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Round Rock Express

Solarte Singles Express to Victory

May 3, 2013 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK, Texas - In its first extra-inning game of the season, the Round Rock Express (16-12) needed 12 frames but secured a 5-4 victory over the Nashville Sounds (7-19) after a game-winning RBI single off the bat of third baseman Yangervis Solarte.

In a game that seemed filled with missed opportunities for Round Rock, the bullpen held strong and gave the offense enough time to push a run across in the bottom of the 12th inning, breaking a 4-4 tie.

The Sounds used a leadoff double from shortstop Josh Prince to start the scoring in the top of the first inning. Prince took it upon himself to move up 90 feet, swiping third with one out and left fielder Khris Davis at the plate. The Express pulled the infield in, hoping to cut the run off, but Davis punched a ground ball through the left side to plate Prince for the game's first run.

Express starter Ryan Feierabend settled down for the rest of the first but found trouble in the third when he allowed runners to reach first and second with one out and Davis at the plate again. Nashville was off and running again, starting both runners while Davis lined a one-hopper up the middle. Second baseman Jurickson Profar snagged the grounder but could only get Davis at first with Prince coming all the way around to score from second as Nashville jumped out to a 2-0 lead.

The E-Train offense woke up in the bottom half of the third when first baseman Chris McGuiness led off with a double of his own. Shortstop Greg Miclat followed with a perfectly-placed bunt single down the third base line to put runners on the corners and no outs. Miclat promptly swiped second base to put himself in scoring position and the pressure on Nashville starter Mike Fiers. Two batters later, Fiers uncorked his first wild pitch of the season, allowing McGuiness to cross the plate and Miclat to move to third. That's where he would stay, however, as a drawn-in infield retired center fielder Engel Beltre as well as Profar to hold the score at 2-1.

Nashville picked up right where it left off in the top of the fourth as designated hitter Sean Halton hooked a 1-1 pitch from Feierabend just inside the left field foul pole for a solo shot giving Nashville a 3-1 lead.

With a golden opportunity in the fifth, Beltre came through in the clutch, doubling into the left field corner with one out and runners on first and second. The double scored McGuiness and pushed Miclat to third after both walked to reach base. Fiers worked himself out of trouble again, striking out Profar and right fielder Jim Adduci to retire the side and preserve the 3-2 advantage.

The Sounds put an insurance run on the board in the sixth on a sacrifice fly off the bat of center fielder Caleb Gindl, making the score 4-2. The run came off Express reliever Johan Yan, just the second score he has allowed over his last five outings (7.1 innings).

After idling for 2.1 innings, the Express offense got back on track in the bottom of the eighth when Profar worked a leadoff walk. Two batters later Chirinos tripled in Profar, his second three-bagger of the game, to pull the E-Train within one at 4-3. Solarte made up for his previous three strikeouts on the night by plating Chirinos with a sacrifice fly to knot the game at four apiece.

Left fielder Aaron Cunningham followed with a single into left, which was backed up by another single off the bat of McGuiness, putting Cunningham on third and just 90 feet away as the go ahead run. With a chance to take a one-run lead heading into the ninth, Miclat stepped to the plate but grounded into a fielder's choice, ending the inning.

Right-hander Evan Meek faced trouble in the ninth, registering one out before allowing two runners to reach base. Manager Bobby Jones called upon southpaw Neal Cotts to work out of the jam. Cotts was up to the challenge, fanning the number two and three hitters in the Nashville order to strand two more inherited runners, bumping his season total to five.

After the Express was unable to muster any offense in the bottom of the ninth, Round Rock entered extra innings for the first time in 2013.

It took until the bottom of the 12th inning but the E-Train finally broke through as Profar singled with one out. Two batters later, Chirinos walked, moving the winning run into scoring position. Solarte took a 1-2 pitch and lined it down the right field line as Profar crossed the plate, giving the Express its 16th victory of the season.

Lisalverto Bonilla (2-0) earned the win for Round Rock, tossing 2.0 hitless innings in relief while Donovan Hand was charged with the loss, dropping him to 1-1. The E-Train bullpen was one of the most valuable pieces of the puzzle, holding the Sounds to just one unearned run over 6.0 innings.

The Express will continue the four-game set with Nashville at Dell Diamond tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. Southpaw Brad Mills (3-0, 2.81 ERA) will take the hill for the E-Train against Sounds starter Frankie De La Cruz (1-3, 7.23 ERA). For tickets and more information, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook and Twitter.

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