SPRINGDALE -- Connor Sadzeck handcuffed the Northwest Arkansas Naturals over six innings to lead Frisco to a 6-3 win in front of 4,940 in Arvest Ballpark on Friday.
Sadzeck, a right-hander, limited the Naturals (0-2) to just two hits, struck out three and walked one as the RoughRiders captured their second straight win to open the season.
Frisco^000^005^001^—^6^10^0
NW Arkansas^000^000^012^—^3^5^0
Frisco 6, NW Arkansas 3
Frisco^AB^R^H^RBI^BB^SO^LOB^AVG
Kiner-Falefa, 3B^4^1^1^1^1^2^0^.250
Cordell, LF^4^1^2^0^1^1^0^.429
Brinson, CF^5^1^2^1^0^0^3^.444
Burg, C^4^1^2^2^0^1^1^.250
Guzman, R, 1B^3^1^0^0^1^1^2^.000
Triunfel, A, 2B^4^0^1^1^0^1^0^.125
Beck, P, RF^4^0^0^0^0^1^2^.000
Jackson, DH^4^1^2^1^0^1^0^.500
Marte, L, SS^4^0^0^0^0^1^3^.143
Totals^36^6^10^6^3^9^11^
2B: Cordell (2), Burg (1).3B: Jackson (1). TB: Burg 3; Triunfel, A; Jackson 4; Cordell 3; Brinson 2; Kiner-Falefa. RBI: Brinson (1); Burg 2 (2); Triunfel, A (1); Jackson (1); Kiner-Falefa (1). Team RISP: 6-for-12. Team LOB: 6.
NW Arkansas^AB^R^H^RBI^BB^SO^LOB^AVG
Torres, Ra, SS^4^1^1^0^0^0^1^.167
Mondesi, 2B^4^0^1^0^0^1^2^.125
Dozier, DH^3^0^1^1^0^1^0^.143
Calixte, RF^4^0^0^1^0^1^2^.143
Ramos, M, 3B^4^1^1^0^0^1^1^.125
Gallagher, C^3^0^0^0^0^1^1^.000
Schwindel, 1B^2^0^0^1^0^1^0^.000
Moon, CF^2^0^1^0^1^0^0^.500
Garcia, C, LF^2^1^0^0^1^1^2^.250
Totals^28^3^5^3^2^7^9^
2B: Ramos, M (1); Dozier (1). TB: Moon; Torres, Ra; Mondesi; Dozier 2; Ramos, M 2. RBI: Schwindel (1); Dozier (1); Calixte (1). SF: Schwindel. GIDP: Garcia, C; Torres, Ra. Team RISP: 1-for-6. Team LOB: 2. SB: Dozier (1, 2nd base off Sadzeck/Burg).
Frisco^IP^H^R^ER^BB^SO^HR^ERA
Sadzeck (W, 1-0)^6.0^2^0^0^1^3^0^0.00
Parks^1.0^0^0^0^0^2^0^0.00
Bush^1.0^1^1^1^0^1^0^4.50
Grullon^0.1^2^2^2^1^0^0^54.00
Slack (S, 1)^0.2^0^0^0^0^1^0^0.00
NW Arkansas^IP^H^R^ER^BB^SO^HR^ERA
Strahm^5.0^2^0^0^0^4^0^0.00
Cordero (L, 0-1)^0.1^2^5^5^3^0^0^135.00
Edwards^2.2^3^0^0^0^5^0^0.00
Stout^1.0^3^1^1^0^0^0^9.00
WP: Bush; Grullon. HBP: Dozier (by Sadzeck). Pitches-strikes: Sadzeck 64-43; Parks 12-8; Bush 16-12; Grullon 28-17; Slack 5-5; Strahm 71-51; Cordero 29-11; Edwards 31-24; Stout 16-10.
Umpires: HP: Sean Allen. 1B: Malachi Moore. 3B: Derek Eaton.
T: 2:32. Att: 4,940.
"He's got plus stuff," Frisco manager Joe Mikulik said. "His fastball is above average and the ability to throw his secondary stuff was really effective."
The game was scoreless until the top of the sixth inning when Frisco (2-0) struck for five runs off Naturals reliever Estarlin Cordero. Cordero replaced Naturals starter Matt Strahm, who pitched a gem over five innings. Strahm, the No. 8 prospect in the Kansas City Royals organization, gave up just two hits, struck out four and did not walk a batter, even after he was drilled in the leg on a ball hit up the middle in the third inning.
"He could have went another inning, but he took that ball off the calf and sometimes those pitchers start to stiffen up and change things and you're always concerned about injuries," Naturals manager Vance Wilson said of the decision to remove Strahm after 71 pitches.
The Naturals had just three hits entering the ninth inning and trailed 6-1 before staging a mini rally that started with Carlos Garcia's walk. Ramon Torres followed with a single and Hunter Dozier crushed an RBI double to score Garcia. Torres scored on Orlando Calixte's ground-out to make it 6-3, but the Naturals could get no closer.
Lewis Brinson was 2 for 4 for Frisco and Joe Jackson was also 2 for 4 with a triple.
SHORT HOPS
• The Naturals shook up their lineup with a number of players in different positions. Raul Mondesi moved from shortstop to second base, Hunter Dozier was the designated hitter and Ramon Torres played shortstop. Bubba Starling was not in the lineup.
• Strahm did not give up a hit until the fourth inning when Ryan Cordell doubled into the left-field corner. Alex Burg, who was 2 for 4 with two RBIs, reached on an infield single one batter later, but Strahm got a tapper back to the mound to get out of the inning.
• Naturals reliever Estarlin Cordero, who spent last season at Advanced-A Wilmington, had a rough outing. The left-hander lasted just one-third of an inning, allowing two hits, three runs and walking three.
On Deck: Christian Binford, the No. 10 ranked prospect in the Kansas City Royals organization, will get the start for Northwest Arkansas. In 2015 Binford bounced between Springdale and Triple-A Omaha, compiling a 5-11 combined record, including 4-7 with a 5.03 ERA at Northwest Arkansas. Binford is a 6-foot-6, 217-pound right-hander. Sam Wolff will get the start for Frisco. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
Today's Promotion: The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive a Rally Towel courtesy of Coca-Cola.
On The Air: KYNG-AM 1590
On The Web: www.nwanaturals.com
Sports on 04/09/2016