STWF Sports | FRISCO, Texas | May 23, 2026  — The Frisco RoughRiders will look to unleash their league-leading offense and snap a frustrating slide tonight as they host the San Antonio Missions for Game 5 of their six-game structural set at Riders Field. Trailing the series three games to one after a heartbreaking 7-6 defeat on Friday night, the RoughRiders find themselves in a critical bounce-back position.

Tonight’s pitching matchup offers a compelling clash. Frisco hands the ball to right-hander Leandro Lopez (0-2, 7.12 ERA), who continues to hunt for his first decision in the win column. He faces a formidable counterpart in San Antonio’s righty Jhony Brito (0-0, 0.00 ERA), a high-caliber arm looking to keep the visiting San Diego Padres affiliate rolling. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT.

Recapping Friday’s Late-Inning Thriller

Frisco (21-21) nearly pulled off a spectacular comeback last night in a back-and-forth affair that showcased both teams’ late-inning resilience. Infielder John Taylor ignited the home crowd early, ripping a solo home run in the first inning off San Antonio starter Victor Lizarraga. The blast marked Taylor’s sixth round-tripper of the campaign, an eye-opening power surge compared to his two homers across 58 games in High-A last season.

Down 3-1 in the seventh, Frisco weaponized their plate discipline to draw four walks off reliever Andrew Moore. Taylor walked in a run, and Keith Jones II followed with a clutch, two-RBI single to momentarily seize a 4-3 advantage.

However, the Missions answered with a three-run eighth inning, punctuated by Carson Tucker’s two-run single, and added a solo shot from Francisco Acuna in the ninth. Corey Joyce brought the Riders within one with a thunderous two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth, but San Antonio closed the door to preserve the slim victory.

“The Buffalo” and a Historic Offense

The Frisco RoughRiders’ Path to Victory

Despite the tough series stretch, the RoughRiders’ offense remains the most feared unit in the Texas League. Frisco currently ranks first in the league in hits (393), team batting average (.273), runs scored (269), slugging percentage (.457), and team OPS (.824). To contextualize their dominance, Frisco’s team OPS sits 40 points higher than second-place Arkansas.

A major catalyst for this historic tear has been the promotion of infielder Arturo Disla. Nicknamed “The Buffalo,” Disla has been an absolute revelation, hitting safely in seven of his first eight Double-A contests while logging a staggering .387/.486/.710 slash line with 10 RBIs.

Disla is flanked by an incredibly deep supporting cast:

• Corey Joyce: The free-agent pickup has been a spectacular addition, logging eight home runs and 24 RBIs in just 25 games while maintaining a 1.005 OPS.

• Keyber Rodriguez: Sitting tied for first in the league in doubles (12) and second in hits (51), Rodriguez boasts seven 3-hit games this year to lead all of Double-A.

• Dylan Dreiling: The Rangers’ No. 10 prospect enters tonight carrying a .346 average and an elite 1.113 OPS over his last 14 games.

Striking Early is the Blueprint

For Frisco to jump back into the win column tonight, they must return to their primary offensive blueprint: scoring early and often. The RoughRiders have plated 43 runs in the first inning this season, ranking third across all of Minor League Baseball. They are hitting a collective .327 in the opening frame, having scored in the first inning in 19 games this season.

When Frisco’s high-octane offense crosses the eight-run threshold, they are an unblemished 13-1. Lopez will need to give the RoughRiders a stable platform early, allowing this historically potent lineup to stretch its legs and salvage the weekend series on home turf.