STWF Sports | FRISCO, Texas | May 22, 2026 — When you possess the most dangerous offense in the Texas League, consecutive quiet nights are a rarity. The Frisco RoughRiders will look to prove exactly that tonight at Riders Field as they host the San Antonio Missions for the fourth installment of a six-game structural set.
Frisco (21-20) enters the matchup trailing the series two games to one after their bats hit a sudden speed bump in a 5-1 loss on Thursday night. Tonight, the RoughRiders send right-hander Winston Santos (0-1, 10.19 ERA) to the mound to steady the ship against San Antonio’s (16-26) righty Victor Lizarraga (2-4, 6.37 ERA).
Overcoming Thursday’s Stagnation
Despite outhitting the Missions on Thursday, Frisco struggled to engineer run-scoring sequences against San Antonio starter Ian Koenig. Koenig turned in a career-best seven shutout frames, leaving Frisco starter Dalton Pence with a tough-luck loss despite a commendable performance. Pence matched a season-high with 5.1 innings of work, allowing just two earned runs while racking up five strikeouts in his Riders Field debut.
Frisco RoughRiders: Key to Success in the Series
The RoughRiders avoided a shutout in the eighth inning when Frainyer Chavez singled and outfielder Dylan Dreiling doubled, paving the way for a John Taylor sacrifice fly.
“The Buffalo” Cascades Into Double-A
While Thursday was quiet, Frisco’s lineup has been heavily fortified by the arrival of infielder Arturo Disla. Nicknamed “The Buffalo,” Disla has put together a spectacular opening stretch since his promotion last week. Through eight games, Disla is tracking at an incredible .387/.486/.710 clip with two home runs and 10 RBIs. His sheer clutch capacity was on display last Saturday when he delivered a two-run, go-ahead triple in the ninth inning—the first triple of his professional career. Disla’s power surge follows a dominant 30-game baseline at High-A Hub City, where he belted six homers and maintained a .993 OPS.
Raking in the Texas League
Disla joins a star-studded infield anchored by Keyber Rodriguez and Corey Joyce, both of whom are enjoying career-defining campaigns. Rodriguez has established himself as an elite bat in the Texas League hierarchy, sitting second in batting average (.319) and total hits (51), while tying for first with 12 doubles. His seven 3-hit games lead all of Double-A baseball, highlighting an exceptional .513 slugging percentage that easily eclipses his previous stateside career high.
Concurrently, Joyce has been an absolute revelation since signing as a minor league free agent on April 8. In 25 appearances, Joyce has hammered seven home runs and driven in 22 runs, boasting a robust .983 OPS that dwarfs the two home runs he generated over 92 games in the Chicago Cubs organization last season.
Adding prospect pedigree to the mix is outfielder Dylan Dreiling. The Rangers’ No. 10 prospect, who captured Texas League Player of the Week honors two weeks ago after a four-homer explosion, continues to display incredible plate discipline. Over his last 13 contests, Dreiling is hitting .340 with a 1.122 OPS and 14 walks.
The First-Inning Blueprint
If the RoughRiders intend to break out tonight, history suggests it will happen early. Frisco leads the Texas League across virtually every significant offensive category, ranking first in hits (383), team batting average (.273), runs scored (263), slugging (.455), and team OPS (.822).
A core component of this offensive identity is their relentless first-inning execution. Frisco’s 42 first-inning runs are tied for third across all of Minor League Baseball. The team is hitting a blistering .321 in the opening frame, striking early to alter opposing pitching game plans.
When the lineup hits its structural threshold, they are nearly impossible to defeat; the RoughRiders carry an imposing 13-1 record this season when scoring eight or more runs. Santos will look to keep the game within reach early, allowing Frisco’s historically potent offense to re-establish dominance on home turf.
