PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express - Game Notes at Memphis Redbirds

Published on July 28, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


GAME 107 | 28 JULY 2012 | 6:05 P.M. CDT | THE DELL DIAMOND | ROUND ROCK, TEXAS

ROUND ROCK EXPRESS (45-61) at MEMPHIS REDBIRDS (42-64)

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

EXPRESS: LHP Chad Bell (3-3, 4.46 ERA) | REDBIRDS: RHP John Gast (8-2, 4.64 ERA)

TONIGHT, TONIGHT

Round Rock opens a four-day, five-game road series against the Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals). First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CDT at AutoZone Park. Round Rock most recently won three of four at home against Albuquerque, including last night's 5-1 win. The Express are 6-9 since the All-Star break and 8-15 in July but won four of their last five games. Round Rock is 20-32 on the road, going 3-6 on the road since winning three of four June 21-24 at Iowa. Memphis most recently dropped three of four at Nashville, salvaging last night's series finale 4-3 in 10 innings. The Redbirds are 10-5 since the All-Star break, including three wins in three games at The Dell Diamond immediately following the break, and 11-12 in July. The Redbirds are 21-30 at home but swept Oklahoma City in their most recent home series (July 20-23). Round Rock is fourth in the PCL's American Southern Division, 16 games behind division leaders Albuquerque and Oklahoma City. Memphis is third in the American Northern Division, 21-and-a-half games back of Omaha.

RADIO GA GA

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

US AND THEM

This is the last of four series between the two teams this season. The Express won three of four May 4-7 at The Dell Diamond with the lone loss being a 10-inning affair. The teams split a four-game series May 29-June 1 at AutoZone Park. Memphis won all three games of a rain-shortened series at The Dell Diamond immediately following the All-Star break; the washed-out game will be made up as part of this series. ... SERIES NOTES: Memphis leads the all-time series 68-54, including a 35-34 edge at AutoZone Park. The Express won season series in 2005 (9-7), 2007 (9-7) and 2011 (10-6) with the Redbirds winning season series in 2006 (9-7), 2008 (9-6), 2009 (12-4) and 2010 (12-4). There have been three series sweeps, all by Memphis and all at AutoZone Park (one in 2009, two in 2010). ... 2012 SERIES: Memphis leads the season series 6-5. The home team is 5-6. The Express won three of four at The Dell Diamond in early May, and the teams split a four-game series May 30-June 1 at AutoZone Park. Round Rock is hitting .249 (90-for-362) with nine homers, 21 doubles, two triples and 4.3 runs per game. Joey Butler is 7-for-36 (.194) but four of his seven hits were for extra bases (two homers, two doubles); he has five RBI, 10 walks and six runs in 11 games. Matt Kata is 11-for-42 (.262) with two homers, 10 RBI and two runs scored in nine games. Brad Nelson is 14-for-35 (.400) with three homers, six RBI, three doubles, eight walks and nine runs scored in 10 games. Round Rock boasts a 3.20 ERA (35 ER/98.1 IP) with 63 strikeouts against 53 walks and six home runs surrendered. Greg Reynolds claimed two of the five wins; he owns a 0.69 ERA (1 ER/13.0 IP) in two starts against the Redbirds. Memphis is hitting .223 (77-for-345) with six homers, 16 doubles and 3.4 runs per game. Redbirds pitchers have a 3.80 ERA (41 ER/97.0 IP) with 72 strikeouts against 45 walks.

