PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express Rally Past Nashville 5-4

Published on July 17, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Three straight two-out singles from Joey Butler, Tommy Mendonca and Luis Hernandez in the top of the 11th inning gave the Round Rock Express a 5-4 victory in Tuesday night's Pacific Coast League action at Herschel Greer Stadium. The Express (40-56) snapped a five-game losing streak and eclipsed their run total from the previous four games combined.

Nashville (42-54) led 4-2 entering the top of the ninth, but the Express sent the game to extra innings with a pair of runs on two hits and a costly Sounds error. Greg Miclat walked to open the frame, and Matt Kata singled to put runners on the corners. Miclat scored on a Nelson groundout, and Kata scored from second when Ryan Spilborghs reached on Taylor Green's throwing error.

Round Rock stranded a runner at third in the ninth and 10th innings before breaking through in the 11th. Butler singled to left, and Mendonca followed with a single to center that pushed Butler to third. Hernandez then squeaked a grounder through the right side, plating Butler with the game-winning run. Mendonca and Hernandez both snapped 0-for-16 slumps with their 11th-inning singles.

The Express posted just their second victory in 48 games this season when trailing after seven innings, snapping a 34-game skid in that situation. It was Round Rock's first victory when trailing at any point after the fifth inning since May 2.

Reliever Neal Cotts (1-1) was credited with the win; he held Nashville scoreless over one and two-thirds innings on two hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Starter Greg Reynolds allowed four runs on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts over six innings. Joe Ortiz worked a pair of scoreless innings, and Aaron Heilman worked one and one-third scoreless innings before giving way to Cotts.

Amaury Rivas (4-6) suffered the loss for Nashville, entering the game with one out in the 11th and allowing all three hits. Starter Brian Baker worked seven innings, and held the Express to a pair of runs on four hits and a walk with nine strikeouts. Mike McClendon was charged with a blown save, surrendering two runs on two hits and a walk in the ninth.

Julio Borbon singled to open the game, stole second and scored from there on a Kata groundout to first. Nashville tied the game in the second when Corey Patterson tripled and scored on a Reynolds balk. Consecutive one-out doubles from Caleb Gindl and Taylor Green in the fourth gave the Sounds a 2-1 lead. Nashville stretched its lead to 4-1 in the sixth on a Patterson RBI single and a Jordan Brown sacrifice fly. Nelson started the comeback with a leadoff homer in the seventh, his third homer in as many games.

Borbon (2-for-4) and Butler (2-for-5) both enjoyed multiple-hit games; Butler pushed his hitting streak to nine games. Nelson's seventh-inning homer snapped an 0-for-13 slump on the road.

Patterson was 3-for-5, while Gindl was 2-for-5.

Round Rock and Nashville continue their four-game series Wednesday with a 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch at Greer Stadium. Left-hander Chad Bell (2-2, 3.47 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Express against Sounds right-hander and former Express member Seth McClung (2-11, 5.60 ERA).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 17, 2012


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