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Round Rock Express - Game Notes vs. Albuquerque Isotopes

June 5, 2012 - Pacific Coast League (PCL) Round Rock Express

GAME 60 | 5 JUNE 2012 | 7:05 P.M. CDT | THE DELL DIAMOND

ROUND ROCK EXPRESS (27-32) vs. ALBUQUERQUE ISOTOPES (32-27)

RADIO: 104.9 FM The Horn ESPN"ˆAustin | ONLINE"ˆAUDIO: www.espnaustin.com

EXPRESS: LHP Zach Jackson (2-5, 4.92 ERA) | ISOTOPES: RHP John Ely (4-4, 3.55 ERA)

TONIGHT'S"ˆGAME

Round Rock concludes a four-game series against division rival Albuquerque (Los Angeles Dodgers). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT at The Dell Diamond. This is the first of two single-series home stands this season for the Express. Round Rock snapped a four-game winning streak with last night's 5-1 loss, which also ended Albuquerque's four-game losing streak. The Express are 15-12 at The Dell Diamond, winning five of their last seven home games. The Isotopes are 14-17 on the road, losing seven of their last nine road games. Albuquerque snapped a six-game losing streak at The Dell Diamond that dated back to last season. The Express are fourth in the PCL's American Southern Division, eight-and-a-half games back of Oklahoma City, which has won seven straight. Albuquerque is second in the division, three-and-a-half games behind the Oklahoma City and one-and-a-half games ahead of New Orleans.

BROADCAST"ˆINFORMATION

Tonight's game airs on 104.9 FM The Horn ESPN"ˆAustin. Online audio also is available at www.espnaustin.com. Express Director of Broadcasting Mike Capps handles play-by-play duties.

EXPRESS-ISOTOPES SERIES

This is the first of four series between the two teams this season. The Express travel to Albuquerque for a three-game set June 11-13 and return to Isotopes Park for a five-game series July 4-8 immediately followed by the All-Star break. The Isotopes return to The Dell Diamond for a four-game series July 24-27, closing Round Rock's antepenultimate home stand. ... SERIES NOTES: Albuquerque leads the all-time series 60-55, but Round Rock has won six of the last seven meetings. The series has been dominated by the home team with the Express leading the series 36-23 at The Dell Diamond and the Isotopes leading 37-19 in Albuquerque. Round Rock won season series in 2006 (10-6) and 2008 (9-7). Albuquerque won series in 2005 (9-7), 2007 (10-6), 2009 (10-6) and 2010 (9-7). The Express swept four-game series at home in 2008 and last season, and a three-game home series in 2006. The Isotopes swept four-game series at home in 2005 and 2007. ... 2012 SERIES: The Express lead the series 2-1, winning the first two games 3-2 and 7-3, respectively, before dropping last night's game 5-1. Round Rock is hitting .281 (27-for-96) with one homer (Mike Bianucci), six doubles and 11 runs scored. Express pitchers boast a 2.67 ERA (8 ER/27.0 IP) with one save, 20 strikeouts and eight walks. Bianucci is 4-for-11 (.364) in three games with four RBI, a double and two runs scored. Val Majewski is 4-for-10 (.400) with two RBI, two doubles and a run scored in three games. Ryan Spilborghs is 6-for-11 (.545) with three runs scored and a stolen base in three games. The rest of the Round Rock squad is hitting .203 (13-for-64). Albuquerque is hitting .238 (24-for-101) with two homers, four doubles, a triple and 10 runs scored. Most of the damage has come from Brian Cavazos-Galvez (.500, 5-for-10, one homer, one RBI, one double, one triple, three runs scored) and Josh Fields (.462, 6-for-13, one homer, two RBI, two doubles, two runs scored). Isotopes pitchers have a 3.60 ERA (10 ER/25.0 IP) with 17 strikeouts and six walks.

SERIES"ˆINFORMATION

GAME"ˆ57 | SATURDAY, JUNE 2

Express 3, Isotopes 2

WP: Kirkman (5-1). LP: Nieve (2-3). SV: Heilman (1).

