STWF Sports | AMARILLO, Texas | April 16, 2026 — In a game that had all the makings of an offensive showcase, the Frisco RoughRiders came up just short in a 13–12 extra-inning loss to the Amarillo Sod Poodles on Thursday night at Hodgetown.

Frisco (7-5) battled back multiple times and appeared in control late, but a costly bullpen stretch and a late rally by Amarillo (3-9) erased what had been a five-run advantage.

The game opened with early trouble for Frisco starter Winston Santos, who was tagged for six earned runs in his second outing of the season. Amarillo capitalized quickly, plating three runs in the second inning and maintaining pressure at the plate to build a 6-3 advantage.

Despite the early deficit, the RoughRiders responded with resilience. Frainyer Chavez delivered a key swing in the fourth inning, launching a three-run home run to even the score at 6-6. The blast continued Chavez’s recent surge, as the switch-hitter has now homered in four of his last six games after a slow start to his Double-A power production in 2025.

Frisco seized momentum in the fifth inning with a decisive offensive outburst. Marcus Lee Sang provided the spark, driving a line-drive home run onto the berm in right-center field to cap a four-run frame and give the Riders a 10-6 lead. The inning marked a turning point, as Frisco’s lineup began to consistently find barrels against Amarillo pitching.

Frisco RoughRiders Show Resilience in High-Scoring Battle

The RoughRiders continued to build their lead in the middle innings. Keyber Rodriguez added an RBI double in the sixth, and Lee Sang struck again in the seventh with a towering solo home run that traveled 466 feet over the batter’s eye — the longest home run by a Frisco player so far this season. The blast not only extended the lead to 12-7 but also highlighted a breakout performance for Lee Sang, who finished with a career-high five RBIs and his first two home runs as a RoughRider.

While the offense surged, Frisco received a steady effort on the mound from reliever Ben Anderson. Making his season debut, the right-hander delivered five innings out of the bullpen, allowing just three runs and stabilizing the game after the early struggles from Santos.

Holding a 12-7 lead entering the late innings, Frisco appeared poised to secure the win. However, the offense went quiet in the eighth and ninth innings, opening the door for Amarillo’s comeback.

The Sod Poodles capitalized in dramatic fashion. With two outs in the ninth inning, Ben McLaughlin delivered a clutch three-run double against Frisco reliever Austin Roberts, tying the game at 12-12 and sending it into extra innings.

In the tenth, Amarillo’s Casey Anderson kept Frisco off the scoreboard, setting up the decisive moment in the bottom half. With the pressure mounting, Angel Ortiz executed a fielder’s choice that brought home the winning run, sealing the 13-12 walk-off victory for the Sod Poodles.

The loss drops Frisco to 7-5 on the season in what will be remembered as one of the more volatile games of the early schedule — a contest defined by offensive firepower and late-inning drama.

Despite the result, the RoughRiders showcased their offensive potential, combining for 12 runs behind timely hitting and power from Chavez and Lee Sang. However, the inability to close out the game underscored the challenges of bullpen consistency in high-leverage situations.

Frisco will have little time to dwell on the defeat as they return to Hodgetown on Friday night looking to even the series. Opening Day starter Leandro Lopez is scheduled to take the mound against Amarillo right-hander Ashton Izzi in a 7:05 p.m. first pitch, as the RoughRiders aim to bounce back from a tough extra-inning setback.