Robbie Erlin’s Debut Successful in Frisco

Robbie Erlin was promoted to the Frisco RoughRiders late last week and had his first start yesterday afternoon against the Tulsa Drillers. Erlin was promoted after a simply outstanding tenure with the Advanced-Single A Myrtle Beach Pelicans.

With the Pelicans, Erlin threw 54.2 innings. He had the league leading WHIP (walks plus hits per innings pitched) with .549. He earned an ERA of 2.14 and averaged 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings. His strike to ball ratio was 12.40. This was just a truly impressive group of stats from a player who earned his promotion.

This afternoon in his Double-A debut Robbie Erlin picked up the win. The lefthander went 6.2 innings allowing six hits and three runs. Erlin had three strikeouts and allowed one walk. His ERA to begin his AA tenure is 4.26, and will certainly improve from there. The ‘Riders put enough offense behind him , eventually going on to win the game 9 to 3.

Other contributions in the game from Frisco came from Tommy Mendonca who hit a solo home run in the second. The slumping Engel Beltre went two for four with two runs scored. The Cuban defector Leonys Martin was productive as well going one for two with a run and two walks. His line on the season is .355/.437/.565 with an OPS of 1.001.

The Riders picked up the series win yesterday, and play one more against Tulsa today. Frisco is now 25 and 23 on the season and seven games back of Texas League-South Division leader, the San Antonio Missions (San Diego’s AA team). Frisco is 5 and 5 on their last ten games; I look for them to really pick up some steam with Erlin coming up. Also check back with us on Wednesday and I will spotlight two players who may be in Frisco shortly.

-Jonathan