Sod Poodles defeat RoughRiders in 10-inning thriller

AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - The Amarillo Sod Poodles defeated the Frisco RoughRiders 13-12 in 10 innings Thursday night at HODGETOWN. The Sod Poodles overcame a four-run deficit in the ninth inning to force extra innings.

Amarillo starter Josh Grosz retired three batters in the first inning. Jansel Luis stole second base and came home on Manuel Pena’s double to left-center to give the Sod Poodles a 1-0 lead.

The RoughRiders loaded the bases in the second inning with three consecutive singles. Frisco scored three runs on a walk, a hit batsman and a sacrifice fly to take a 3-1 lead.

Gurriel Jr. homer puts Amarillo ahead

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a three-run homer in the second inning to give Amarillo a 4-3 lead.

Pena launched a solo shot to right field to open the third inning.

Ben McLaughlin followed with a solo homer of his own to extend the Sod Poodles’ lead.

Frainyer Chavez tied the game at 6-6 with a three-run homer in the fourth inning.

Corey Joyce drove in a run with a single and Marcus Lee Sang hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning to put Frisco ahead 10-6.

Rodriguez drove in a run with a double in the sixth inning and McLaughlin hit his second homer of the game.

Both teams added a run in the seventh inning, with Frisco leading 12-8.

Danny Serretti hit a solo homer in the eighth inning to make it 12-9.

The Sod Poodles loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth inning. McLaughlin cleared the bases with a double to tie the game at 12.

Landon Sims threw a scoreless 10th inning with help from a catch at the wall in center field by Druw Jones.

Angel Ortiz hit a ground ball to first base that allowed Serretti to score the winning run.

The Sod Poodles improved to 3-9. The RoughRiders fell to 7-5.

Pena became the first Amarillo player to homer in five straight games. His three doubles matched his own club record set Sept. 10 last year against Midland. It marked the seventh time a Sod Poodle has collected three doubles in a game, and Pena is the only player to accomplish the feat twice.

McLaughlin finished with two homers and five RBI, a career high.