PCL1 Round Rock Express

Eleventh Inning Blast Sinks Round Rock

Published on May 29, 2016 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK, Texas - C Tuffy Gosewisch launched a solo home run in the top of the 11th inning to push the Reno Aces (24-25) past the Round Rock Express (27-22) by a final score of 7-6 on Sunday afternoon at Dell Diamond.

Reno LHP Adam Loewen (2-2, 4.74) recorded the victory after a scoreless 10th inning of relief. Express RHP Tom Wilhelmsen (0-1, 1.29) suffered the defeat after surrendering the ill-fated longball, his first run allowed in an E-Train uniform. The righty gave up two hits while recording two strikeouts in two innings of relief.

A strange sequence of events gave the Aces a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. After back-to-back strikeouts to open the game, LF Kyle Jensen singled on a line drive to center field. In the next at-bat, RF Socrates Brito lined a shot into shallow center field. As Jensen stopped at third base, Brito made the decision to continue to second. CF Delino DeShields' relay throw arrived at the bag just seconds before Brito, who made contact with SS Doug Bernier during his slide, causing the shortstop to drop the ball and fall on his back. As Bernier recovered from the collision, Jensen trotted home to score the opening run of the day.

The visitors tripled their lead thanks to some two-out thunder in the next inning. Although DH Zach Borenstein doubled to open the frame, Express starter RHP Chi Chi Gonzalez recovered to retire the next two hitters. Gosewisch then scored his designated hitter with a double to right field. A long Mike Freeman single drove Gosewisch home to give Reno a 3-0 lead.

After holding the Express hitless in the first two innings, Reno starter RHP Edgar Garcia imploded in the third. LF James Jones and DeShields kicked off the inning with back-to-back singles. Following a Drew Robinson strikeout, C Brett Nicholas walked before 1B Joey Gallo followed suit, scoring a run with his free pass to first. Two hitters later, DH Ike Davis doubled on a long fly ball to center field, clearing the bases to give the Express their first lead of the day at 4-3. Fresh off a 22 day stint on the disabled list, LF Justin Ruggiano smashed a two-run shot to center field, pushing the Express lead to 6-3.

The Aces homered their way right back into the contest. In the sixth, Borenstein picked up a one-out single before 3B Carlos Rivero belted a two-run dinger deep beyond the berm in left field, tightening the Express lead to 6-5. Two innings later, Borenstein connected for a solo home run that evened the game at six.

After Reno pitching retired 15 consecutive Round Rock hitters, 3B Drew Robinson broke through with a two-out walk in the bottom of the ninth inning to put the winning run on board. However, Nicholas struck out to end the frame.

In just his third career start at second base with the Express, Strausborger temporarily saved the game in the 10th inning. Jensen led off with a double that was roped down the line in left field. After Wilhelmsen fooled Brito into striking out, 1B Ed Lucas grounded to Strausborger. The second baseman scooped up the ball and rocketed it across the infield to Nicholas, who gunned down pinch runner Matt McPhearson at the plate.

Following a 1-2-3 bottom of the frame, Gosewisch blasted Reno's third home run of the contest, a solo shot to left field that gave the visitors a 7-6 lead. The Express made some noise in the bottom of the inning as Ruggiano recorded a leadoff single before moving to second on a Bernier sacrifice bunt. A Jones walk put two men on, but DeShields and Robinson both struck out to end the contest.

Round Rock will go for the series win over Reno on Monday at 12:05 p.m. RHP Nick Martinez (4-3, 5.24) is slated to start for the Express while RHP Matt Buschmann (1-4, 5.36) is set to get the nod for the Aces. The special Memorial Day contest will feature pregame salutes to our nation's heroes as well as in-game tributes. The Express will also don special Military Appreciation Day uniforms that will be auctioned off during the contest. All proceeds from the event benefit America's Mighty Warriors, an organization that serves to honor the sacrifices made by fallen troops.

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.




Pacific Coast League Stories from May 29, 2016


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