SERIES"ˆINFORMATION

GAME"ˆ107 | SATURDAY, JULY 24 | 6:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Chad Bell (3-3, 4.46 ERA)

Redbirds: RHP John Gast (8-2, 4.64 ERA)

GAME"ˆ108 | SUNDAY, JULY 25 | 4:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Neftali Feliz (0-1, 1.93 ERA)

Redbirds: LHP Tyler Lyons (1-6, 5.01 ERA)

GAME"ˆ109 | SUNDAY, JULY 25 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Justin Grimm (0-0, 3.00 ERA)

Redbirds: TBA

GAME"ˆ110 | MONDAY, JULY 26 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Ben Snyder (2-4, 4.22 ERA)

Redbirds: RHP Shelby Miller (5-9, 5.65 ERA)

GAME"ˆ111 | TUESDAY, JULY 27 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Zach Jackson (4-12, 4.81 ERA)

Redbirds: LHP Nick Additon (3-8, 4.55 ERA)

START ME UP

LHP CHAD BELL (3-3, 4.46 ERA, 22 K)

2012: Began season with Class A-Advanced Myrtle Beach, going 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA (2 ER/11.1 IP) and 12 strikeouts against four walks in four relief outings ... assigned to Double-A Frisco prior to April 25 game ... moved into the RoughRiders rotation May 19 ... 2-2 with a 2.84 ERA (16 ER/50.2 IP) and 40 strikeouts against 13 walks in seven starts and six relief appearances with Frisco ... Texas League Mid-Season All-Star ... assigned to Round Rock prior to June 22 game.

ROUND ROCK: Made first career Triple-A appearance June 26 at Iowa (start) ... won each of first two Triple-A starts "" June 26 at Iowa, July 1 vs. New Orleans ... allowed one run on nine hits over 11.2 innings in those two starts ... also won July 18 start at Nashville ... lost starts July 6 at Albuquerque, July 13 vs. Memphis and July 23 vs. Omaha ... averages 2.83 runs of support per start ... Express scored two runs total in three losses ... opponents are 12-for-35 (.343) with runners in scoring position and 7-for-18 (.389) with two outs and runners in scoring position ... opponents hitting .118 (4-for-34) when leading off an inning with four walks and five strikeouts ... has not allowed a first-inning run ... opponents are 9-for-45 (.200) when behind in the count ... eight double plays induced, including three on two occasions ... 2-1, 4.91 ERA (10 ER/18.1 IP) in three road starts with 10 walks, 13 strikeouts.

LAST START: Lost July 23 start vs. Omaha at The Dell Diamond (4-1) ... allowed four runs on seven hits (one homer) over 6.0 innings with one walk, five strikeouts ... worked five scoreless innings and carried a 1-0 lead into the sixth inning ... surrendered Wil Myers sixth-inning, two-run homer ... allowed first two batters of seventh to reach before exiting game ... both bequeathed runners scored ... 89 pitches, 56 strikes

2012 vs. MEMPHIS: Lost July 13 start at The Dell Diamond (5-0) ... allowed four runs on eight hits and three walks over 6.0 innings with two strikeouts ... also balked once ... induced three double plays ... surrendered three second-inning runs and a solo spot in the third.

CAREER"ˆvs. MEMPHIS: No meetings prior to 2012.

NOTABLE: Chadwick Bell ... Rangers 14th-round draft pick in 2009 out of Walters State [Tenn.] Community College ... 8-1, 2.08 (15 ER/65.0 IP) with five complete games, one shutout, 78 strikeouts in 12 starts as a sophomore at Walters State ... garnered Tennessee Community College Athletic Association Pitcher of the Year honors and was first-team all-TCCAA ... NJCAA third-team All-America in 2009 ... committed to University of Tennessee but signed with Rangers rather than attending Tennessee ... 4-1, 1.51 (9 ER/53.2 IP) with 51 strikeouts for Cotuit of Cape Cod League in summer of 2009 ... tossed a no-hitter July 12 ... drafted in the 37th round by Cleveland in the 2008 June Draft ... TBCA Todd Helton Player of the Year as a senior at South Doyle High School in Knoxville, Tenn. ... selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 25th round of the 2007 draft.

