E-Train Offense Secures Series Finale Victory over Zephyrs, 12-7
August 9, 2015 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
Metairie, LA - The Round Rock Express (65-49) offense remained potent Sunday afternoon at Zephyr Field, topping the New Orleans Zephyrs (51-65) 12-7. Both clubs produced 14 hits in the final game of the regular season between the division foes.
Express CF Leonys Martin began the series finale with a double off Zephyrs starter Matt Tomshaw and made his way to third on a Tomshaw wild pitch with 3B Tyler Pastornicky at the plate. Pastornicky used a RBI single to score Martin and sent Round Rock in front 1-0 before the first out had been recorded. Tomshaw manufactured a ground out that eliminated Pastornicky on his way to second, but saw C Brett Nicholas reach first. He then surrendered a double to RF Michael Choice that placed runners on second and third with one out. Another wild pitch from Tomshaw scored Nicholas to extend the Round Rock lead to 2-0. The New Orleans starter ended the threat with a strikeout and fly out.
The offensive production did not cease for Round Rock in the second as DH Jared Hoying started the inning with his 20th double of the year. Hoying was brought home seven pitches later on 1B J.T. Wise's second home run with the Express this season, lengthening the score to 4-0. Tomshaw shook off the blast by retiring the next three batters in order to close the top of the second.
Round Rock starter Phil Klein's shutout attempt was short-lived as the New Orleans offense found its footing in the bottom of the second. Zephyrs CF Isaac Galloway made his way aboard with a one-out single and stole second for his ninth swipe of the season. New Orleans C Jhonatan Solano plugged a soft single to right field that allowed Galloway to hustle home from second and give New Orleans its first run of the game. Klein picked up the second out on a fly out, but was unable to avoid a double by DH Brandon Bantz that moved Solano to third. Klein relieved the pressure with a pop out to end the second.
The fourth inning was an offensive explosion for both sides as the E-Train used back-to-back RBI singles from SS Beamer Weems and Martin with no outs to tally its fifth and sixth runs of the game. Nicholas kept the drama high with a one-out RBI single of his own that scored Weems to make it 7-1 Round Rock. New Orleans yanked Tomshaw (0-1, 27.00) after 3.1 innings pitched with 10 hits, 10 runs (10 earned), one walk and three strikeouts. The culmination of the top half of the inning came on a grand slam by LF Joey Gallo off fresh Zephyrs pitcher Tyler Bremer that signaled his12th homer of the season and first slam as a member of the Express. Gallo's last grand slam came on July 29, 2014 with the Frisco RoughRiders.
New Orleans made a dent in the 10-run deficit by mounting an attack on Klein in the home half of the fourth with a RBI double and consecutive RBI singles cut the lead to seven with two outs. Klein's full demise came three pitches later on a two-run bomb by Zephyrs LF Brady Shoemaker, inching New Orleans closer 11-6. Klein (1-0, 2.43) was replaced by RHP Phil Irwin after going 3.2 innings with nine hits, six runs (six earned), two walks and three Ks. Irwin struck out 1B Kila Ka'aihue to end the fourth.
Choice sent the Express advantage back to six by collecting a RBI single in the top of the eighth, scoring Pastornicky to augment the lead to 12-6.
The Zephyrs moved the needle in the final inning of the year between the two teams courtesy of a sacrifice fly by Galloway off Express LHP Alex Claudio, keeping the contest alive for Solano. Claudio recovered and ended the series with a ground out to supply Round Rock with win number 65.
The entire Pacific Coast League is off tomorrow before getting back into action Tuesday night. Round Rock meets with Colorado Springs at Dell Diamond for six games in four days with games two and three scheduled as doubleheaders.
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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