E-Train Falls Behind Early, Zephyrs Take Game Two 6-3
June 24, 2015 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
METAIRIE, LA. - The Round Rock Express (42-29) lacked the firepower for the second game in a row Wednesday afternoon at Zephyr Field as the New Orleans Zephyrs (33-37) won game two of the series, 6-3. New Orleans leads the series 2-0.
Express starter Anthony Ranaudo worked diligently through the first inning of his 12th start, but found trouble in the second inning after issuing a one-out walk to Zephyrs 1B Kila Ka'aihue. Ranaudo then surrendered a single to LF Vinny Rottino that advanced Ka'aihue to second with 3B Juan Diaz coming to the plate. Diaz took Ranaudo to right field for a single, but was unable to score any base runners. The Zephyrs finally brought a man home on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly from C Jesus Flores, making the score 1-0. Ranaudo escaped the second with a ground out before any more damage occurred.
The New Orleans bats erupted in the bottom of the third, starting with a one-out single from 2B Jordany Valdespin. CF Cole Gillespie followed with a frozen rope to center, moving Valdespin to third. ML rehabber Michael Morse provided the second sacrifice fly of the day three pitches later off Ranaudo, extending the Zephyrs lead to 2-0. The hit parade continued for the Zephyrs as Ka'aihue got aboard with a single to put men on first and second with two outs. The bombardment reached its pinnacle as Rottino and Diaz hit back-to-back home runs off the Round Rock righty, giving New Orleans a 6-0 advantage. Rottino's and Diaz's homers were the first back-to-back shots of the season off Ranaudo and marked the first time this year he allowed multiple homers in a game.
Ranaudo (7-2, 3.12) was pulled after 4.0 innings of work, allowing a season-high six runs (six earned) and two homers while collecting three strikeouts and a walk. New Orleans starter Adam Conley (7-2, 2.61) kept the Round Rock bats at bay, allowing only one hit over 6.0 shutout innings. He finished his outing with four walks and two strikeouts.
Round Rock and New Orleans went quiet until the top of the eighth went the E-Train began to attack Zephyrs RHP James Nygren. RF Ryan Strausborger reached on a fielding error and was awarded second thanks to 3B Tyler Pastornicky earning a walk. 2B Tommy Field then supplied the first Express run of the series with a RBI double that scored Strausborger, inching the E-Train closer 6-1. C Brett Nicholas hit into a ground out for the first out of the inning, but scored Pastornicky in the process to make the score 6-2 New Orleans. Nygren's struggles persisted as DH Tomas Telis produced the third Round Rock RBI in a row with a single to center field, allowing Field to cross home plate and make it a three-run affair. The momentum slowed as CF Jared Hoying went down on strikes for the second out. 1B Chris Gimenez then flied out three pitches later to end the top of the eighth.
The Express bullpen showed consistency as RHP Francisco Mendoza, RHP Luke Jackson, RHP Jared Burton and RHP Spencer Patton all made one-inning appearances. The four-inning combined effort resulted in no runs, hits or walks and provided two strikeouts.
Round Rock's last effort was stifled by New Orleans closer Lay Batista in the top of the ninth. Batista retired the side in order with a fly out, line out and ground out to end the game, giving Round Rock its 29th loss of the campaign.
Round Rock and New Orleans complete the three game series tomorrow night with Express RHP Jerad Eickhoff (4-3, 4.38) taking the mound against New Orleans LHP Pat Misch (4-6, 3.57). First pitch is slated for 7:00 p.m. CDT.
For tickets and more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Follow the Express on Facebook and Twitter!
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