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH

The Express are 6-9 since the All-Star break and 8-15 since July 1. ... Round Rock is 8-18 in series openers (6-8 at home, 2-10 on the road). The Express snapped a six-game losing streak in series openers Tuesday night with their first such win since June 19 vs. Iowa. ... Three of Round Rock's last six games went extra innings (2-1) and four of the six were one-run affairs. ... Round Rock has not won three straight games since a four-game run May 31-June 3. The Express are 18-30 in that span, enduring a seven-game losing streak and a pair of five-game skids in that time. ... The Express are 9-48 when allowing at least five runs and 34-21 when scoring at least five runs. ... Of Round Rock's 97 home runs, 61 were on the road (1.17 per game). Meanwhile, Express batters average 0.67 homers per game at home (36 homers, 54 games). ... Express pitchers induced at least one double play in 25 of the last 34 games (41 double plays). ... Round Rock is 11-14 in one-run games. Seven of the 25 games were against Iowa. ... The Express are 3-49 when trailing after seven innings and 2-51 when trailing after eight innings. Conversely, the Express are 40-6 when leading after seven innings and 39-3 when leading after eight innings. ... Round Rock is 9-18 since Clint Musslewhite's departure, going 6-12 at home in that time.

EVERYDAY PEOPLE

JULIO BORBON: 9-for-19 (.474) over last four games since snapping 0-for-19 skid ... multiple hits in three of the four games ... four-hit game Wednesday night was third of season, first since June 15 vs. Oklahoma City ... five multiple-hit games since All-Star break (14 games) ... hitting .327 (80-for-245) since May 12 ... three RBI with no multiple-RBI efforts since two-run homer June 16 vs. Oklahoma City (35 games) ... four extra-base hits since that homer (three doubles, one triple) ... hitting .348 (95-for-273) through the first six innings; hitting .162 (18-for-111) after the sixth inning ... hitting .325 (50-for-154) when leading off inning with one homer, seven walks, 19 strikeouts.

JOEY BUTLER: Snapped 0-for-13 skid with first-inning single Thursday night ... 1-for-16 over last four games on the heels of a 12-game hitting streak ... hit .417 (20-for-48) during 12-game streak with five multiple-hit efforts (each of last four games), one homer, six RBI, five doubles and 10 runs scored ... hitting .438 (21-for-48) when putting ball in play over last 16 games ... hit safely in 12 of last 24 at bats when not striking out (.500) ... six RBI in last 16 games after producing seven RBI and no multiple-RBI outings over 32 games from May 30 through July 4 ... at least one strikeout in 21 of last 28 games (33 strikeouts) with at least two strikeouts in five of last 11 games ... third in PCL with 61 walks ... three walks in last nine games ... two homers in last 44 games, 164 at bats ... one homer at The Dell Diamond (July 1 vs. New Orleans) since May 17 (36 games) ... eight of 13 home runs were solo shots ... hitting .214 (33-for-154) when batting fifth or higher in the order, .338 (69-for-204) when batting sixth or lower.

LUIS HERNANDEZ: 6-for-50 (.120) over last 13-plus games ... no multiple-hit efforts since four-hit game June 29 vs. Nashville (20 games) but produced 13 RBI in that time ... two homers over last 41 games, 152 at bats (both solos) ... five of six home runs were solo shots ... seven of last 11 hits produced at least one RBI ... 13 RBI in 21 July games after producing eight RBI in 26 June games ... 12 walks over last 26 games after not walking in previous 28 games ... 5-for-29 (.172) with runners in scoring position and two outs but hit safely in two of last three such at bats ... 14-for-74 (.189) when leading off an inning with two homers, five walks, nine strikeouts ... leads all PCL shortstops with a .980 fielding percentage (eight errors).

