Big Inning Dooms Round Rock in 6-2 Loss to Oklahoma City
June 18, 2021 - Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Round Rock Express News Release
ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Round Rock Express (23-14) dropped Thursday night's series opener to the Oklahoma City Dodgers (17-20) by a final score of 6-2 at Dell Diamond. LF Delino DeShields drove in both Express runs for his first multi-RBI game since May 23.
Round Rock reliever LHP Sal Mendez (0-1, 21.60) was tagged with the loss, allowing four runs on three hits and two walks while tallying two strikeouts in his 1.2-inning Triple-A debut. Oklahoma City RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx (4-1, 4.41) earned the win with a 5.0-inning start that featured two runs on four hits and two walks with six punchouts.
The E-Train took the first lead of the contest in the first inning when DeShields launched a leadoff home run to left field to put Round Rock ahead 1-0.
Oklahoma City plated their first two runs in the second when RF Zach Reks hit a homer of his own, bringing 3B Sheldon Neuse home with him. Round Rock tied the contest at 2-2 in the bottom of the frame after base hits from C Yohel Pozo and 2B Charles Leblanc, followed by a Yonny Hernandez hit-by-pitch loaded the bases. DeShields then drew a walk to send Pozo home, leveling the contest.
The Dodgers' big inning came in the sixth as Neuse hit a single before DH Matt Davidson and 2B Carlos Asuaje drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. 1B Cristian Santana drove both Neuse and Davidson home with a double, leaving a pair of runners in scoring position. Both Asuaje and Santana later scored thanks to a two-out single from SS Elliot Soto for the ultimate final score of 6-2.
Round Rock loaded the bases for the second frame of the night with two outs in the ninth thanks to walks from Pozo and CF Leody Taveras and a two-out DeShields single, but Oklahoma City reliever RHP Kevin Quackenbush retired RF Elier Hernandez to end the game.
The two teams face off in game two on Friday night at Dell Diamond. Express RHP Tyson Miller (0-0, 6.00) is scheduled take the mound against Dodgers RHP Aaron Wilkerson (3-3, 3.97) with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m.
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