GAME"ˆ58 | SUNDAY, JUNE 3

Express 7, Isotopes 3

WP: Ramirez (6-5). LP: Savage (7-3). SV: None.

GAME"ˆ59 | MONDAY, JUNE 4

Isotopes 5, Express 1

WP: Fife (5-4). LP: Perez (3-5). SV: None.

GAME"ˆ60 | TUESDAY, JUNE 5 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Zach Jackson (2-5, 4.92 ERA)

Isotopes: RHP John Ely (4-4, 3.55 ERA)

EXPRESS STARTER

LHP ZACH JACKSON (2-5, 4.92 ERA, 37 K)

2012: Allowed four runs on five hits in two innings of relief with no walks and one strikeout in April 2 exhibition game vs. Rangers ... suffered losses April 9 at Omaha, April 19 vs. Omaha, April 30 vs. New Orleans, May 18 vs. Fresno and May 23 vs. Sacramento (all starts) ... claimed wins April 24 at New Orleans and May 31 at Memphis (both starts) ... no-decisions April 14 vs. Iowa, May 5 vs. Memphis and May 10 at Salt Lake ... also made a relief appearance May 14 at Tacoma ... allowed three or fewer runs in six of last seven starts but has only a 1-3 record in that time ... season-high seven strikeouts over 4.2 innings in losing effort April 19 vs. Omaha ... six-plus innings in seven of 10 starts, going season-high seven innings May 10 at Salt Lake ... has not allowed a first-inning earned run (two unearned runs) ... 0.45 ERA (1 ER/20.0 IP) through first two innings; 7.14 ERA (32 ER/40.1 IP) thereafter, including a 10.80 ERA (12 ER/10.0 IP) in the third inning ... opponents hitting .310 (18-for-58) when leading off an inning with five homers, five strikeouts and six walks (.375 on-base percentage) ... holds opponents to a .227 average (15-for-66) with runners in scoring position, .233 (7-for-30) with runners in scoring position and two outs ... 10 home runs allowed, second on staff (Greg Reynolds, 11) ... six of 10 homers were solo shots ... nine double plays induced, second on staff (Reynolds, 10) ... no double plays since May 5 (four starts, one relief appearance) ... 0-4, 5.82 ERA in six starts at The Dell Diamond.

LAST START: Earned first win since April 24 in May 31 start at Memphis, a 9-3 Express win ... held Redbirds to three runs on four hits and four walks over six innings with two strikeouts ... also hit one batter and uncorked one wild pitch ... all three runs scored in the third inning with Express leading 5-0 ... left game leading 9-3 ... used 97 pitches, 52 strikes.

2011 vs. ALBUQUERQUE: 1-2, 7.84 ERA (18 ER/20.2 IP) in three starts with eight strikeouts, seven walks ... lost June 6 start at The Dell Diamond; allowed eight runs on 11 hits, including a Trent Oeltjen two-run homer, over 5.2 innings with three walks and two strikeouts ... shouldered loss in Aug. 25 start at Isotopes Park; surrendered eight runs on season-high 14 hits, including homers to Ivan De Jesus (solo), Jerry Sands (three runs) and Tim Federowicz (solo), over six inning with two walks and two strikeouts ... season-high runs allowed in those two starts ... tossed complete-game victory in regular-season's final game Sept. 4 at The Dell Diamond; held Isotopes to two runs on six hits, including John Lindsey's ninth-inning leadoff homer, with two walks and four strikeouts ... was Round Rock's lone complete game of season ... tied Express season wins record with that victory.

CAREER"ˆvs. ALBUQUERQUE: 3-5, 6.84 ERA (39 ER/51.1 IP) in nine starts and one relief outing with 22 strikeouts against 26 walks ... made one relief appearance with Las Vegas in 2010 ... 1-1, 6.23 ERA (9 ER/13.0 IP) in three starts with Nashville in 2007 ... 1-2, 5.51 ERA (10 ER/16.1 IP) in three starts with Nashville in 2006 ... allowed one run on five hits over seven innings June 29, 2007, with Nashville for victory ... tossed six shutout innings Aug. 21, 2006, and earned win with Nashville.