MATT KATA: Four-game hitting streak (.385, 5-for-13) ... doubled in each of last three games ... four extra-base hits over last three games after going 11 games without an extra-base hit ... two-hit game Thursday night was first multiple-hit effort since July 7, a span of 15 games ... two multiple-hit efforts over last 30 games ... 12-for-56 (.214) over last 15 games ... hitting .420 (29-for-69) with runners in scoring position (40 RBI), going 13-for-26 (.500) with runners in scoring position and two outs (22 RBI) ... 50-for-230 (.217) without runners in scoring position ... 5-for-10 with bases loaded (one homer, 12 RBI) ... four walks in last 54 games, 218 plate appearances ... one homer (July 8 at Albuquerque) since May 31 grand slam at Memphis (43 games) ... hitting .360 (31-for-86) when batting first or seventh in lineup; hitting .222 (48-for-216) elsewhere in the lineup.

LUIS MARTINEZ: Five-game hitting streak (.350, 7-for-20) ... hit safely in 11 of last 12 games (.348, 16-for-46) with seven RBI, five runs scored, six multiple-hit games and three multiple-RBI outings ... hit safely in 20 of last 23 games (.321, 26-for-81) with seven multiple-hit efforts ... seven RBI since May 29 at Memphis, all coming against Albuquerque ... four extra-base hits since June 9 (three doubles, homer) ... double last night was first extra-base hit since July 8 homer at Albuquerque ... 20-for-46 (.435) in the third and fourth innings ... 4-for-29 (.138) with runners in scoring position and two outs ... 1-for-7 with bases loaded (one walk, one hit-by-pitch, one sacrifice fly) ... lone bases-loaded hit was three-run double last night vs. Albuquerque.

TOMMY MENDONCA: 3-for-33 (.091) over last 10-plus games ... two walks in last 37 games, 141 plate appearances ... snapped streak of seven straight games with at least one strikeout (12 strikeouts) ... at least one strikeout in 22 of last 26 games (35 strikeouts) ... at least three strikeouts 11 times (three games with four strikeouts) ... has not gone more than two straight games without a strikeout ... three of last four hits were homers ... four of last eight hits produced RBI ... double last night was his first non-homer extra-base hit since double May 20 vs. Fresno.

GREG MICLAT: Four-game hitting streak (.357, 5-for-14) ... hit safely in eight of last nine games (.273, 9-for-33) ... two-hit game last night was first multiple-hit effort in that time ... hit safely in 14 of last 18 games (.345, 19-for-55) with five multiple-hit efforts ... at least one strikeout in 11 of last 14 games (14 strikeouts) ... at least one walk in six of last 10 games (eight walks) ... two extra-base hits (both doubles) in last 13 games ... 5-for-23 (.217) when leading off an inning with one homer, two walks, nine strikeouts ... 0-for-3 with bases loaded; two walks and one sacrifice fly.

BRAD NELSON: Snapped five-game hitting streak last night (0-for-3, walk) ... hit .381 (8-for-21) during streak ... hit safely in 12 of 15 games since All-Star break (.365, 19-for-52) with seven homers, 13 RBI, two doubles, one triple, 12 runs scored and 13 walks ... responsible for 18 of team's 53 runs since All-Star break (34.0 percent) ... seven homers in last 13 games, 46 at bats (five solos, two two-run) ... at least one walk in 11 of last 16 games (14 walks) ... hit safely in 16 of last 20 games (.333, 24-for-72) with five multiple-hit games ... hit safely in 15 of last 35 at bats at home (.429) after enduring an 0-for-24 slump at The Dell Diamond ... hitting .342 (53-for-155) on the road since going 0-for-4 April 21 at New Orleans ... hits roughly 70 points better on the road (.317, 60-for-189) than at home (.245, 47-for-192) ... 10 of 18 homers, 39 of 62 RBI were in road games ... 11 of 18 homers were solos, including five leadoff shots ... at least one strikeout in 17 of last 26 games (26 strikeouts) ... 4-for-8 with bases loaded (homer, 10 RBI).

