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 Round Rock Express

Express Hit It out of the Park in 5-3 Victory over Redbirds

April 25, 2015 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Round Rock Express offense launched three solo homeruns to catapult them to a 5-3 victory over the Memphis Redbirds in the series opener Saturday night at AutoZone Park. The pitching staff held the Redbirds offense to just five hits in the victory.

The E-Train wasted no time getting on the board in the first inning. After a double-play, LF Michael Choice was hit by a pitch and came around to score two batters later on a single by Jared Hoying.

Ryan Strausborger, who replaced Choice in the bottom half of the first inning, led off the third inning with single. RF Alex Hassan brought him around to score on a double, giving the Express a 2-0 lead. Hoying singled in the next at-bat but both runners would remain stranded as 2B Thomas Field flew out and 3B Ed Lucas hit into a double play to end the inning.

In the fourth inning, C Chris Gimenez led off the inning and sent the third pitch he saw over the left-center wall for his first homerun of the season. Strausborger, also looking for his first homer, followed up with a solo shot of his own to start the fifth inning, giving Express starter Ross Wolf (2-1, 7.88 ERA) a cushy 4-0 lead.

That would be it for Memphis starter Boone Whiting. He went 5.0 innings and gave up four runs (earned) on 10 hits without recording a strikeout. He was replaced by RHP Kurt Hayer to start the sixth inning.

Wolf started the game following RHP Jerad Eickhoff's 8.1 inning 1-hit performance Friday night. Not to be outdone, Wolf didn't allow a single hit through four innings. The only Redbirds player to reach base was on an error in the second inning. Wolf unraveled a bit in the fifth, allowing a leadoff walk to Redbirds 2B Ty Kelly. CF Rafael Ortega bunted Kelly over and he advanced to third on a throwing error by Gimenez. LF Mike O'Neill lined out to SS Hanser Alberto before C Travis Tartamella walked to load the bases. SS Dean Anna singled to right-center field, plating two runs. One out later, RF Stephen Piscotty singled to score Tartamella and get the Redbirds within one run of the Express, 4-3. Wolf got 3B Scott Moore to strikeout, ending the inning and the threat.

Wolf worked his magic in the sixth and retired the side in order. He was replaced by RHP Ross Ohlendorf to start the seventh. Wolf exited after 6.0 innings, giving up three runs (all earned) on three hits. He walked three batters and struck out two. He was the fourth straight Express starter with a quality start (L. Jackson, C. Gonzalez, J. Eickhoff).

The Express bullpen kept the Redbirds quite for the remainder of the game. Ohlendorf, Juan Perez and Kyuji Fujikawa allowed a combined two hits and one walk while striking out four over 2.0 innings of work.

The Redbirds bullpen, on the other hand, wasn't so lucky. Not wanting to be left out of the homerun party, SS Hanser Alberto hit his first dinger of the season, a solo homer, in the ninth inning off Memphis reliever Marcus Hatley, giving the final 5-3 score.

Express manager Jason Wood called on closer Spencer Patton to work a perfect ninth inning, picking up his second save. With this win, the Express improve to 10-6 on the season.

Round Rock and Memphis will face off again Sunday at 1:35 p.m. RHP Anthony Ranaudo (1-0, 0.90 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Express against the Redbirds RHP Petrick (0-2, 10.03 ERA).

For tickets and more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook and Twitter!


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