FRISCO Chase Calabuig’s first home run of the season was just enough Monday as the Midland RockHounds held off the Frisco RoughRiders 2-1 in the opener of their Texas League series at Dr Pepper Ballpark.
Calabuig, who finished 2 for 3, connected off Frisco starter Tyler Phillips with two outs in the third after Luis Barrera singled. The RockHounds moved within a half game of Frisco for the South Division lead with the victory.
Brian Howard (4-2) worked six shutout innings for the win, scattering seven hits while striking out four. Phillips (0-1) struck out six over 6.1 innings, giving up all six Midland hits.
Midland stranded eight runners, leaving the bases loaded in the ninth. The RockHounds also failed to score in the first and fourth after getting a runner in scoring position with less than two outs.
Frisco generated just one run on 11 hits. The RoughRiders got on the board in the ninth when Brendon Davis singled off John Gorman to drive in Charles Leblanc.
Frisco had the tying run at second base with one out, but Gorman struck out Christian Lopes and got Michael De Leon to ground out to earn his third save.
Davis, who doubled in the third, and Preston Beck both went 3 for 4 for the RoughRiders, while Leblanc and Juremi Profar each finished 2 for 4.
