PCL1 Round Rock Express

Express Closes out Redbirds 7-4 in Series Finale

Published on July 29, 2013 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Round Rock Express (62-48) took advantage of several miscues en route to a 7-4 win over the Memphis Redbirds (52-58) in the series finale Monday night at Dell Diamond.

A pair of errors led to a three-run sixth while the Express bullpen worked its way out of a bases loaded jam in the ninth to secure a series victory over Memphis.

The Redbirds struck first when center fielder Adron Chambers smoked the first pitch he saw off Express starter Scott Richmond into left-center field for a leadoff triple. Second baseman Kolten Wong brought Chambers across the plate with a sacrifice fly to give Memphis the early lead.

Round Rock struck back two innings later with a pair of runs to take the lead. After the first two batters were retired, shortstop Leury Garcia sparked the two-out rally with a bunt single and was followed by another knock off the bat of first baseman Jim Adduci. With runners on first and third, second baseman Yangervis Solarte drew a walk to load the bases for designated hitter Manny Ramirez. After working the count full, Ramirez ripped a single up the middle that scored two to put the Express in front 2-1.

Richmond set down the Redbirds after the rocky first, blanking Memphis for three straight innings before surrendering two more runs. The right-hander recorded the first two outs after a nicely turned 3-6-1 double play but Memphis put together a two-out scoring spree of its own. Catcher Audry Perez singled to prolong the inning and was followed with a two-run blast off the bat of Chambers as the Redbirds regained the lead.

The Express offense capitalized on Memphis' mistakes in the sixth, plating three runs after the Redbirds defense committed two errors. What seemed to be a pair of hits by Solarte and Ramirez to start the inning turned into a run after Chambers mishandled the second single in center field. On the error, Solarte rounded third and crossed the plate just ahead of Perez's tag to tie the game at three. Center fielder Joey Butler followed with a tapper back to the mound that McGregor bobbled and then threw into the first row down the first base line, allowing Ramirez to cross the plate on the second error of the inning. With Butler on second after the miscue, catcher Robinson Chirinos sacrificed him to third for the first out of the inning. With third baseman Mike Bianucci at the plate, Memphis starter Scott McGregor uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Butler to cross the plate for the third and final run.

The Express added a pair of scores over the final two innings of offense, using a RBI ground out by Solarte in the seventh and a run-scoring single from left fielder Chris McGuiness in the eighth to push the lead to four at 7-3 entering the final inning.

Richmond returned for the ninth, but allowed a pair of singles to the first two batters before being lifted for right-hander Justin Miller out of the E-Train bullpen. After an error on Garcia loaded the bases for the Redbirds, Adduci made a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch for the first out. Miller exited the game, giving way to southpaw Joseph Ortiz who forced a fielder's choice which gave Memphis its fourth run before eventually closing out the game with a ground out.

Richmond picked up his fourth win, evening his season record at 4-4 while McGregor (4-7) suffered his seventh loss of the year.

The Express opens an eight-game road trip Tuesday night in Fresno, taking on the Grizzlies at 9:05 p.m. CST. Round Rock will send right-hander Jake Brigham (4-2, 3.93 ERA) to the mound to face Fresno's Mike Kickham (3-7, 5.29 ERA). The E-Train will face the Grizzlies for four games before traveling to Sacramento for a four-game set August 3-6. For more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook and Twitter!

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 29, 2013


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