PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express Even Series at Iowa 4-3

Published on April 6, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


DES MOINES, Iowa - Joey Butler and Michael Bianucci drilled back-to-back, fourth-inning home runs, and Tanner Scheppers held off a late-inning rally as the Round Rock Express clipped the Iowa Cubs 4-3 in Friday night's Pacific Coast League action at Principal Park. The Express (1-1) tied the series with the win, avoiding an 0-2 start for the third straight season.

Round Rock grabbed the game's first lead on Brad Nelson's RBI double in the top of the first. That score held until the fourth when Nelson led off with another double and Butler followed with his first homer of the season. Three pitches later, Bianucci deposited a 1-1 Casey Coleman offering well beyond the wall in left to push the Express lead to 4-0. It was Bianucci's second homer in as many games.

The Cubs (1-1) did not go quietly, but Leonys Martin joined Scheppers in saving the game for Round Rock. Wellington Castillo delivered a two-out RBI double in the bottom of the fourth; however, Martin threw out Castillo rounding second to end the inning. Iowa pulled to within a run in the eighth before leaving the bases loaded. Brett Jackson drew a bases-loaded walk against Michael Kirkman, and Anthony Rizzo later delivered an RBI single. But it was Martin again coming through defensively as he gunned down Tony Campana trying to score from second base.

Scheppers entered the game and walked Castillo to reload the bases before getting Anthony Cardenas to fly out to none other than Martin, ending the inning and the threat. Scheppers retired the side in order with one strikeout in the ninth to log his first save of the season.

Express starter Martin Perez (1-0) picked up the win, holding Iowa to one run on four hits and a walk over six innings with three strikeouts. Sean Green worked a scoreless seventh inning on a hit with two strikeouts. Kirkman surrendered two runs on three hits and two walks over two-thirds of an inning with one strikeout.

Coleman (0-1) was saddled with the loss; the Cubs starter surrendered all four runs on five hits and no walks with five strikeouts over five innings.

Bianucci, Nelson and Martin all had two-hit games for the Express; Martin also walked and stole two bases. Rizzo had the lone multiple-hit game for Iowa, going 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Round Rock and Iowa continue their four-game series Saturday with a 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch at Principal Park. Right-hander Neil Ramirez (0-0, 0.00 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Express opposite Cubs southpaw Chris Rusin (0-0, 0.00 ERA).

Round Rock Express Baseball, owned and operated by Ryan Sanders Baseball, LP, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers and a member of the Pacific Coast League.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 6, 2012


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