It was the kind of game pitchers daydream about.
Frisco RoughRiders right-handed starter Connor Sadzeck held the the Arkansas Travelers to 3 base runners on 3 base hits and struck out 7 over 6 innings in Frisco's 3-0 victory Friday night at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock.
Frisco hitting coach Jason Hart, who substituted for vacationing manager Joe Mikulik during Friday's game, said it was Sadzeck's best performance of the season. He said it was clear Sadzeck (7-2) had command of all of his pitches.
"He never backed down," Hart said. "He didn't hesitate to challenge hitters with his fastball."
Frisco got all the runs it needed in short order. Against Arkansas right-handed starter Victor Alcantara, shortstop Luis Marte and second baseman Andy Ibanez led off the game with back-to-back singles . After Ronald Guzman's sacrifice fly to deep right field, Ryan Cordell's single drove in Marte to give Frisco a 1-0 lead.
Two defensive gams by the Travs kept the RoughRiders from adding to their lead in the second inning. Center fielder Forrestt Allday's quick scoop in deep left center kept Frisco catcher Isiah Kiner-Falefa at third base on Marte's two-out double. Next, first baseman Eric Aguilera dug a throw out of the dirt from shortstop Anthony Phillips on a sharp grounder by Ibanez to end the inning.
"Eric has gotten way better at getting those out of the dirt," Travelers Manager Mark Parent said. "He struggled with that early."
Arkansas never seriously threatened Sadzeck. First baseman Eric Aguilera hit a two-out double in the first inning, but advanced no further. Second baseman Andrew Daniel led off the second inning with a single and stole second but remained there through the final three Arkansas batters.
A sharp line drive to right field by Bo Way in the second likely would have scored Daniel, but right fielder Alex Burg's sprinting snag saved the run for Frisco.
"We hit some hard shots right at them," Parent said. "It's too bad Way's hit didn't get through."
"Sadzeck stuff was really sharp," Way said. "He was really hitting his spots. He was tough to hit."
Travelers designated hitter Jabari Henry hit a one-out double in the fourth inning but was stranded.
"I was very pleased," Sadzeck said. "Everything was working. I've been really working on my slider this season, and I think it might have been better than my curve tonight. There were a few times where they had runners on base, but I was really able to keep my focus in those situations."
Sadzeck struck all three Travelers he faced in the sixth inning to complete his effort.
After Frisco's first, Alcantara (2-6) allowed one baserunner over the next three innings. But Frisco's fifth started with a double by Cordell, a single by left fielder Joe Jackson and a walk to right fielder Alex Burg. Third baseman Edwin Garcia's bases-loaded bloop single scored Cordell and Jackson to give Frisco a 3-0 lead.
"I thought Alcantra really pitched well after the first inning," Parent said.
Sports on 07/02/2016