NOTABLE: Began college career at Louisville (2002-2003) ... at Louisville, lettered two years as a pitcher ... had an overall record of 17-9 which ranked third all-time at Louisville ... earned Freshman All-American honors after the 2002 season ... earned All-Conference USA second team and CUSA All-Freshman team honors after the 2002 season ... played for the Hyannis Mets in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2003, earning a spot on the Cape Cod All-Star Game ... transferred to Texas A&M in 2004 ... went 10-7 with a 3.58 ERA in 18 starts his junior year prior to being drafted by Toronto ... was a community health and sport management major in college ... lettered four years at Seneca Valley High School in Cranberry Township, Pa. ... compiled a career high school record of 25-4 on the mound and hit a school-record 12 home runs ... struck out 17 batters in final high school game ... originally drafted by the White Sox in the 50th round of the 2001 June draft.

BRAD NELSON: ROAD WARRIOR

Brad Nelson is hitting nearly than 100 points higher on the road (.333, 40-for-120) than at home (.234, 22-for-94). All seven of his homers and 23 of his 30 RBI were in road games, and his OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) is .992 on the road as opposed to .592 at The Dell Diamond. His two-hit game last night was his first multiple-hit outing at The Dell Diamond since May 2 vs. New Orleans, a 14-game span. Nelson was 13-for-33 (.394) on Round Rock's most recent road trip, hitting safely in all eight games with three multiple-hit outings, four homers, 12 RBI, a double, five walks and 12 runs scored. He scored in seven of eight games on the road trip and nine of his last 10 road games. Nelson has hit safely in 21 consecutive road games, the PCL's longest streak this season; he is 33-for-86 (.384) in those games with seven homers, 20 RBI, seven doubles and 27 runs scored. He has not gone hitless in consecutive games regardless of location since a three-game spell April 19-21. Nelson has hit safely in 34 of 38 games since, enjoying hitting streaks of 11 games, nine games and eight games.

KATA KEY IN CLUTCH SITUATIONS

Matt Kata is hitting .476 (20-for-42) with runners in scoring position, delivering 29 RBI. He is even more deadly with runners in scoring position and two outs, going 8-for-15 (.533) with 16 RBI. Kata's grand slam May 31 at Memphis was Round Rock's first this season. He is 4-for-6 with a double and 11 RBI with the bases loaded, going 3-for-3 since delivering a game-winning, three-run double May 24 vs. Sacramento. Furthermore, Kata gets better as the game goes along, hitting .350 (36-for-103) after the third inning; he is 12-for-33 (.364) after the seventh inning with eight RBI. Kata snapped a 10-game hitting streak (.467, 21-for-45, two homers, 14 RBI) last night, going 0-for-4; it was his longest of the season. He had seven multiple-hit outings, including three games of three-plus hits, three multiple-RBI games and five extra-base hits (three doubles, two homers) during the streak. Kata is hitting .340 (33-for-97) since May 2, hitting safely in 18 of 21 starts (one pinch-running appearance).

CAPTAIN KIRKMAN

2010 Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year Michael Kirkman has re-established himself as one of the PCL's top starters over the past month. After starting the season in the bullpen, Kirkman slid into the Express rotation April 20. He worked three scoreless innings against Omaha in his first start, but was rocked for eight runs (seven earned) over 2.1 innings April 26 at Oklahoma City in his next start. However, Kirkman has been solid as a rock since the calendar flipped to May. He is 5-0 with a 3.50 ERA (14 ER/36.0 IP) in his last seven outings (six starts), holding the opponent to three or fewer earned runs in each appearance. Kirkman also has limited opponents to a .202 average (25-for-124) in that time with 9.00 strikeouts per nine innings (36 strikeouts). Opponents are 4-for-24 (.167) against Kirkman this season with runners in scoring position and two outs. However, they are 4-for-6 with the bases loaded.

GIMME FIVE

The Express are 20-3 when holding the opposition to fewer than five runs but 7-29 when allowing at least five runs. Round Rock's 4-3 loss May 31 at Memphis was its first loss when holding an opponent to fewer than five runs since a 4-0 loss April 18 vs. Omaha. The Express are 5-18 when scoring fewer than five runs; two of the five wins were in the last week (3-0 at Memphis, 3-2 vs. Albuquerque).

