Express Crank out 8-2 Victory
July 31, 2014 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
ROUND ROCK, Texas - After dropping the first two games of the homestand, the Round Rock Express (57-54) got back on the winning track Thursday, defeating the Oklahoma City RedHawks (56-58) 8-2 at Dell Diamond.
The Express pounded out a series-high 13 hits Thursday, getting multi-hit performances from four players. SS Luis Sardinas and C Brett Nicholas led the way as each finished with three hits in the game with Sardinas falling a home run short of the cycle. 2B Brent Lillibridge also had a nice night at the plate, recording a double, a triple and two runs.
The RedHawks took to a 2-0 lead in the first off Express starter LHP Edwar Cabrera. SS Jonathan Villar and 2B Joe Sclafani led off the game with back-to-back base hits before being sacrificed into scoring position by CF Ronald Torreyes. After a walk issued to 1B Matt Duffy loaded the bases, RF Domingo Santana roped a two-run double into the left-center field gap to stake his club a two-run advantage. Cabrera was able to wriggle out of the tough spot, however, inducing an unconventional 3-5-2 double play to escape the inning.
The E-Train roared back with four runs in the second to overtake the RedHawks 4-2. 1B Carlos Pena got the inning started with a bang, lining his fourth homer of the season over the wall in left to get the Express on the board. Later in the frame, with runners on second and third, 3B Josh Wilson tied the game with a sacrifice fly to left. Sardinas followed with a RBI double, then scored on a base knock by RF Michael Choice to turn Round Rock's two-run deficit into a two-run advantage.
Round Rock added to that advantage with two more runs in the fourth to make it a 6-2 game. DH Tomas Telis took one for the team to lead off the inning then moved to second on a Nicholas single. After a fielder's choice put runners on the corners, Wilson delivered his second sacrifice fly of the game, lofting a ball to center to plate Telis from third. Sardinas followed with a run-scoring single to double the Express lead.
The Express tacked on final runs in the seventh and eighth innings to bring the final score to 8-2. Sardinas led off the seventh with a triple and later scored on a RBI fielder's choice by LF Ryan Rua. In the eighth, Nicholas singled with one out in the inning then came across to score when Lillibridge cranked a triple to right.
The E-Train's Cabrera (1-1) settled in for Round Rock after a shaky first inning to pick up his first win in an Express uniform in his Dell Diamond debut. The left-hander allowed two runs on eight hits over six innings, while striking out four and walking one.
Round Rock will conclude their regular season series with the RedHawks Friday night at Dell Diamond. The pitching matchup is slated to feature the E-Train's RHP Luke Jackson (1-0, 7.29 ERA) and Oklahoma City's LHP Rudy Owens (5-5, 4.93 ERA). Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. Festivities for the first annual Express Alumni Weekend will begin pre-game, while another fantastic Bud Light Friday Fireworks show will fill the Central Texas sky following the contest.
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