GUILDER RODRIGUEZ: 2-for-3 over last two games after snapping 0-for-11 skid with Sunday night's fourth-inning single ... one RBI in two of last three games ... hitless in first 12 at bats with Express after being promoted from Double-A Frisco ... 8-for-24 (.333) since, including three-hit game July 3 vs. New Orleans ... six of eight hits with bases empty ... 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position ... 1-for-6 when leading off an inning.

ELIO SARMIENTO: Snapped 0-for-10 skid with Tuesday night's 11th-inning, game-winning single ... first hit at The Dell Diamond since double May 4 vs. Memphis, snapping 0-for-21 slump ... 3-for-23 (.130) since All-Star break ... each of last three hits produced an RBI ... no multiple-hit efforts since two-hit night May 4 vs. Memphis (17 games) ... at least one strikeout in 15 of 20 games played, including 14 of last 17 games ... doubled in lone first-inning at bat.

YANGERVIS SOLARTE: Snapped 0-for-12 skid with Wednesday night's sixth-inning single ... 5-for-25 (.200) over last six games ... hat trick July 24 vs. Albuquerque was second of professional career (505 games) and first since May 22, 2008, with Class A-Advanced Fort Myers in the Twins organization ... 10-for-53 (.189) since All-Star break with one multiple-hit effort ... no extra-base hits since double July 5 at Albuquerque ... five of six home runs, 31 of 38 RBI came after the third inning ... no homers since May 14, a span of 60 games and 233 at bats ... five of six home runs were solo shots ... 11-for-55 (.200) with runners in scoring position and fewer than two outs ... has not struck out in more than two straight games since five-game stretch May 21-26 ... hitting .356 (26-for-73) in bottom third of order, .259 (81-for-313) when batting sixth or higher ... four RBI since last multiple-RBI effort June 21 vs. Iowa (29 games).

RYAN SPILBORGHS: 1-for-17 over last four games ... hitless games in two of 16 games with at least five at bats (July 25-26 vs. Albuquerque) ... 11-for-56 (.196) since All-Star break ... one homer in last 51 games and 196 at bats ... three of five homers were solos, including two leadoff shots ... 11 RBI in last 16 games after producing one RBI in previous 20 games ... 7-for-42 (.167) with runners in scoring position and two outs ... hit safely in three of last five at bats with two outs and runners in scoring position after going 21-consecutive such at bats without a hit ... hitting .223 (31-for-139) when batting third; hitting .368 (49-for-133) elsewhere in the lineup (cleanup, fifth and seventh) ... 253 career PCL games, hitting .329 (316-for-963) with 25 homers, 131 RBI and 72 doubles.

BROTHERS IN ARMS

NEAL COTTS: No runs allowed in last four outings (6.2 innings) ... stranded eight of 11 inherited runners, including six of last seven ... seven strikeouts in 4.1 innings over last two outings, including season-high four strikeouts July 22 vs. Omaha ... opponents are 2-for-18 (.111) with runners on base and two outs ... opponents are 0-for-4 with bases loaded ... allows a .529 on-base percentage (6-for-14, three walks) to leadoff batters ... 2.38 ERA (3 ER/11.1 IP) at home; 7.56 ERA (7 ER/8.1 IP) on the road.

WILLIE EYRE: Walked two batters in July 23 outing vs. Omaha; first walks issued since walking three batters in first game with Express (July 20 vs. Iowa) ... snapped streaks of 15.0 innings, 58 batters faced ... one run allowed over six outings since All-Star break (7.0 innings, 1.29 ERA) ... two of four inherited runners scored ... opponents are 2-for-18 (.111) when leading off an inning (one walk, four strikeouts) ... opponents are 4-for-8 (.500) with runners in scoring position and two outs.

DEREK HANKINS: Allowed at least one home run in six of last nine appearances (seven homers) ... 2-3, 3.31 ERA (13 ER/35.1 IP) in 20 relief appearances ... 2-4, 7.43 ERA (22 ER/26.2 IP) in seven starts ... 2-4, 9.00 ERA (20 ER/20.0 IP) in last seven outings (four starts) ... leadoff batters hitting .339 (20-for-59) with two homers ... opponents are 2-for-30 (.067) with runners in scoring position and two outs but 18-for-50 (.360) with runners in scoring position and fewer than two outs.

