PCL1 Round Rock Express

Dodgers Sting Express 9-5

Published on May 11, 2016 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK, Texas "" There was a certain buzz around Dell Diamond this afternoon, but not the kind one might expect. After 40 total minutes worth of delays for a pesky swarm of bees, the Oklahoma City Dodgers (18-13) raced past the Round Rock Express (18-14) by a final score of 9-5.

Oklahoma City's RHP Jeremy Kehrt was the bee's knees, allowing just two runs, both unearned, on six total hits in five innings of work on the hill. Express starter RHP Jose Monegro (0-1, 7.71) was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs on five hits and three walks over the span of 2.1 total innings.

Despite issuing two walks and hitting a batter in the top of the first inning, Monegro escaped the frame with his stinger intact. Just after DH Michael McKenry drew a two-out walk, play was halted as the horde of bees began nesting in the mounting for the radar gun just behind home plate. Play resumed after a 25-minute delay.

The Dodgers then swarmed Monegro in the second inning, dropping a four-spot on the Round Rock starter. 2B Micah Johnson started things with a leadoff double before a one-out single from SS Elian Herrera scored his fellow infielder to begin the scoring. After LF Rico Noel drew a walk, C Austin Barnes doubled to drive home Herrera.

An error by Monegro in the next-at bat doubled OKC's lead from 2-0 to 4-0. 1B Alex Hassan grounded the third pitch of his plate appearance right back to Monegro on the third base side of the mound. The righty scooped up the ball but put a little too much honey on the throw, launching the relay into the backstop, allowing both Noel and Barnes to score. Monegro recovered to retire the final two hitters of the inning, but not before the visitors had opened a commanding lead.

The third inning began with a 15-minute delay as a professional beekeeper was brought in to assess the situation. After play resumed, the Dodgers responded by adding another run to their already full hive. CF James Ramsey hit a leadoff single before stealing second base then advancing to third on a throwing error by Express C Patrick Cantwell. A Zach Walters single in the next at-bat scored Ramsey to make it 5-0.

Round Rock buzzed back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third as McKenry and 1B Brett Nicholas drew back-to-back walks to open the home half of the inning. 3B Patrick Kivlehan then grounded into a double play that moved McKenry to third and eliminated Nicholas at second. Busy as a bee, McKenry scored on the very next play as RF Ryan Strausborger grounded to Walters. The third baseman made an athletic stab on the dirt before an errant throw to first pulled Hassan off the bag. Strausborger was ruled safe and Walters was charged with an error. In the next at-bat, RF Pedro Ciriaco cut into the lead even further with a double that scored Strausborger.

Oklahoma City stung Round Rock again in the fifth, pushing two more runs across the plate to reopen their five-run advantage. Ramsey greeted reliever Phil Klein with a shot that made a beeline onto the berm in left field for a solo home run in what was the righty's first hitter of the afternoon. Johnson then got on board thanks to on a fielding error by Bernier before stealing second and eventually taking third on a Klein wild pitch. Herrera launched a one-out fly ball deep to Jones in left, allowing Johnson with enough time to tag and score, pushing the OKC lead to 7-2.

After OKC pitching smoked 10 straight Round Rock hitters in the middle innings, Kivlehan broke the streak with a single in the eighth. Strausborger then became the bee in Dodgers RHP Jharel Cotton's bonnet, blasting a two-run homer to left field that cut the E-Train deficit to 9-4.

Round Rock created one last buzz in the bottom of the ninth. Cantwell led things off with a single before taking second on catcher's indifference. Hoying then singled before Nicholas recorded his second base hit of the day "" a single that scored Cantwell from third. Although it would have behooved the Express to continue the rally, it wasn't meant to "bee" as Kivlehan struck out to close the door on the 9-5 OKC victory.

Round Rock and Oklahoma City continue the series Thursday evening at 7:05 p.m. Texas Rangers RHP Yu Darvish is scheduled to make his second rehab start of the season with the Express. He is expected to throw 60 pitches or four innings. The Dodgers are planning on sending RHP Mike Bolsinger (0-0, 4.50) to the mound. Tomorrow's contest is also an Original Thirsty Thursday, presented by Firetrol Protection Systems as fans can unwind at the ballpark with draft beer specials and $1 sodas. Finally, the first 5,000 fans will receive a 2016 team photo, presented by D&L Printing.

Single game tickets are available along with season ticket packages and group discounts. For more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter!

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 11, 2016


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