Express Blanks Aces 4-0 in Series Opener
May 20, 2013 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
ROUND ROCK, Texas - After losing starter Jake Brigham to injury in the fourth inning, the Round Rock Express (23-21) combined to shutout the Reno Aces (17-28) 4-0 on Monday night.
One game after falling in extra innings to the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, Round Rock rebounded to take the series opener from the Reno Aces as four Express arms held the Diamondbacks' affiliate to just four hits.
Left fielder Aaron Cunningham got the E-Train on the board in the bottom of the third when his line drive up the middle plated shortstop Greg Miclat who set the table with a one-out double. Cunningham entered the game with four doubles over his last four games and a life time .297 average against the Aces with 11 RBI.
Brigham was off to a solid start after allowing 12 earned runs in his previous 1.2 innings entering the game. The right-hander held Reno to just three hits over the first 3.2 innings behind a 1-0 lead, but was struck with a groundball on his lower right leg with two outs in the fourth. The injury forced Brigham to be carted off as the Express turned to Arlett Mavare for the second straight game out of the bullpen.
Mavare finished off the fourth while the Round Rock offense added to the lead in the bottom half of the frame. Third baseman Alex Buchholz launched his first homer with the Express on a 1-1 pitch from Reno starter Chase Anderson over the left field wall for a solo shot, giving the E-Train a 2-0 advantage.
The long ball padded Round Rock's lead in the sixth when right fielder Jim Adduci left the yard for the fifth time on the season, a two-run shot onto the centerfield shed to push the score to 4-0.
Four runs would be all Round Rock needed as Express relievers combined to keep the shutout intact, tossing 5.1 scoreless innings. Mavare picked up the win one night after surrendering two runs in the top of the 10th with 3.1 hitless innings. Yoshinori Tateyama earned the save, striking out left fielder Taylor Harbin with the bases loaded to end the game and give the E-Train its third shutout victory of the season. Anderson suffered his fifth loss of the year, dropping to 3-5 after allowing four runs over 7.0 innings of work.
The Express continues its homestand with game two of a four-game set against the Reno Aces Tuesday night at Dell Diamond. Round Rock will send southpaw Martin Perez (0-1, 7.20 ERA) to face Reno's Charles Brewer (2-3, 4.30 ERA). The E-Train will don its 1959 Austin Senators jerseys for Turn Back Tuesday while all tickets will be half price. For more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook and Twitter!
• Discuss this story on the Pacific Coast League message board...
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 20, 2013
- Express Blanks Aces 4-0 in Series Opener - Round Rock Express
- Sounds Lose Series Opener in Tacoma, 5-2 - Nashville Sounds
- Chasers Pound Padres Relievers in 11-8 Win - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Aces Blanked by Round Rock, 4-0 - Reno Aces
- Big Omaha Bats Down Padres - Tucson Padres
- Iowa Cubs and Las Vegas 51s Rained Out - Iowa Cubs
- RHP Josh Lindblom Gets Call-Up, RHP Nick McBride Jumps to Round Rock - Round Rock Express
- RedHawks Game Notes: May 20, 2013 - Oklahoma City Comets
- Federowicz Rejoins Isotopes - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Storm Chasers - Game Notes - May 20, 2013 - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Bees to Hold Prevention Dimensions Day on May 21 - Salt Lake Bees
- Bees Ranked in Top 25 in 2012 MiLB Merchandise Sales - Salt Lake Bees
- Billings Named PCL Pitcher of the Week - Sacramento River Cats
- Pacific Coast League Names Players of the Week - PCL1
- Juan Perez Named PCL Player of the Week - Fresno Grizzlies
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
