PCL1 Round Rock Express

E-Train's Rally Cut Short against Zephyrs

Published on April 22, 2013 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK, Texas - In a game that featured 26 hits and three ties, the Round Rock Express (11-8) was unable to overcome a two-run deficit entering the final frame, falling to the New Orleans Zephyrs (8-9) by a final score of 6-5.

The Zephyrs put the pressure on Express starter Brad Mills right away as New Orleans loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the first. The southpaw never wavered as he jumped ahead of left fielder Matt Diaz in the count 0-2 and then forced the 10-year major league veteran into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

The Express struck first in the bottom of the second as catcher Robinson Chirinos led off with a single to shallow right. Third baseman Mike Olt followed by launching the first pitch he saw from Zephyrs starter Jacob Turner onto the left field berm for a two-run blast, his first Triple-A home run.

The Z's answered immediately in the top of the third when center fielder Gorkys Hernandez singled up the middle and then stole second to put himself in scoring position. His place on the base paths would not matter as second baseman Ed Lucas took a 3-2 pitch from Mills and belted it into the Express bullpen, tying the game at two. It was the first long ball given up by Mills after 21.1 innings to start the season.

New Orleans would take the lead one inning later after catcher Koyie Hill doubled down the left field line to begin the fourth. Following a ground out by first baseman Jordan Brown that moved Hill to third, shortstop Matt Downs' fly ball to center was deep enough for the catcher to cross home, giving the Zephyrs a 3-2 lead.

The Express battled back in the bottom of the frame as second baseman Yangervis Solarte legged out an infield single to lead off the inning. Chirinos worked a walk, putting runners on first and second with no outs for Olt. The third baseman grounded into a double play, but Solarte moved to third with two outs on the board for Aaron Cunningham. The left fielder ripped a sharp grounder to first that deflected off the glove of Brown, allowing Cunningham to beat out the infield single and plating Solarte to knot the game at three apiece.

The scoring fest continued into the top of the fifth as Lucas began with a line drive into center field. Right fielder Bryan Petersen followed with a shot to left field that sent Cunningham crashing into the wall but unable to come up with the grab. Lucas crossed the plate and Petersen pulled into second with a RBI-double. After a throwing error by Profar allowed Petersen to move to third, Hill came to the plate with runners on first and third with one out but grounded into an inning-ending double play.

The E-Train battled back once again in the bottom of the fifth as center fielder Engel Beltre led off with a single into right field. After a fly out by shortstop Jurickson Profar, right fielder Jim Adduci's ground ball was knocked down at short, but Downs' throw sailed past first and into right field. The throwing error allowed Beltre to score the tying run from second as the Express and Zephyrs were once again locked on the scoreboard.

Mills was lifted after six innings of work as the southpaw allowed four runs on a season-high 11 hits.

New Orleans greeted Express reliever Yoshinori Tateyama with a double off the bat of Hernandez to begin the seventh. The right-hander then loaded the bases with one gone, but racked up a strikeout for the second out. With the bases still loaded, Hill delivered again with a two-out RBI single to plate two and give the Z's a 6-4 advantage. With runners on first and second and two outs, manager Bobby Jones called upon left-hander Neal Cotts for the second straight game. In 25 appearances a season ago with the Express, Cotts had not pitched in back-to-back games. The southpaw got the job done again, ringing up Brown on strikes for his team-leading 19th punch out and ending the visitor's half of the seventh.

With its back against the wall, Round Rock rallied one more time in the bottom of the ninth as Beltre and Profar each singled with one out to put runners on first and second for Adduci. With the count 2-2, Adduci lined a shot into left field but Diaz made a sliding grab for the second out. Down to their last out, the Express turned to designated hitter Joey Butler who singled into left field to pull the E-Train within one at 6-5 and put runners on the corners. Riding a 1-for-4 night, Solarte was unable to bring in the tying run as he was rung up on strikes to end the game.

Tateyama took the loss, his first of the season, while Turner earned his first win of 2013. Right-hander Chris Hatcher nailed down his sixth save on the season and fourth against Round Rock.

The E-Train continues its homestand with the series finale against the Zephyrs tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. The Express will send right-hander Randy Wells (0-3, 6.60 ERA) to the hill to be opposed by New Orleans starter Elih Villanueva (0-2, 4.86 ERA). Also tomorrow night, the Express will wear their 1959 Austin Senators uniforms on Turn Back Tuesday with half-price tickets as Dell Diamond will turn back the clock and the prices. For tickets and more information, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook and Twitter!

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 22, 2013


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