AARON HEILMAN: Win last night was first since May 28 at Nashville ... allowed two runs in three of last six outings ... two walks last night, most since two-walk outing May 5 vs. Memphis ... season-high five strikeouts July 22 vs. Omaha ... seven strikeouts over last two games matched total from previous 11 games combined ... converted seven of last eight save chances ... stranded 10 of 14 inherited runners ... held opponent scoreless in 15 of last 19 outings, allowing two earned runs in each of other four games ... opponents hitting .362 (17-for-47) with runners in scoring position ... opponents are 1-for-7 with bases loaded (four strikeouts).

JOE ORTIZ: All five runs allowed were by way of solo homers ... opponents hitting .228 (13-for-57) otherwise ... season-high two strikeouts in last outing (July 24 vs. Albuquerque) ... no walks in 15.2 innings with Express (63 batters faced) ... at least one strikeout in 10 of 13 outings ... opponents are 1-for-7 with two outs and runners in scoring position.

BEN SNYDER: 1-1, 3.68 ERA (9 ER/22.0 IP) in last six outings (three starts) ... 1-0, 4.00 ERA (12 ER/27.0 IP) in 16 appearances (one start) at The Dell Diamond ... holds opponents to a .190 average (11-for-58) when leading off an inning with no homers and 10 strikeouts against four walks ... opponents are 10-for-31 (.323) with runners in scoring position and two outs.

YOSHINORI TATEYAMA: No earned runs allowed in 20 of 21 outings with Express (unearned runs allowed once) ... has not allowed an earned run with the Express since April 21 at New Orleans, a span of 23.1 innings over 17 appearances ... currently has a 16.1-inning scoreless streak over 12 appearances with Round Rock (three unearned runs May 8 at Salt Lake) ... allowed four runs (one earned), all of which scored in the eighth inning ... opponents are 2-for-17 (.118) with runners in scoring position and 7-for-56 (.125) when behind in the count ... 14 strikeouts in 10.1 innings over last eight outings ... matched season high with three strikeouts in last outing July 26 vs. Albuquerque (fourth time) ... multiple strikeouts in eight of last 14 appearances ... at least one strikeout in eight consecutive appearances, 11 of last 12 ... two of six inherited runners scoredJuly 23 vs. Omaha.

JOHAN YAN: Held opponent scoreless in three of last four outings ... allowed at least one run in 10 of 18 appearances ... entered game with bases loaded three times and stranded six of nine runners ... stranded eight of 14 inherited runners ... opponents hitting .438 (7-for-16) when leading off inning with three homers, two walks, two strikeouts (.500 on-base percentage) ... has not allowed a non-leadoff homer ... opponents are 13-for-40 (.350) with runners on base.

WHO'S NEXT

Round Rock returns to The Dell Diamond for an eight-game home stand, beginning with a four-game series against the Tucson Padres (San Diego Padres). The series runs Wednesday through Saturday with a 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch each night.

SERIES"ˆINFORMATION

GAME"ˆ112 | WEDNESDAY, JULY 28 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Chad Bell (3-3, 4.46 ERA)

Padres: TBA

GAME"ˆ113 | THURSDAY, JULY 29 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Chad Bell (3-3, 4.46 ERA)

Padres: TBA

GAME"ˆ114 | FRIDAY, JULY 30 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Neftali Feliz (0-1, 1.93 ERA) or RHP Justin Grimm (0-0, 3.00 ERA)

Padres: TBA

GAME"ˆ115 | SATURDAY, JULY 31 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Ben Snyder (2-4, 4.22 ERA)

Padres: TBA

Check out the Round Rock Express Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 28, 2012


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