AMARILLO, Texas — The Frisco RoughRiders (44-40) aim to even the series on Saturday night as they take on the Amarillo Sod Poodles (41-44) in Game 5 of a six-game set at HODGETOWN. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT in what has been a back-and-forth series between the Double-A affiliates of the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks, respectively.

Frisco heads into Saturday with a 6-10 second-half record, while Amarillo sits slightly better at 9-7, having used home-field advantage and late-game heroics to swing the series in their favor over the past few nights. However, the RoughRiders got a much-needed bounce-back win on Friday, fueled by timely power and lockdown relief pitching.

🔄 Friday Night Recap

The RoughRiders responded with a clutch 4-1 victory on Friday night, snapping a tough two-game skid. Keith Jones II put Frisco on the board early with an RBI single in the second inning, but the Sod Poodles quickly leveled the score thanks to a Christian Cerda solo homer in the bottom half.

The deadlock held until the seventh, when Josh Hatcher launched a go-ahead solo blast down the right field line. In the ninth, Frisco tacked on two insurance runs—one on an Amarillo error and another via fielder’s choice—to seal the 4-1 victory.

David Davalillo made his third Double-A start and was impressive once again. The right-hander allowed just one run on four hits over 4.2 innings, fanning six without issuing a walk. Larson Kindreich (3-2) earned the win with 2.1 scoreless frames out of the bullpen, and Nick Krauth closed the door with a two-inning save—his first of the season.

🔍 Saturday Pitching Matchup

Frisco hands the ball to LHP Mitch Bratt (5-2, 2.55 ERA), one of the organization’s most consistent arms this season. Bratt, ranked among the Rangers’ top pitching prospects, has demonstrated excellent command and poise, allowing just one earned run over his last 11 innings pitched. With 71 strikeouts in 70.2 innings this season, he’s provided much-needed stability in the RoughRiders’ rotation.

Amarillo counters with RHP Jose Cabrera (4-3, 5.64 ERA), who has struggled at times but shown flashes of dominance when he finds his rhythm. Cabrera will be looking to rebound from a rocky outing last week in which he allowed four earned runs over 4.1 innings. If he can command his fastball and get ahead in counts, he has the stuff to keep Amarillo in the game.

🔑 Keys to the Game

For Frisco, it all starts with run prevention. The bullpen has quietly become a strength again, and if Bratt can give the Riders five or six solid innings, the trio of Kindreich, Krauth, and Gerardo Carrillo could be relied upon once more to secure a win.

Offensively, players like Josh Hatcher, who has rediscovered his power stroke, and Sebastian Walcott, who ended a long homerless drought earlier this week, will need to step up again. Frisco’s ability to create runs with smart base-running and situational hitting could make the difference in a game where pitching might dominate.

For Amarillo, the key is minimizing defensive lapses and capitalizing on Frisco’s occasional late-inning vulnerabilities. Ivan Melendez and Kristian Robinson have provided crucial clutch hits all week and will again be players to watch as potential game-changers for the Sod Poodles.

⚾ What’s at Stake

With the series currently split, Saturday’s contest serves as a potential momentum-shifter heading into the finale. For Frisco, a win would not only even their second-half record at 7-10 but also provide a much-needed confidence boost as they chase a postseason spot in the second half.

Amarillo, on the other hand, looks to stay above .500 in the second half and climb back into contention after a sluggish start to the 2025 campaign.

First pitch from HODGETOWN is at 7:05 p.m. CT.