Dance Halls Corral Honky Tonks 6-5
June 1, 2018 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Round Rock Dance Halls (23-32) utilized a four-run sixth inning to secure a 6-5 victory over the Nashville Honky Tonks (27-26), taking a 2-1 series lead in the 2018 Battle for the Boot Championship.
Dance Halls LHP Brady Feigl (3-0, 1.59) earned the win out of the bullpen after tossing 1.1 innings with a pair of strikeouts and just two hits allowed. Honky Tonks RHP Ben Bracewell (0-1, 7.20) was handed the loss after allowing Round Rock to take their first lead of the night in the fifth inning.
Nashville jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on Dance Halls LHP Yohander Méndez in the first when 1B Nick Martini reached base on a single before immediately scoring on a home run to left off the bat of RF Ramon Laureano. Round Rock 1B Tommy Joseph provided a loud response in the second, cutting the Honky Tonks' edge in half on a no-doubt solo shot to left-center.
With Mendez settling in to hold Nashville scoreless over the next two frames, the Dance Halls leveled the score at 2-2 in the fourth when SS Nick Noonan slapped a single into right field to bring C Juan Centeno home from third.
Honky Tonks CF Jake Smolinski led off the fifth by launching a solo home run to left, his third round-tripper of the series. After issuing a walk to the following hitter in Anthony GarcÃa, Mendez retired the next three batters in order to hold Nashville's advantage to one run.
Round Rock built their momentum-shifting sixth inning by peppering the Honky Tonks with six base hits. 3B Andy Ibanez got things started by lacing a single to left before coming home on Joseph's double into right-center. Following a run-scoring double off the bat of 2B Christian Lopes that brought Joseph home, Noonan got back into the fray with an RBI single to center. Rehabbing Texas Rangers LF Carlos Tocci put a bow on the frame by driving in the fourth run when he smoked a ground ball up the middle that brought Noonan home from second base to make it 6-3.
The 'Tonks made things interesting in the eighth, pulling within a run of tying the game after 2B Steve Lombardozzi Jr. and SS Jorge Mateo brought home a pair of runs on a sacrifice fly and a RBI-groundout. However, Dance Halls RHP Ricardo RodrÃguez was able to shut down the rally by striking out Martini to retire the side and hold the score at 6-5.
RodrÃguez remained on the mound for the ninth inning, finding himself in trouble with two outs and runners on the corners as Nashville 3B Sheldon Neuse strode to the plate. After getting ahead 1-2 in the count RodrÃguez got Neuse to fly out to right field, recording his first Triple-A save of the season.
Round Rock looks to lock up a series win in game four on Saturday with RHP Yovani Gallardo (1-1, 4.54) scheduled to do battle with Honky Tonks RHP Chris Bassitt (2-2, 5.77). First pitch at Dell Diamond is set for 7:05 p.m.
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