STWF Sports | FRISCO, Texas | July 1, 2026 — One night after using late-game power to pull out a one-run win, the Frisco RoughRiders found themselves chasing the same kind of comeback Wednesday night at Riders Field.
This time, the final push came up just short.
Frisco RoughRiders Show Resilience in Close Games
Frisco battled back from a five-run deficit but stranded the tying and go-ahead runs late in a 6-5 loss to the Midland RockHounds in the second game of their six-game series. The defeat evened the series at one game apiece and moved the RoughRiders to 43-33 overall and 4-4 in the second half. Midland improved to 38-38 overall and 6-3 in the second half.
The night opened with attention on veteran right-hander Chris Martin, who made an MLB rehab start for Frisco. Martin handled his lone inning cleanly, striking out two RockHounds in a scoreless top of the first. Though his outing was brief, it gave the RoughRiders a sharp start on the mound and set the tone early.
Frisco grabbed the first lead in the second inning when Malcolm Moore delivered a loud swing. Moore crushed his first home run at Riders Field, sending the RoughRiders in front 1-0 and giving the home crowd an early jolt.
Midland answered in a major way in the third.
After the RockHounds created traffic against Blake Townsend, Cole Conn stepped in with the bases loaded and delivered the swing that shaped the night. Conn lifted a grand slam to push Midland ahead 4-1, flipping the game quickly and forcing Frisco to play from behind.
The RockHounds continued to stretch the lead, eventually moving ahead 6-1 by the time Frisco came to bat in the fifth. For a RoughRiders offense that has been one of the most productive units in Double-A, the deficit was not enough to take the club out of the game.
Frisco began chipping away in the bottom of the fifth. Arturo Disla came through with a two-run single against Midland left-hander Jamie Arnold, cutting the margin to 6-3 and giving the RoughRiders life heading into the late innings.
From there, the bullpen helped keep Frisco within reach. Stevie Emanuels worked 1.2 scoreless innings in relief for Midland and earned the win, but the RoughRiders still found a way to create pressure in the eighth.
That inning turned into Frisco’s best chance to complete the comeback.
With Corey Joyce and Keith Jones II aboard, Rafe Perich lined a single into right field to bring both runners home and trim Midland’s lead to 6-5. The swing capped a standout night for Perich, who was never retired. He finished with three hits, including two doubles, and added two walks in one of his most complete offensive performances of the season.
The RoughRiders continued to threaten after Perich’s hit, loading the bases with a chance to take the lead. Midland escaped the jam, however, preserving a one-run advantage and shifting the pressure to the ninth inning.
Frisco went scoreless in its final turn at the plate, and Shohei Tomioka closed the door to secure his seventh save of the season.
For the RoughRiders, the loss carried some frustration because of the missed late opportunity, but it also showed the same resilience that has defined much of their season. Frisco was down 6-1, yet still found a way to bring the tying run to the brink and force Midland to earn the final outs.
The game also continued a recent run of tight contests for the RoughRiders. After winning Tuesday’s series opener 7-6 on a go-ahead eighth-inning homer from Jones, Frisco ended up on the opposite side of a one-run finish Wednesday.
Martin’s rehab inning, Moore’s early homer, Disla’s run-scoring swing and Perich’s perfect night at the plate all provided important moments, but Conn’s grand slam proved to be the decisive blow.
Frisco will look to bounce back Thursday night in the third game of the series. The RoughRiders have not announced a starter, while Midland is scheduled to send right-hander Corey Avant to the mound. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. from Riders Field.
