PCL1 Round Rock Express

Express Drop Opener To Nashville 9-6

Published on June 5, 2010 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK, Texas - A pop-up double to shallow left-center started a five-run sixth inning and propelled the Nashville Sounds to a 9-6 victory over the Round Rock Express in Saturday night's series opener at The Dell Diamond. The Express (25-31) have lost three consecutive series openers after winning four straight. The Sounds (32-23) have won two straight against Round Rock after the Express won the first three meetings this season.

Jason Bourgeois singled, stole second and later scored on a wild pitch in the fifth inning as the Express pulled to within one run at 3-2. However, the Sounds quickly pulled away with the five-run sixth. Mat Gamel started the inning with a towering pop-up that was lost in the high sky by both Express middle infielders; the ball landed in shallow left-center, and Gamel ended up on second with a double.

That opened the flood gates for the Sounds, who posted four hits in their next five at bats. Erick Almonte followed Gamel with a double, and Brendan Katin ripped a triple to left-center. After Luis Cruz popped out and Johnny Raburn singled, Martin Maldonado capped the inning with a two-run homer.

Nashville tacked on a run in the top of the seventh before Drew Locke's three-run homer pulled Round Rock within four runs at 9-5. In the ninth, Oswaldo Navarro and Brian Bogusevic walked with two outs ahead of Chris Johnson's RBI single. However, the Express could get no closer as Chris Smith retired Matt Kata for the game's final out.

Starter Chase Wright (4-2) earned the victory for the Sounds; he allowed two runs, one earned, on five hits and no walks with four strikeouts over 5.1 innings. Smith notched his Pacific Coast League-leading 16th save of the season.

Express starter Polin Trinidad (3-3) took the loss, allowing eight runs, seven earned, on 11 hits and no walks. He tallied five strikeouts over 5.1 innings.

Nashville broke a scoreless tie with three runs on four hits and an Express error in the top of the third. Maldonado and Wright had back-to-back singles to open the frame. After a sacrifice bunt, Trent Oeltjen lined a two-run single to center. Bourgeois misplayed the liner, resulting in a three-base error as Oeltjen circled the bases on the miscue. Round Rock got one run back in the fourth on Jason Castro's RBI single.

Bourgeois was 1-for-5 on the night, extending his team-best hitting streak to 14 games; he has hit safely in 24 of the last 25 games. Castro was 2-for-4 and has reached safely in 26 consecutive games, the second-longest on-base streak in the PCL this season. Johnson was 3-for-5.

Katin was 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Almonte, Cruz, Raburn and Maldonado all had two-hit games; Katin and Maldonado each scored twice.

Round Rock and Nashville continue the series Sunday with a 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch at The Dell Diamond. Right-hander Sergio Perez (1-0, 3.00 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Express, opposite Sounds' left-hander Chris Waters (4-2, 3.43 ERA).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 5, 2010


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