KEY NUMBERS TELL THE STORY

Round Rock is 10-16 since blowing a 9-5 lead in the ninth inning May 9 at Salt Lake. The Express were 17-16 prior to that loss, the only point at which they were over .500 this season. Round Rock has been outscored 165-144 over the last 26 games, surrendering double-digit runs five times. Express pitchers have a 5.83 ERA (145 ER/224.0 IP) in that time. The staff has allowed at least one home run in 19 of the last 23 games (29 homers); last night's game snapped a stretch of 10 straight games with at least one opponent home run at The Dell Diamond. A closer look into the numbers shows the Express are hitting .190 (26-for-137) with runners in scoring position in the 16 losses and .423 (47-for-111) in the 10 wins. Conversely, opponents are hitting .315 (57-for-181) with runners in scoring position in the 16 Express losses and .145 (12-for-83) in Round Rock's 10 victories.

"HOME" RUNS SCARCE

In stark contrast to last season, The Dell Diamond has not been a launching pad for the Express. Round Rock averages 0.67 homers per game through 27 home dates this season (18 homers). The Express have not homered in eight of their last 10 home games. Conversely, Round Rock averages 1.44 homers in 32 road games, including a season-high five May 8 at Salt Lake. The Express have homered in 17 of their last 20 road games, including streaks of seven and eight games. Round Rock has homered in all but seven road games this season, clubbing at least two homers 12 times. Meanwhile, the Express have four multiple-homer games at The Dell Diamond. Last season, Round Rock averaged 1.46 home runs per game at The Dell Diamond and 0.97 homers per game on the road. Teams have combined to score 9.56 runs per game at The Dell Diamond this season as opposed to the 11.90 average in 2011.

IT'S A LOADED QUESTION

Round Rock is hitting .348 (23-for-66) with the bases loaded. The Express are 13-for-28 (.464) with the bases loaded since May 21, collecting nine bases-loaded hits over the last six games. Matt Kata delivered Round Rock's first grand slam of the season May 31 at Memphis. The Express have 11 walks against 10 strikeouts with the bases loaded. Kata (4-for-6) and Mike Bianucci (4-for-11) lead the team in bases-loaded hits; Bianucci also has walked twice. Dusty Brown has three walks and two sacrifice flies in five bases-loaded plate appearances. Meanwhile, opposing batters are 23-for-58 (.397) with the bases loaded, including five grand slams. However, opponents are 3-for-11 (.273) with the bases loaded over the last eight games.

