STWF Sports | CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas | July 8, 2026— The Frisco RoughRiders will try to carry the momentum from a dramatic series-opening victory into Wednesday night when they face the Corpus Christi Hooks at 6:35 p.m. from Whataburger Field.
Frisco RoughRiders Aim for Continued Success
Left-hander Blake Townsend is scheduled to start for Frisco against Corpus Christi right-hander Bryce Mayer. Townsend enters at 3-4 with a 5.37 ERA, while Mayer owns a 2-2 record and a 3.56 ERA.
Frisco opened the six-game series with a 3-2 comeback win Tuesday, improving to 7-6 in the second half and 46-35 overall. The Hooks fell to 7-6 in the half and 39-43 on the season.
Corpus Christi struck first when Will Bush hit a two-run homer off Aidan Curry in the opening inning. Curry settled down immediately after the early mistake and delivered one of the strongest pitching performances of Frisco’s season.
The right-hander matched his career high with 12 strikeouts across six innings, allowing only two runs on three hits and two walks. Curry did not earn the decision, but he continued a dominant stretch in which he has recorded 23 strikeouts over his past 11.2 innings.
His 12 strikeouts were the most by a Texas League starter this season and the highest total by a RoughRiders starter since Victor Payano struck out 13 San Antonio Missions hitters in May 2016. Frisco finished with 18 strikeouts as a team, tying its franchise record for a nine-inning game.
The RoughRiders’ offense began its response in the second inning when Marcus Lee Sang launched his 10th home run of the season. Frisco remained within one run until the eighth, when Rafe Perich delivered another clutch moment.
Perich drove a two-run homer down the left-field line, turning a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 advantage. Six of his seven home runs since joining Frisco have either tied the game or given the RoughRiders the lead. He has 18 total homers this season, tied for the Rangers organization lead.
Perich has also been one of the Texas League’s hottest hitters in July. He is batting .476 with a .577 on-base percentage and an .857 slugging percentage this month. His three three-hit performances are tied for the most among Double-A players in July.
Josh Trentadue secured Tuesday’s victory with three dominant relief innings. He struck out six and allowed only one baserunner, earning his third win of the season.
Frisco returns to a favorable setting Wednesday. The RoughRiders are 7-3 at Whataburger Field this year, including a season-opening three-game sweep. Through 10 games in Corpus Christi, Frisco has hit 16 home runs and averaged 6.3 runs per contest.
That production reflects the strength of an offense that has established several franchise benchmarks. The RoughRiders’ 106 home runs through 81 games are already the most in team history, while their average of 6.2 runs per game is also a franchise record.
Frisco ranks first in the Texas League in batting average, doubles and slugging percentage. The club is also second in Double-A with 734 hits and has scored at least seven runs in 34 games.
The RoughRiders have been particularly dangerous late. Their 170 runs in the seventh inning or later lead Double-A, while the pitching staff has posted a 3.87 ERA in those situations. Frainyer Chavez has been central to that success, batting .346 after the sixth inning.
Chavez enters Wednesday after earning three Texas Rangers organizational honors for June. He was named Minor League Player of the Month and Defender of the Month after batting .388 with five home runs, 17 RBIs and 20 walks. Austin Roberts was selected as the organization’s Minor League Reliever of the Month after recording a 1.32 ERA over 13.2 innings.
Already assured of a postseason appearance after winning the Texas League South Division first-half title, Frisco will now look to strengthen its position and secure another series victory on the road.
