Berkman Sparks Express Romp of Zephyrs, 9-1
April 18, 2010 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
ROUND ROCK, Texas - Lance Berkman was 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, three runs scored and two RBI in leading the Round Rock Express past the New Orleans Zephyrs in Sunday afternoon's Pacific Coast League action at The Dell Diamond. The Express (3-8) snapped a five-game losing streak with the win, their second in seven games against the Zephyrs (6-5) this season.
In his second and final game of a rehabilitation stint with the Express, Berkman put on a show for the 7,865 fans at The Dell Diamond. He started the scoring for Round Rock with a one-out, RBI double down the right-field line in the first inning and later scored on Brian Bogusevic's RBI single. Berkman led off the third and later scored on Collin DeLome's two-run homer. After striking out on a full-count pitch in the fourth, Berkman capped his day in the sixth with a leadoff, solo homer to right-center.
Berkman was 3-for-6 with three RBI, two doubles, three runs scored and a sacrifice fly in his two games with the Express. He is expected to rejoin the Astros Tuesday as they begin a three-game series at home against the Florida Marlins.
Not to be overshadowed by Berkman, DeLome snapped out of a 2-for-25 slump by going 2-for-5 with a pair of two-run homers and four RBI. Berkman and DeLome were two of six batters to produce multiple-hit outings for the Express, who collected a season-high 16 hits and scored a season-high nine runs.
Round Rock built a 5-0 lead through the game's first three innings. Yordany Ramirez plated a run with a two-out RBI single in the third, and DeLome's second homer of the season in the third gave the Express the five-run cushion.
From there, Express starter Josh Banks (1-1) cruised for the win. He lasted 6.2 innings, allowing one run on seven hits and no walks with three strikeouts. The lone run he allowed was a two-out solo homer to Danny Richar in the sixth. T.J. Burton, who was promoted from Double-A Corpus Christi over the weekend, pitched the final 2.1 innings without allowing a run or a hit with one walk and one strikeout.
Berkman's sixth-inning homer started a three-run, two-out explosion for the Express. Bogusevic followed with a single up the middle, and DeLome followed with a homer to right on the first pitch of his at bat. Round Rock capped the scoring with a run in the seventh on Edwin Maysonet's two-out RBI single.
New Orleans starter Brian Lawrence (0-2) suffered the loss, allowing five runs on nine hits and a walk with one strikeout over 3.0 innings.
Matt Kata was 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Maysonet, Bogusevic and Jason Castro all had two-hit games. The Express produced five two-out RBI on the day, going 3-for-7 with runners in scoring position and two outs; Round Rock was 1-for-19 with runners in scoring position and two outs during the five-game losing streak.
Round Rock and New Orleans conclude their four-game series Monday at 7:05 p.m. CDT. Southpaw Gustavo Chacin (0-1, 2.35 ERA) gets the nod for the Express. The Zephyrs counter with right-hander Ryan Tucker (0-0, 1.59 ERA), who was scratched from Sunday's scheduled start due to illness.
Pacific Coast League Stories from April 18, 2010
- Sky Sox Improve to 6-5 with Two Wins on Sunday - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Beavers Rally Falls Short Against Grizzlies - Portland Beavers
- Aces Offense Explodes for 10-7 Win Over Cats - Reno Aces
- Bees Earn 10-7 Win Over Rainiers - Salt Lake Bees
- Redman's Three Homers Power 'Topes Past Royals, 11-5 - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Berkman Sparks Express Romp of Zephyrs, 9-1 - Round Rock Express
- RedHawks Rally by Redbirds - Memphis Redbirds
- Z's Fall to Express - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Sounds Commit Five Errors In 11-6 Loss - Nashville Sounds
- Oklahoma City RedHawks (7-3) at Memphis Redbirds (4-6 - Oklahoma City Comets
- Express clipped by New Orleans - Round Rock Express
- Luna leads Z's to win - New Orleans Baby Cakes
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