PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express Slam Fresno 12-2

Published on August 20, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


FRESNO, Calif. - Joey Butler hit a grand slam in the sixth inning to back Eric Hurley's strong performance and propel the Round Rock Express past the Fresno Grizzlies 12-2 Friday night at Chukchansi Park. The Express (76-51) swept the four-game series against the Grizzlies (54-73). Round Rock won seven of eight games on the eight-game road trip.

The Express scored eight runs in the sixth inning, taking a commanding 11-0 lead at the time. Already leading 3-0, Butler led off the inning with a double. Val Majewski followed with a walk and advanced to second on Bill Hall's fielding error, allowing Kevin Cash to reach base. Jose Ruiz then singled through the left side driving in Butler. Guilder followed with a single to drive in Majewski and allowing each runner to advance one base. Cash then scored on Leonys Martin's sacrifice fly to left field and Esteban German reached on a fielder's choice.

After a Fresno pitching change, Brad Nelson walked bringing up Butler for the second time in the inning. Butler drove an 0-1 pitch from Mark Kroon over the right-center field wall, hitting the manual scoreboard and giving the Express an 11-0 lead.

Hurley started the game for the Express. He got the win, pushing his record to 8-1. He pitched 7.1 innings, allowing one run - earned - on eight hits while walking four and striking out three. Hurley is now 4-0 on the road, winning two on this road trip.

Round Rock put three runs up in the second inning. Nelson and Butler scored on Cash's two-RBI double to center field. Cash later scored on Ruiz's RBI single to right-center field.

Fresno got on the board in the sixth inning on Hall's RBI double to left-center. Brandon Crawford scored the run after singling to right field to lead off the inning.

The Express added one more run in the eighth inning on Nelson's RBI single. Nelson was 10-for-15 with eight RBI and two home runs in the four-game series.

Andrew Torres, making a rehab start for the Grizzlies, hit a solo home run in the ninth inning off Cody Eppley to give Fresno their second run of the game.

Geno Espineli made his first start at the Triple-A level for the Grizzlies. He has appeared in 182 previous games, all out of the bullpen. Espineli (1-4) got the loss, allowing three runs - two earned - on four hits in 4.0 innings. He walked one and struck out one.

Green, Nelson, Butler, Ruiz and Rodriguez all had two hits on the game.

Round Rock returns home to play a four-game series against the New Orleans Zephyrs. The series starts Saturday night with a 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch. Right-hander Ryan Tucker (3-5, 4.92 ERA) is scheduled to make the start for the Express, while right-hander Elih Villaneuva (6-10, 5.41 ERA) will take the mound for New Orleans.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 20, 2011


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