FRISCO, Texas — When a grueling six-game series hangs in the balance, championship-caliber teams rely on starting pitching to set the tone. The Frisco RoughRiders did exactly that on Sunday evening at Riders Field, leaning on a landmark performance from their starting left-hander and a signature late-inning offensive explosion to dominate the San Antonio Missions 8-1.
The definitive victory allowed the RoughRiders (23-21) to secure a hard-fought series split against their Texas League rivals and maintain an upward trajectory. San Antonio, the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, slides to 17-28 following the weekend finale.
A Career First for MacLean
The Frisco RoughRiders: A Team to Watch
The primary narrative of the evening belonged to Frisco southpaw Dylan MacLean (4-0), who authored a career milestone when his club needed it most. MacLean neutralized the Missions’ batting order over a career-high six innings of work, surrendering just five hits and a single free pass to register his first career quality start at the Double-A level.
The young lefty commanded both sides of the plate with poise, keeping San Antonio’s hitters perpetually off-balance. The lone blemish on his scorecard arrived via an isolated run in the top of the fourth inning. MacLean exited the mound having thrown a highly efficient game, leaving the field with a tight 3-1 cushion and turning the afternoon over to a heavily fortified Frisco bullpen.
Striking Early from the Nine-Spot
Long before MacLean completed his gem, the Frisco lineup provided early run support by sticking strictly to their identity of striking in the opening frame. In the bottom of the first, the RoughRiders immediately targeted San Antonio starter Miguel Mendez (1-1). Outfielder Keith Jones II lined a sharp RBI single into the outfield to ignite the home crowd, marking the 20th time in 44 games this season that Frisco has scored in the first inning.
The home team extended their advantage in the second frame, manufacturing a pair of runs when Orlando Martinez delivered a clutch, two-run single to push the lead to 3-0. Martinez proved to be an absolute weapon from the bottom of the order. The veteran turned in a spectacular three-hit performance out of the nine-spot, highlighted by his first triple of the 2026 campaign to keep the line moving.
“The Buffalo” Puts It on Ice
While a two-run margin kept the visitors within striking distance through the middle frames, the RoughRiders completely erased any hopes of a San Antonio comeback in the bottom of the sixth. Frisco sent a wave of hitters to the plate, systematically wearing down the Missions’ relief staff during a five-run avalanche.
The defining blow of the contest came off the bat of red-hot infielder Arturo Disla. Nicknamed “The Buffalo,” Disla crushed a majestic, three-run home run well over the straightaway centerfield wall to bust the game wide open, extending the margin to 8-1. The resounding blast was Disla’s third home run in just 10 games since joining the Double-A roster, and his second of the current homestand. The dynamic infielder is currently torching Texas League pitching at a .421 clip through his opening 10 Double-A contests, rapidly solidifying himself as a middle-of-the-order anchor.
Bullpen Reinforcements and the Road Ahead
With a comfortable seven-run cushion established, Frisco’s bullpen flawlessly secured the remaining nine outs. The relief effort was highlighted by the highly anticipated return of Eric Loomis, who checked in for a scoreless seventh inning in his first game action since going on the injured list on May 5. Loomis looked completely healthy, striking out a pair of batters to re-establish his high-leverage presence. Relievers Ryan Lobus and Ricardo Velez completed the assignment, spinning consecutive scoreless frames to secure the victory.
Now sitting a healthy two games above the .500 mark after navigating the homestand, the RoughRiders will pack their bags for a prolonged road trip. Frisco travels to North Little Rock, Arkansas, for a highly anticipated six-game series against the Arkansas Travelers. The cross-division clash gets underway on Tuesday, May 26th, at Dickey-Stephens Park.