POSITION PLAYER"ˆNOTES

Mike Bianucci hit safely in nine of his last 11 games (.385, 15-for-39) with four multiple-hit games, two home runs, 14 RBI, five doubles and six runs scored. He has gone hitless in consecutive games twice this season (April 17-18, April 24-26). Bianucci, who is tied for the team lead with 11 home runs, has two homers in his last 87 at bats since homering in four of six games May 6-11. He is hitting .323 (20-for-62) with runners in scoring position, and he is 4-for-11 (.364) with the bases loaded with two doubles, two walks and 10 RBI. Bianucci is 46-for-147 (.313) after the third inning but five of his 11 homers were in the first three frames. ... Dusty Brown is hitless in his last six games (0-for-18) with four walks, six strikeouts and one sacrifice fly. His last hit was a seventh-inning double in his last at bat May 22 vs. Sacramento. Brown is 2-for-18 with runners in scoring position; both hits came with two outs. He owns a .480 on-base percentage when leading off an inning, hitting .316 (6-for-19) with one homer and six walks against three strikeouts. Brown has three walks and two sacrifice flies in five bases-loaded plate appearances. ... Joey Butler has three multiple-hit outings in 23 games since May 11. He walked at least once in nine of his last 10 games with 12 walks against five strikeouts in that time. Butler is hitting .403 (62-for-154) when putting the ball in play. He is hitting .320 (47-for-147) after the third inning with 10 of his 11 home runs and 30 of his 38 RBI. Butler is 21-for-55 (.382) with runners in scoring position, producing four homers, 30 RBI and six doubles. However, he is 9-for-32 (.281) with runners in scoring position and two outs, producing no homers and 11 RBI. Butler is 11-for-21 (.524) in the fifth inning with four homers and eight RBI. He is tied for the team lead with 11 home runs. ... Luis Hernandez is 1-for-14 (.071) over his last four games. He has eight extra-base hits (five doubles, one triple, three homers) over a 43-game stretch since April 15. Hernandez also has 27 strikeouts in that time and has not walked since May 19, a span of 16 games and 75 plate appearances. He has a .283 on-base percentage when leading off an inning, hitting .214 (9-for-42) with three walks. Hernandez is 8-for-48 (.167) with runners in scoring position, going 2-for-18 (.111) with RISP and two outs. He is hitting .176 (12-for-68) after the sixth inning, hitting into three double plays. Meanwhile, Hernandez leads all PCL shortstops with a .991 fielding percentage (two errors, 233 total chances). ... Val Majewski snapped a modest four-game hitting streak last night, going 0-for-4. It was his first hitless game since being promoted from Double-A Frisco (May 30). He had one double in each his first four Express games. Majewski is 44-for-131 (.336) in 51 career games at The Dell Diamond, going 30-for-76 (.395) in 21 games over the past two seasons. ... Luis Martinez has not gone three straight games without a hit since April 15-18 - his longest hitless slide of the season. He has one multiple-hit game (two hit, May 17 vs. Fresno) since May 7, a 14-game stretch. Martinez is 11-for-25 (.440) in the third and fourth innings but 13-for-78 (.167) the rest of the game, going 1-for-16 (.063) in the second inning. He is 2-for-20 (.100) with runners in scoring position and two outs, and he is 0-for-5 with the bases loaded (one walk, one hit-by-pitch, one sacrifice fly). ... Yangervis Solarte has one multiple-hit game since May 21 (two hits May 30 at Memphis), a 13-game span. He has not gone consecutive games without a hit since April 13-15 (two games). Solarte is 2-for-15 (.133) over his last four games. He is hitting .190 (15-for-79) in the first three innings but .329 (48-for-146) thereafter with five of his six home runs and 23 of his 27 RBI. Solarte is hitting .394 (13-for-33) when leading off an inning with one home run and two walks (.444 on-base percentage). However, he is hitting .200 (12-for-60) with runners in scoring position. Five of his six home runs were solo shots. ... Ryan Spilborghs has hit safely in nine of his last 11 games (.475, 19-for-40) with five multiple-hit outings, a trio of three-hit games and a four-hit outing May 27 at Nashville. He has two homers, six RBI, two doubles and 15 runs scored in that time. Spilborghs has eight walks over his last seven games, and he scored at least one run in 10 of his last 11 games (16 runs). He has reached safely in all but one of his 29 games with the Express (May 24 vs. Sacramento) and managed a sacrifice fly in that game. Spilborghs has hit safely in 25 of 29 games since joining the Express (May 5) with 14 multiple-hit games and five games with at least three hits. He is 25-for-57 (.439) with runners on base, going 13-for-34 (.382) with runners in scoring position. Spilborghs owns a .514 on-base percentage when leading off an inning, going 11-for-29 (.379) with seven walks and two home runs. He is hitting .333 or better in every inning except the third (.273, 3-for-11) and eighth (.158, 3-for-19). Spilborghs has played 212 career PCL games, hitting .350 (280-for-801) with 24 homers, 116 RBI and 63 doubles.

