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 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express Rally Past Tucson 8-7

August 3, 2012 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK, Texas - Julio Borbon laced a two-run single to left-center field in the ninth inning to give the Round Rock Express an 8-7 victory over the Tucson Padres in Friday night's Pacific Coast League action at The Dell Diamond. The Express (51-63) have won eight of their last 10 and nine of their last 12 games, the season's best stretch. The Padres (43-70) have lost four of their last five, including two of three to the Express.

Round Rock squandered a 6-0 lead through six innings. Anthony Contreras started the rally with a two-run homer in the seventh, and the Padres tied the game in the eighth on a Jedd Gyorko two-run double and a Matt Clark two-run homer. Tucson benefited from an Express error in the ninth as Blake Tekotte scored the go-ahead run on Daniel Robertson's RBI fielder's choice.

However, the Express never made an out in the bottom of the ninth. Pinch-hitter Matt Kata fell behind 0-2 but eventually coaxed a walk from Padres closer Erik Hamren. Leonys Martin followed with a chalk-drawing double down the right-field line, pushing Kata to third. After Luis Hernandez was intentionally walked, Borbon drilled a 1-0 Hamren offering over the Tucson shortstop. Kata scored the tying run, and Martin slid safely ahead of a high throw from the outfield.

It was Round Rock's fifth walk-off win of the season, three of which occurred since the All-Star break. It also was Round Rock's seventh one-run affair in the last 13 games; the Express are 5-2 in those games and 6-3 in one-run contests since the break.

Yoshinori Tateyama (2-0) picked up the win in relief. He entered the game with one out and runners at first and second and the go-ahead run already across in the ninth; Tateyama got Andy Parrino to fly out to the base of the wall and then struck out Gyorko to hold the deficit to one run.

Tucson's rally spoiled a strong start from Justin Grimm. He worked seven innings, his longest outing with the Express and longest at any level since going seven innings June 10 with Double-A Frisco. Grimm did not allow a run until Contreras' seventh-inning homer, scattering three other hits with seven strikeouts and two walks.

Hamren (2-4) entered the game to start the ninth and took the loss; he was charged with his fifth blown save. Tucson starter Jorge Reyes surrendered six runs - five earned - on nine hits over five innings with five strikeouts and no walks.

Martin scored the game's first run in the bottom of the first when he led off with a double and later scored on Borbon's sacrifice fly. The Express batted around in a four-run second inning on the strength of three straight run-scoring hits - a Yangervis Solarte RBI single, a Luis Martinez RBI double and a Martin two-run single. Round Rock stretched its lead to 6-0 in the fifth when Borbon reached on an error and scored on Brad Nelson's single.

Four Express batters enjoyed multiple-hit nights: Martin (3-for-5), Borbon (2-for-4), Solarte (2-for-4) and Joey Butler (2-for-3). Martin hit safely in each of his last 10 games with the Express, dating back to June before a six-week stint with the Rangers. Borbon hit safely in eight of his last nine games and enjoyed his eighth multiple-hit outing over the last 11 games.

Tekotee (2-for-3) turned in the lone multiple-hit effort for the Padres, who were out-hit 13-7.

Round Rock and Tucson conclude their four-game series Saturday with a 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch at The Dell Diamond. Left-hander Martin Perez (5-5, 4.59 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Express opposite Padres right-hander Matt Palmer (6-7, 6.32 ERA).


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