Round Rock Express Halt Skid, Edge Sacramento 6-5
Published on May 21, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
ROUND ROCK, Texas - Yangervis Solarte squeezed an RBI single just inside the third-base line with two outs in the bottom of the ninth as the Round Rock Express edged the Sacramento River Cats 6-5 in Monday night's Pacific Coast League series opener at The Dell Diamond. The Express (19-26) halted a four-game losing streak with the win, just their fourth in 12 series openers this season. The River Cats (29-16) suffered only their third loss in 12 series openers.
Tommy Mendonca led off the ninth with a single, his second of the night. Julio Borbon's sacrifice bunt pushed pinch runner Matt Kata to second before Luis Hernandez fouled out. Solarte followed with the game-winning hit, his first of the game to keep alive a seven-game hitting streak. He has hit safely in 29 of his last 30 games.
That made a winner of Tanner Scheppers (1-2), who retired all five batters he faced with three strikeouts. Scheppers entered the game with a runner at third and one out in the eighth. After Mendonca snagged a sinking liner off the bat of Brandon Hicks at third, Scheppers caught Stephen Parker looking. He retired the side in order in the ninth, striking out each of the final two batters.
Erick Threets (3-1) took the loss for Sacramento; he entered the game to start the ninth inning.
Mendonca's one-out, bases-loaded RBI single sparked a five-run second inning for the Express, erasing the 1-0 lead Sacramento got on Hicks' solo homer in the top of the inning. Borbon followed with a two-run double. It marked the first time this season Round Rock enjoyed two bases-loaded hits in the same game, let alone the same inning or from successive batters. The hits also stopped Round Rock's 1-for-13 skid with the bases loaded. Hernandez capped the frame with a two-run single that snapped his 0-for-14 slump.
The River Cats clawed back, though, getting solo homers from Brandon Moss in the fourth and sixth innings. Wes Timmons led off the sixth with a single and later scored on a wild pitch. Chris Carter led off the eighth with a triple, and Moss followed with a game-tying RBI single through the right side of a drawn-in infield.
Sacramento's rally spoiled another strong outing from Express starter Greg Reynolds. He allowed the three solo homers but limited the River Cats to three other hits and two walks over six innings with a season-high five strikeouts. It was Reynolds' sixth quality start in nine tries, including three of his last four starts. Reynolds has not lost since April 29. Derek Hankins spelled Reynolds in the seventh and surrendered the fourth and fifth runs.
Starter Bruce Billings recovered after the rocky second inning for Sacramento. He worked five and two-thirds innings, allowing five runs on eight hits and a walk with six strikeouts. Billings faced the minimum in the third, fourth and fifth innings and did not allow a hit in any of those three innings.
Mendonca (2-for-4) is 5-for-9 since stopping an 0-for-17 skid Saturday night. He also improved to 3-for-7 with the bases loaded. Borbon, who improved to 3-for-8 with the bases loaded, finished the night 3-for-4 and pushed his hitting streak to nine games, matching his season long. Ryan Spilborghs singled in the sixth to extend his hitting streak to 14 games; he has not gone hitless with the Express. Joey Butler also singled in the sixth, snapping an 0-for-12 skew that was the longest of his 156-game Triple-A career by three at bats. The Express also halted a 10-game losing streak with allowing at least five runs.
Round Rock and Sacramento continue their four-game series Tuesday with a 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch at The Dell Diamond. Left-hander Michael Kirkman (2-1, 6.68 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Express, opposite River Cats right-hander Brad Peacock (5-1, 4.17 ERA).
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 21, 2012
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