PITCHER"ˆNOTES

John Gaub has not allowed a run in his first four outings with the Express (3.1 innings), surrendering three hits and two walks against four strikeouts. He has stranded two of three inherited runners. All three hits against him were with the bases empty (one double). ... Mark Hamburger has at least one strikeout in 16 of 17 appearances, including each of his last eight outings. Hamburger surrendered 13 runs in 17.0 innings (6.88 ERA) over his last seven appearances after yielding only one run over his first 9.2 innings (0.93 ERA) as a reliever. Opponents are hitting .467 (14-for-30) with runners in scoring position, producing two home runs and 22 RBI. He has stranded all three inherited runners. ... Derek Hankins is riding a 7.0-inning scoreless streak over his last four outings; opponents are 4-for-25 (.160) against him in that time with no walks and four strikeouts. He has not walked a batter since May 18 vs. Fresno (five games, 33 batters faced). Hankins has six strikeouts in 15.2 innings over his last eight outings. Opposing batters are 0-for-15 with runners in scoring position and two outs and 0-for-4 with the bases loaded. Hankins stranded seven of eight inherited runners. ... Aaron Heilman has a 1.08 ERA (1 ER/8.1 IP) over his last six outings. The lone run was a solo homer May 23 vs. Sacramento. He recorded at least one strikeout in 15 of 16 appearances since failing to do so in each of the season's first two outings, including a season-high three strikeouts in his first save last night. He has 23 strikeouts in his last 18.2 innings. Heilman has retired 19 of his last 22 batters faced (two hits, one walk). Four of 10 inherited runners scored, and opponents are hitting .313 (10-for-32) with runners in scoring position. ... Tanner Scheppers has allowed a run in five of 24 outings (11 runs total), surrendering multiple runs four times. He has walked one of his last 79 batters faced over 20 appearances (21.0 innings) with 20 strikeouts in that time; his last walk was May 9 at Salt Lake, and he has not issued multiple walks in a game. Scheppers allowed four of 11 inherited runners to score. He leads the PCL with 23 games finished. Opposing batters are 6-for-16 (.375) with runners in scoring position and two outs. ... Ben Snyder is 1-0 with a 0.69 ERA (1 ER/13.0 IP) in nine outings at The Dell Diamond but 0-2 with a 5.12 ERA (11 ER/19.1 IP) in 12 road games. He has at least one strikeout in each of his last six appearances, recording nine strikeouts over 8.1 innings with two walks. Opponents are hitting .316 (6-for-19) with runners in scoring position and two outs. Snyder stranded nine of 15 inherited runners.

TEAM"ˆNOTES

The Express have won five of seven home games since being swept May 17-20 by Fresno. It was Round Rock's first home sweep since 2009. ... Round Rock is 5-10 in series openers. ... Of Round Rock's 64 home runs, 34 have been solo shots, including 16 to leadoff an inning; 28 came with no outs. ... The Express have at least one double in 56 of 59 games, including a 47-game streak after not getting a double in the season opener. Round Rock has at least one double in all 27 home games. ... Round Rock is 7-10 in one-run games. Seven of the 17 games were against Iowa. ... Round Rock is 1-24 when trailing after seven innings, posting their lone win May 2 with a six-run eighth to rally past New Orleans 10-5. Conversely, the Express have four losses in 29 games when leading after seven innings.

NEXT SERIES

Following the season's third of five off-days, Round Rock embarks on an eight-game road trip that starts with a four-game series at Omaha. The series begins Thursday with a 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch and continues Friday at 7:05 p.m., Saturday at 7:05 p.m. and Sunday at 2:05 p.m. The Storm Chasers swept a four-game series April 9-12 at Papillion in the season's second series. The teams split a four-game series April 17-20 at The Dell Diamond. The Storm Chasers return to The Dell Diamond for a four-game series July 20-23.

GAME"ˆ61 | THURSDAY, JUNE 7 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Roy Oswalt (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Storm Chasers: LHP Ryan Verdugo (3-1, 3.61 ERA)

GAME"ˆ62 | FRIDAY, JUNE 8 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Greg Reynolds (4-4, 4.19 ERA)

Storm Chasers: RHP Jake Odorizzi (2-0, 2.49 ERA)

GAME"ˆ63 | SATURDAY, JUNE 9 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Neil Ramirez (6-5, 7.25 ERA)

Storm Chasers: RHP Nate Adcock (3-2, 1.99 ERA)

GAME"ˆ64 | SUNDAY, JUNE 10 | 2:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Martin Perez (3-5, 5.28 ERA)

Storm Chasers: LHP Mike Montgomery (3-2, 4.74 ERA; starts tonight)

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