FRISCO, TX (September 4, 2026) -- The Amarillo Sod Poodles (35-26, 71-58) defeated the Frisco RoughRiders (30-31, 69-60), 4-2, on Friday night at Riders Field. A strong start from the Amarillo righty was aided by late runs to secure a series-tying win that dropped the Soddies’ magic number to four.
For the second straight night, Arturo Disla hit a two-run homer, this time to open the scoring in the bottom of the first for Frisco, putting the RoughRiders ahead early.
Despite the early deficit, Brian Curley did well on the hill for Amarillo to keep the Soddies within striking distance. He induced an inning-ending double play in the second and retired the side in order in the third to keep the RoughRiders scoreless in those frames.
Ben McLaughlin rewarded the right-hander for his efforts in the top of the fourth by driving in Druw Jones on his RBI single after the center fielder had swiped second base for his 33rd steal of the year and advanced to third on an errant throw.
Curley retired six of the next seven batters he faced to get himself through the fifth with the Soddies still only trailing a run. After two outs were quickly recorded in the top of the sixth, Jones singled and picked up his second steal of the night, setting the table once again for McLaughlin who doubled home the tying run.
Danny Serretti then stepped up to the plate and lined a 1-0 pitch to center field to bring McLaughlin around and give Amarillo their first lead of the night.
In the bottom of the eighth, Alfred Morillo found himself in some hot water with runners at second and third with no outs in the inning. After striking out Disla, Yeison Morrobel hit a fly ball to left field that Angel Ortiz was camped under to make the catch. Sebastian Walcott attempted to tag up from third base, but Ortiz cut down the tying run on a perfect throw to the plate to end the inning and keep the lead intact.
The Soddies added an insurance run in the top of the ninth, courtesy of the hot-hitting Cristofer Torin who drove one in on his single to left. Sawyer Hawks took the ball for the bottom of the ninth to close it out and despite allowing a leadoff double, the Sod Poodles were once again able to cut down a run at the plate and finish off the win, 4-2.
POSTGAME NOTES
OKIE DOKIE, DR. JONES: Going 3-for-4 with two runs and a pair of stolen bases tonight was Druw Jones...the two swipes brings his total to 34 this year, putting him one stolen base shy of tying the Soddies single-season record of 35, currently held by Edward Olivares (2019) and Nick Dalesandro (2022)...he extended his hitting streak to eight games tonight and is batting .394 (13x33) with six XBH and a 1.171 OPS since August 27.
CURLEY FRIES: With six innings of two-run ball this evening, Brian Curley turned in his second quality start since joining the Sod Poodles...in his last two starts, the two-run home run in the first inning tonight has been the only blemish to his line as he is posting a 1.64 ERA over his most recent 11.0 IP.