Morejon & Bolaños Freeze Frisco Bats

FRISCO, Texas – The Sod Poodles won their second game in a row against the RoughRiders by a 5-2 score, led by dominant Cuban pitching and some timely hitting.

Adrian Morejon started the game for Amarillo, and retired all six batters he faced, striking out a pair. His fastball was sitting 92-94 MPH, and touched 96, as he used his change up and breaking pitches to effectively keep hitters off balance. He needed just 20 pitches to get through two innings, and was pulled in favor of Ronald Bolaños. This was Morejon’s third straight two-inning start, and he hasn’t thrown more than two innings since May 22nd, when he threw 41 pitches in a three-inning stint.

After a pair of easy groundouts, Adrian Morejon strikes out the rehabbing Hunter Pence on three pitches, all swinging strikes. He needs 8 pitches (seven strikes) to get through the first. pic.twitter.com/C1MVSYyaOC

— Marcus (@marcusSDTX) July 13, 2019

Bolaños was impressive, taking the game over in the third and finishing it off, allowing just three hits and a pair of walks against seven strikeouts. He retired eight batters in a row on two separate occasions, and like Morejon, kept batters uncomfortable all night. His fastball maxed out at 97 MPH, but was sitting 94-95 for most of the night, dipping down to 92 in the last inning. Bolaños was lit up in his second Double-A start, but has been in a groove since then, posting a 2.79 ERA in his last five games (29 innings) with a 37:11 K:BB ratio.

After hitting 95 and 97 on the gun, Ronald Bolaños strikes out Hunter Pence. 5 K’s in 4 IP for Bolaños tonight, along w/a walk and an earned run on a pair of hits. He’s retired seven in a row. pic.twitter.com/a49RO6mblD

— MadFriars (@madfriars) July 13, 2019

Offensively, the Sod Poodles had a hard time getting much together, but were able to capitalize on missteps to string together some runs. Frisco starter Brock Burke (the Rangers no.9 prospect according to MLB Pipeline) walked two batters in the first around a broken bat bloop single by Ivan Castillo, and a fielder’s choice, sac fly, and a Luis Torrens double (that probably should’ve been caught by the left fielder) put the Soddies out in front 3-0 out of the gate.

RF Edward Olivares had a pair of RBI singles on the night and seemed to put together the best at bats for Amarillo, also drawing a walk. The MadFriars player of the month for the Sod Poodles has a .336/.398/.479 slash line in the 37 games since the beginning of June, and has good bat-to-ball skills. His 12 homers this season match his total in High-A Lake Elsinore in 55 fewer games, but his profile is more of a line drive merchant than someone who is selling out for power.

On a full count, Edward Olivares lines a sharp single to center to increase the Sod Poodles lead to 4-1 heading to the bottom of the seventh in Frisco. pic.twitter.com/QZ353NaAAo

— MadFriars (@madfriars) July 13, 2019

First baseman Brad Zunica, who launched a few balls into the lazy river in right center field during batting practice, hit a laser to left that would’ve been a standup double if he hadn’t had Kyle Overstreet running in front of him (no need to run into an out at third base if you already have the lead), and Rodrigo Orozco had three singles on the night.

Castillo, who has spent most of the season at short or second, got the start at third base and made a spectacular play to rob the rehabbing Hunter Pence in the fourth, diving all the way to his left and getting up to make the throw. It was marked as a hit in the box score, but Owen Miller mishandled a tailor made double play ball that led to what was marked as an earned run against Bolaños.

Amarillo Notes: Before the game, Sod Poodles reliever Andres Muñoz was officially called up to the Padres, leaving a vacancy on Amarillo’s roster. Padres no.1 prospect MacKenzie Gore will make his Texas League debut on Saturday night in Frisco, and MadFriars will again be there to bring you the action.