PCL1 Round Rock Express

Express Blows Multiple Leads in 10-9 Loss

Published on June 25, 2013 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The Albuquerque Isotopes (43-36) rallied multiple times Monday night to knock off the Round Rock Express (45-34) 10-9 with a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth.

After holding four different leads, including a three-run advantage in the seventh, the Express dropped game three of a four-game series to the "˜Topes on a walk-off walk.

The offense sparked in the top of the first behind center fielder Leury Garcia's leadoff double. Left fielder Aaron Cunningham followed two batters later with a RBI triple for the game's first run. Shortstop Yangervis Solarte kept the scoring spree moving with a RBI single that allowed Cunningham to cross the plate as the Express gave starter Scott Richmond a 2-0 cushion before he stepped on the mound.

Albuquerque used patience to set up its offense in the bottom half of the first frame. Shortstop Dee Gordon and center fielder Matt Kemp drew two consecutive walks off Richmond to start the inning. After moving into scoring position two batters later, designated hitter Chili Buss knocked both runners in with a RBI triple of his own, knotting the score at two.

Round Rock was back on the scoreboard in the second, plating a run on catcher Jose Felix's RBI double, his first extra-base hit of the season.

The lead was short-lived again when Albuquerque second baseman Elevys Gonzalez took Richmond's 2-0 offering in the second over the right-center field wall for a solo shot, tying the score at three.

In the third, the Express used Solarte's one-out walk and third baseman Mike Olt's double to set the table. With runners on second and third, right fielder Joey Butler knocked in the go ahead run with a sacrifice fly, but the big blow of the inning was designated hitter Mike Bianucci's two-run blast that gave the E-Train a three-run lead.

The Isotopes battled back yet again, plating two runs in the bottom of the inning to cut the E-Train's lead to just one. A RBI triple off the bat of right fielder Alex Castellanos and a RBI ground out by Buss trimmed the Round Rock edge to 6-5.

Buss was once again in the middle of the action in the fifth, tying the game at six apiece with his 11th home run of the season.

The E-Train broke the tie again in the sixth after putting runners on first and third with one out. Garcia grounded into a fielder's choice that allowed first baseman Jim Adduci to score from third, making the score 7-6. The Express offense wasn't done, loading the bases with two outs for Solarte who knocked in another run on a RBI single. Round Rock tacked on the third and final run of the inning when Olt worked a bases loaded walk to give the E-Train a three-run cushion.

Leading 9-6, Richmond exited after 6.0 innings, allowing six runs on five hits before giving way to the bullpen with a three-run edge.

The Express relievers were unable to hold the lead as southpaw Nate Robertson allowed three runs in the bottom of the seventh to knot the game at nine apiece. A two-run triple by Buss was the big blow although Robertson also allowed a RBI single to third baseman Justin Sellers which tied the game.

After each side went scoreless in the eighth, the Express was unable to generate one of its signature explosions in the top of the ninth.

In the bottom half of the final frame, Robertson allowed runners to reach first and second with one out. Manager Bobby Jones had seen enough, calling on right-hander Ryan Rodebaugh out of the bullpen. Rodebaugh walked the first batter he faced to load the bases. After working a 3-2 count on catcher John Baker, Rodebaugh issued the game-ending walk which forced Castellanos across the plate for the game-winning run.

Robertson suffered the loss, dropping to 2-3 after being tagged with four runs in 2.1 innings of relief.

The Express concludes a four-game set with Albuquerque Tuesday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. Southpaw Ryan Feierabend (4-2, 4.18 ERA) will be handed the ball for Round Rock. For more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook and Twitter!




Pacific Coast League Stories from June 25, 2013


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