PCL1 Round Rock Express

Express Drop Finale at Colorado Springs, 10-6

Published on May 18, 2010 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Michael McKenry's pinch-hit, bases-loaded RBI single with one out in the bottom of the ninth gave the Colorado Springs Sky Sox an 11-10 victory over the Round Rock Express in Tuesday night's series finale at Security Services Field. It was the 10th one-run loss this season for the Express (17-22) and their eighth loss in the opponent's final at bat. Still, Round Rock split the series with the Sky Sox (20-18) two games apiece and finished their third road trip of the season 5-3.

Earlier in the evening, the Express concluded a 12-9 victory over the Sky Sox in the completion of Monday night's suspended game. The game resumed with Round Rock leading 9-8 with runners at first and second and one out in the top of the eighth. Upon resumption of play, Chris Johnson drilled a three-run homer to give the Express a four-run cushion. Colorado Springs scored an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth but could get no closer.

Jonah Bayliss (1-1) earned the win for the Express in the conclusion of the suspended game, while Matt Reynolds (0-1) took the loss. Five different Round Rock batters tallied two hits, led by Drew Locke who homered twice and had four RBI.

In the night cap, Round Rock scored three runs in the top of the ninth to tie the score but missed an opportunity to take the lead. Matt Kata led off with a double, and Jason Castro followed with an RBI single. After Andrew Locke's single, a wild pitch put Castro and Locke in scoring position. Yordany Ramirez then doubled into the left-field corner, scoring both runners and tying the game at 10-10. However, pinch hitter Brian Bogusevic struck out, and Jason Bourgeois lined into a double play to end the threat.

Colorado Springs answered in the bottom of the inning. After striking out Travis Metcalf to start the inning, Express reliever T.J. Burton gave up consecutive singles to Chris Frey and Jonathan Herrera. With runners on the corners and one out, Burton intentionally walked Cole Garner to setup a force play at home. McKenry lined the first pitch he saw into left, scoring Frey with the winning run.

Burton (0-1), who entered the game to start the ninth, took the loss for the Express; although, his outing was hardly the shakiest of the night for either team. The two staffs combined for 16 walks with each side tallying eight. Express starter Wesley Wright lasted only 3.0 innings and surrendered six runs on five hits and five walks. Evan Englebrook yielded three runs on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts over 3.0 innings, and Bayliss allowed one run on three hits with a strikeout in 2.0 innings.

Juan Rincon (2-1) blew a save by allowing all three runs in the top of the ninth after retiring the side in order with two strikeouts in the eighth; he was granted the win thanks to the Sky Sox rally in the bottom of the ninth.

Colorado Springs starter Kurt Birkins was chased from the game with two outs in the fourth after allowing four runs on four hits and four walks with two strikeouts. Damian Moss was touched for a pair of unearned runs on one hit but walked four with two strikeouts over 2.0 innings. Reynolds, who himself blew a save, had arguably the best line of the night, allowing one unearned run on two hits and no walks with one strikeout over 1.1 innings.

Kata finished 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored; he extended his hitting streak to seven games with his sixth multiple-hit game in that time. Bourgeois was 1-for-5 with two runs scored and extended his hitting streak to eight games, the second-longest streak by an Express player this year. Ramirez added two hits and four RBI, while four different Express players scored twice.

Garner led the Sky Sox offensive attack, going 4-for-4 with two walks and three runs scored. Chris Iannetta was 2-for-4 with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored.

After Round Rock scored a run on Chris Johnson's RBI double in the top of the first, the Sky Sox got two runs on one hit, two walks, a sacrifice fly and a wild pitch in the bottom of the inning. Colorado Springs added four runs in the third to push its lead to 6-1.

The Express chipped away at the deficit with a three-run third and tied the game with two runs in the sixth; Kata had the game-tying hit with an RBI single to left-center. However, the Sky Sox quickly answered in the bottom of the inning. A single and a walk set the stage for Iannetta's three-run homer.

Round Rock scored an unearned run in the seventh, and the Sky Sox pushed its lead back to three runs with Brad Eldred's leadoff homer in the eighth.

Wednesday is an off day in the Pacific Coast League. Round Rock returns home to start its third home stand of the season Thursday, opening a four-game series against the Reno Aces. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at The Dell Diamond. Right-hander Josh Banks (3-3, 2.94 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Express, while right-hander Matt Torra (2-1, 2.83 ERA) is slated to start for the Aces.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 18, 2010


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