF^2^0^1^0^1^0^1^.500
Mills, P^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^.000
Caramo, P^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^.000
Selman, P^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^.000
Peterson, M, P^0^0^0^0^0^0^0^.000
Totals^30^0^4^0^4^9^16^.133
2B: Evans (1). TB: Garcia, C; Evans 3; Calixte. RISP: 0-for-9. LOB: 7. SB: Calixte 2 (2). CS: Calixte (1). PO: Calixte. E: Mondesi (1). Outfield assists: Calixte.
Frisco^IP^H^R^ER^BB^SO^HR^ERA^
Lopez, F (W, 1-0)^6.0^3^0^0^1^7^0^0.00
Pena, R (H, 1)^1.0^0^0^0^1^2^0^0.00
Valdespina (H, 1)^1.0^0^0^0^2^0^0^0.00
Bush (S, 1)^1.0^1^0^0^0^0^0^0.00
Totals^9.0^4^0^0^4^9^0^0.00
NW Arkansas^IP^H^R^ER^BB^SO^HR^ERA^
Mills (L, 0-1)^5.0^4^1^1^0^7^0^1.80
Caramo ^2.0^0^0^0^0^0^0^0.00
Selman ^1.0^1^1^1^1^1^0^9.00
Peterson, M ^1.0^0^0^0^1^1^0^0.00
Totals^9.0^5^2^2^2^9^0^2.00
WP: Selman. IBB: Guzman, R (by Peterson, M). Pitches-strikes: Lopez, F 81-57; Pena, R 24-12; Valdespina 26-11; Bush 9-7; Mills 74-53; Caramo 19-15; Selman 25-14; Peterson, M 19-9.
Umpires: HP: Derek Eaton. 1B: Sean Allen. 3B: Malachi Moore.
T: 2:35. Att: 6,054.
Northwest Arkansas had opportunities, but went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position. The Naturals left the bases loaded in the eighth, the tying run at third in the seventh and the tying run at second in the sixth.
Naturals manager Vance Wilson tipped his hat to the RoughRiders' pitchers, particularly starter Frank Lopez, who allowed just three hits over six innings. He struck out seven and did not walk a batter.
"This is place is tough to see early, both pitchers took advantage," Wilson said. "Lopez rolled. He used his fastball in, was very effective with it, placed it. I was impressed with the kid. He pitched a good game. He kept us off-balance.
"Mills on the other end was spotting the fastball up away. He's got a great change-up. Unfortunately, pitch that well you've got to take a loss. Two good starting pitchers tonight."
Northwest Arkansas' best chance came in the eighth as the Naturals drew back-to-back one-out walks. Frisco reliever Jose Valdespina got Raul Mondesi to fly out, but Bubba Starling reached on an error to load the bases. However, Valdespina got Hunter Dozier on a fielder's choice to end the inning.
"Even the guy who came in and struggled in the eighth, we had the go-ahead run on second," Wilson said. "Dozier hit the ball good, but their defensive placement was right one."
Frisco scored in the third on an RBI-double by Ryan Cordell and a sacrifice fly by Zach Cone in the top of the ninth.
RoughRiders manager Joe Mikuluk also praised the work of his pitchers, especially Lopez.
"Hats off to Frankie Lopez, he did a heck of a job," Mikuluk said. "A great mix of all his pitches, kept the ball in the strike zone and his secondary stuff was really good. Not much offense, but enough."
SHORT HOPS
• Matt Bush, the former first overall pick in the 2004 draft, notched the save for Frisco, pitching a scoreless ninth inning.
• Zane Evans accounted for two of the Naturals' four hits, including a double. Lewis Brinson, rated as the No. 2 prospect in the Texas Rangers' organization by Baseball American, also went 2 for 4.
• Northwest Arkansas starter Alec Mills took the loss in his Double-A debut. He allowed a run on four hits over five innings, while striking out seven and not walking a batter.
On Deck: The Naturals continue their series with Frisco with a 7:05 p.m. start today. Northwest Arkansas sends LHP Matt Strahm to the mound to face RHP Connor Sadzeck.
Today's Promotion: Scout groups from throughout the area can get discounted tickets and enjoy a post-game movie followed by a campout in the Arvest Ballpark outfield. There will also be post-game fireworks.
On The Air: KQSM-FM 92.1
On The Web: www.nwanaturals.com
MIDLAND 7, TRAVELERS 2
Starter Kyle McGowin struggled, giving up six runs in 1 1/3 innings of the 7-2 loss to Midland. First baseman Eric Aguilera had a better start in his return to the Travs after hitting .121 over the final nine games of last season with the team. Aguilera hit home runs to right field in the third and eighth innings to account for the Travs only runs.
“Everybody wants to start off good,” Travs Manager Mark Parent said. “So, it’s good to see that when you hit the ball hard you have some success. But, it’s just Game 1, tomorrow is a new day and you have to come out with the same approach and look for a good pitch to hit.”
Sports on 04/08/2016