El Paso Uses Walk-Off Homer to Bury Round Rock 4-1
August 5, 2018 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
EL PASO, Texas - Although he ended up with the no decision, Round Rock Express (52-61) starting pitcher RHP Adrian Sampson dazzled on the mound in Sunday night's 4-1 defeat at the hands of the El Paso Chihuahuas (63-49) at Southwest University Park in El Paso. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, El Paso C Dusty Coleman connected on a three-run walkoff homer to deal the Express a fourth straight loss.
Since working his way back into Round Rock's starting rotation on June 16th, Sampson has put together a dominant stretch of ace-like performances. In 14 starts, the right-hander has tossed 61.2 frames with a 2.63 ERA and a 38-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Sampson maintained his sensational pace through tonight's ballgame as he restricted the Chihuahuas to just one run on six hits over 7.0 innings while striking out eight, a new season-high, and walking one.
The Chihuahuas drew first blood in the bottom of the third to pull ahead 1-0. Following a successful pick off and a strikeout, DH Francisco Mejia kept the inning alive when he doubled to left off Sampson. The next batter, C Raffy Lopez, capitalized on the scoring chance when he produced a two-out RBI single that brought Mejia all the way home.
Mirroring last night's series opener, the E-Train waited until the seventh to put themselves on the board as they utilized a pair of two-baggers to level the score at 1-1. C Juan Centeno got things started when he smacked a one-out double off the wall in left off El Paso reliever RHP Emmanuel Ramirez. LF Franklin Rollin followed Centeno by whipping a double of his own down the line in right to end the Chihuahuas shutout and tie the game.
With the score still knotted up at 1-1 entering the ninth, Round Rock was gifted an opportunity to swipe a late lead. Chihuahuas reliever and tonight's winning pitcher, LHP Kyle McGrath (4-2, 3.46) retired the first two batters in the side in order before issuing a two-out walk to Express SS Cliff Pennington. The scoring threat appeared to be lost when 2B Christian Lopes dribbled a weak ground ball to short, but El Paso SS Javy Guerra committed an error that gave Round Rock extra life. However, Guerra would redeem himself when he cleanly fielded a grounder off the bat of E-Train CF Scott Heineman to record out number three.
Former Round Rock catcher and current Chihuahuas 1B Brett Nicholas led off the bottom half of the frame with a single off Express reliever RHP Ricardo Rodriguez (1-2, 2.45). Two batters later, El Paso CF Auston Bousfield knocked a single of his own to put runners on first and second. Rodriguez would go on entice Guerra into a flyout for the second out before Coleman came to the plate and delivered the walkoff blow on a towering shot that crashed onto the concourse in left.
The E-Train will look to turn things around in game three on Sunday night at Southwest University Park in El Paso. Round Rock RHP Tyler Wagner (1-4, 4.50) is slated to start against El Paso RHP Brett Kennedy (10-10, 2.72). First pitch is set for 8:05 p.m. CDT.
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