Early Inning Success Fuels Express to 6-5 Win
May 4, 2016 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado - Five runs in the first three innings of play gave the Round Rock Express (15-10) the buffer they needed to hold off the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (9-15) Wednesday afternoon in the Rocky Mountains. The E-Train held off a late Sky Sox rally to collect a 6-5 win and move to 3-0 in the series.
Express RHP Nick Tepesch (2-2, 4.08) picked up the win despite allowing four earned runs on eight hits over six innings on the bump. The righty struck out five hitters while only walking two. Sky Sox starter RHP Jorge Lopez (0-2, 8.84) was tagged with the loss after giving up five runs (four earned) on six hits in four innings of work. He recorded four strikeouts but walked five E-Train batters.
After keeping Round Rock off the board in the opening frame for the first time this series, Colorado Springs jumped out to a 1-0 lead thanks to three straight singles to open their half of the first inning. RF Keon Broxton started things off before 2B Jake Elmore and SS Orlando Arcia tacked on singles of their own. Broxton scored on Arcia's knock to put his team on the board. Tepesch turned on a dime, striking out the next three hitters to promptly shut down the early hit barrage.
The E-Train bats wouldn't remain quiet for long as the visitors scored two in the second to take their first lead of the day. DH Ike Davis continued his red-hot series, singling to open the frame. 3B Pedro Ciriaco then singled before 1B Drew Robinson reached safely on a throwing error to load the bases. After a Doug Bernier strikeout, C Patrick Cantwell recorded a one-out RBI single to knot the game at one.
With the bases still loaded for RF James Jones, the speedy infielder legged out a tailor-made groundball double play ball that allowed Ciriaco to score, putting the Express ahead 2-1. SS Jurickson Profar grounded out to end the inning, but Jones' speed had left its mark.
It took the Sky Sox just two at-bats to tie game yet again. 3B Nate Orf tripled to open the bottom half of the second before LF Ben Guez launched a sacrifice fly deep into left field that allowed Orf to slide home safely.
The back-and-forth affair continued into the third as Round Rock sent seven hitters to the plate in a three-run inning. CF Jared Hoying recorded a one-out single then swiftly stole second base. After Davis drew a walk, Ciriaco singled to drive home his center fielder. The biggest play of the inning occurred two batters later as Bernier blasted a towering fly ball to center field that skipped off the wall and allowed the second baseman to advance to third with a two-RBI triple, giving the Express their largest lead of the day at 5-2.
As has been the case throughout much of the series, Colorado Springs answered right back. With two outs in the third inning, DH Will Middlebrooks singled before scoring thanks to a double off the bat of 1B Garin Cecchini, cutting the Express lead to 5-3.
After a rare scoreless frame, Robinson picked up a one-out walk in the fifth. Cantwell then recorded his first multi-RBI game of the season thanks to a single that scored his first baseman, bumping the Round Rock lead to 6-3. An inning later, Colorado Springs would pick that run right back up. CF Michael Reed drew a leadoff walk before advancing to third on a Guez double. C Adam Weisenburger then drove Reed home with a fielder's choice groundout, cutting the Express lead back to two.
The Round Rock bullpen came up huge over the final three frames as LHP Jimmy Reyes, RHP Anthony Carter and RHP Carlos Fisher combined to hold the Sky Sox to just one run on two hits. Fisher collected his third save of the season but it wasn't without some late drama. Guez singled to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning before stealing second base then scoring on a two-out single from Elmore. Fisher slammed the door on the late comeback attempt with an electrifying strikeout of Arcia.
Tomorrow's series finale will feature Express LHP Michael Roth (2-0, 1.20) against Sky Sox RHP Hiram Burgos (1-2, 7.31). First pitch at Security Service Field in Colorado Springs is set for 12:05 p.m.
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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