Frisco, TX -- Robbie Erlin's stellar six weeks in Myrtle Beach - he threw 54.2 innings and allowed just 25 hits and five walks, while striking out 62 - earned him an early promotion to Double-A Frisco. He made his debut at home for the Roughriders Sunday against the Tulsa Drillers (Rockies) and won his first game at the new level.
↵Erlin's day began with a single by Rockies prospect Tim Wheeler, but he induced a double-play ground ball from Hector Gomez to retire the side in the first in order. He saw his one Myrtle Beach trouble spot - home runs - emerge in the second, as Darin Holcomb led off with a line drive over the left field wall. He struck out top catching prospect Wilin Rosario next, and, after pitching most of the first two innings almost exclusively with his fastball (which sat primarily 89-92), Erlin really went to his curveball and change in the third and became much harder to hit. He allowed another solo shot in the fifth, and one of the two singles allowed before he gave way in the seventh eventually scored the Drillers' third run. Erlin's final line was 6.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 3 K.
↵Frisco won the game in a laugher, scoring nine runs on three Drillers pitchers, keyed by three-run innings in the sixth and eighth. The Roughriders will go for the series sweep Monday, as Brandon Webb will make his season debut and Julio Borbon will DH before jumping to Round Rock.