PCL1 Round Rock Express

Chihuahuas Rally Late to Walkoff Express 7-6

Published on August 8, 2018 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


EL PASO, Texas - The El Paso Chihuahuas (65-49) finished a series sweep of the Round Rock Express (52-63) with a 7-6 walkoff victory on Tuesday night at Southwest University Park in El Paso. Chihuahuas PH Brett Nicholas, who spent parts of four seasons from 2014-2017 in Round Rock, grabbed a bat to pinch-hit with his team trailing 6-5 in the bottom of the ninth inning before producing a game-winning two-run single.

El Paso reliever LHP Brad Wieck (2-0, 4.40) took the win after tossing a scoreless top of the ninth leading up to the dramatic finish. Express reliever RHP R.J. Alvarez (3-3, 3.86) suffered the loss and his fourth blown save of the season after surrendering the final two runs.

The Chihuahuas opened the scoring in the bottom of the third to grab an early 3-0 edge off E-Train starter RHP Chris Jensen, who allowed three earned runs over 5.0 frames in his second start in a Round Rock uniform. SS Javy Guerra led off the side with his second triple of the series and scored two batters later when RF Forrestt Allday reached base on an error. C Francisco Mejia and DH Raffy Lopez finished the job with an RBI groundout and a run-scoring double.

In the fifth, the Express responded in loud fashion to level the score at 3-3. SS Hanser Alberto started things off with a base hit to left before DH Tony Sanchez stepped to the plate and crushed a two-run homer to dead center. RF Hunter Cole and 1B Nick Torres teamed up on back-to-back singles to set up a game-tying double off the bat of 2B Christian Lopes. With none out and runners on second and third, the E-Train rally was halted when El Paso starter LHP Jerry Keel sat down the next three batters in order on two strikeouts and a pop out.

After the Chihuahuas got back in front in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run double by 1B Allen Craig, Round Rock put together another three-run inning to take their first lead of the night 6-5 in the sixth. Torres ignited the surge by working a walk prior to a single from Lopes. With two outs, CF Scott Heineman dropped a base hit into shallow center field that brought Torres home before 3B Andy Ibanez plated the go-ahead score on a two-run single up the middle.

Inching closer to putting an end to their five-game losing streak, the E-Train turned to Alvarez, the current PCL saves leader, for the final three outs in the latter half of the ninth. However, El Paso's bats had other plans as Guerra and 3B Dusty Coleman tallied a single and a double to leadoff the frame in preparation for Nicholas' heroic base knock. On a 1-2 pitch from Alvarez, the pinch-hitting infielder chopped a groundball between first and second and into right field as Guerra trotted home and Coleman narrowly beat out a throw at the plate to score the walkoff run.

Following an off day on Wednesday, the Express will return home to Dell Diamond on Thursday night for game one of a four-act set with the Omaha Storm Chasers (52-62). Omaha RHP Arnaldo Hernandez (2-1, 5.33) is scheduled to get the starting nod on the bump against a Round Rock pitcher yet to be announced. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. CDT.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 8, 2018


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