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Round Rock Express

Nicholas Supplies Late-Inning Heroics as E-Train Beats 51s, 5-3

August 30, 2015 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Round Rock Express (74-62) provided late-inning theatrics Sunday night at Dell Diamond by topping the Las Vegas 51s (74-62), 5-3. Round Rock's victory solidified the series win, taking three of four from the 51s and reduced their magic number to two.

LF Drew Stubbs made his way aboard in the bottom of the first inning on a Las Vegas fielding error that saw the ball go through the legs of 51s 1B Brandon Allen. Vegas starter Dillon Gee kept Stubbs still on first with a fly out of Express RF Nomar Mazara, but was unable to contain Stubbs for long as he swiped second base with 2B Ed Lucas batting. The stolen base proved beneficial as Lucas smashed a single up the middle that raced Stubbs home for the first E-Train run of the night. Gee went on to strike out 1B Joey Gallo to end the first.

Round Rock starter Anthony Ranaudo began the second by surrendering a single to 51s C Kevin Plawecki, but recovered by striking out Allen. The storm clouds above Dell Diamond turned a bit darker as LF Travis Taijeron stepped to the plate and propelled a two-run homer off Ranaudo that instantly sent the visitors in front, 2-1. Ranaudo prevented any notion of a Vegas surge with back-to-back ground outs.

The E-Train responded with offense of their own in the bottom of the third as CF Jared Hoying smashed a one-out solo home run to deep right field that tied the contest at two. Stubbs joined the party as he knocked a single into left field off Gee, summoning Mazara to the plate with two on and one out. Mazara hit a deep single to put runners on first and third. Lucas added his second RBI of the night with a soft single into right field that scored Stubbs and saw Mazara reach third. Gallo stuck out once again and 3B Ryan Rua flied out to complete the third with Round Rock in front, 3-2.

Both sides went quiet as Gee and Ranaudo each went 6.0 innings of work. Ranaudo (7-5, 4.34) finished with four hits, two runs (two earned) and five punch-outs while Gee (7-3, 4.87) left with six hits, three runs (two earned) and a season-high 10 Ks.

Sin City made noise in the top of the seventh as RHP Luke Jackson struggled in his 34th relief appearance of 2015. Jackson collected the first two outs with a strikeout and a ground out, but conceded a single to SS Matt Reynolds that kept the inning alive. Jackson then issued successive walks to load the bases for PH Eric Campbell. Round Rock pulled Jackson and looked to southpaw Jimmy Reyes to get out of the jam. Reyes lost the battle with Campbell as the pinch hitter ripped a single that hustled Reynolds home to tie the game, 3-3. Reyes managed his way out of the inning with a ground out.

The pinnacle of the series finale came in the bottom of the eighth as the Round Rock offense mounted an attack on the 51s bullpen. Lucas picked up the only Express walk of the night off Vegas reliever Dario Alvarez and advanced to second on a single from Gallo. Gallo's single ended Alvarez's night as 51s RHP Zach Thornton entered the game. Thornton plunked Rua with a pitch that chucked the bases for PH J.T. Wise. Wise went on to go down swinging, beckoning C Brett Nicholas. Nicholas supplied the late-inning heroics with a two-RBI single that put the E-Train ahead for good, 5-3.

RHP Roman Mendez collected his fifth save of the season by finishing the game and the series on an inning-ending double play.

Round Rock's next series involves a trip to the Music City as Express RHP Phil Klein (1-0, 2.92) toes the rubber against Sounds LHP Sean Nolin (2-2, 2.95). First pitch from First Tennessee Park is set for 7:05 p.m.

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

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