Express Drop Second Straight To Oklahoma City 4-2
Published on July 10, 2010 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
ROUND ROCK, Texas - Eight Oklahoma City RedHawks had one hit each, and Chad Eppley struck out four in 2.0 innings of relief as the RedHawks clipped the Round Rock Express 4-2 in Pacific Coast League action Friday night at The Dell Diamond. The Express (37-52) are 2-6 in their last eight games, losing the six games by a total of seven runs. The RedHawks (48-38) lead the season series 5-1, winning each of the last five meetings.
Esteban German snapped a 1-1 tie with a one-out, RBI single in the top of the fifth. Craig Gentry later scored on a passed ball to push Oklahoma City's lead to 3-1. Ryan Garko led off the sixth with a solo homer to left, his 10th round-tripper of the season.
Round Rock missed a golden opportunity to rally in the bottom of the sixth. The Express loaded the bases with no outs, but Oklahoma City starter Michael Kirkman retired the next three batters with a pair of strikeouts to escape unscathed. Wladimir Sutil reached on a bunt single with one out in the seventh, stole second and scored on Tommy Everidge's two-out single.
That was as close as the Express would get, though, as Eppley closed the door after the seventh; he retired all six batters he faced for his first save. Kirkman (8-3) earned the victory, allowing one run on six hits and three walks with six strikeouts over 6.0 innings. Zach Phillips surrendered a run on two hits and a walk with one strikeout in an inning of relief.
Express starter Sergio Perez (3-3) took the loss; he yielded three runs, two of which were earned, on four hits and two walks with five strikeouts over 5.0 innings. Yorman Bazardo pitched the final four frames, allowing a run on four hits and a walk with three strikeouts.
Sutil opened the bottom of the first with a single and later scored on a Brian Bogusevic groundout. Round Rock stranded runners on the corners in the first. The RedHawks tied the game in the second; Jarrod Saltalamacchia drew a full-count walk to start the frame and later scored on Hernan Iribarren's two-out single.
Bogusevic, Everidge and Sutil all had two-hit games. It was a team offensive effort for the RedHawks; eight different players had one hit each, four different players scored one run each, and four different players had one RBI each.
Round Rock and Oklahoma City continue the four-game series Saturday with a 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch at The Dell Diamond. Southpaw Andy Van Hekken (5-5, 4.21 ERA) takes the mound for the Express, opposite RedHawks right-hander Omar Beltre (0-5, 2.39 ERA).
Pacific Coast League Stories from July 10, 2010
- Aces Drop Two to Sky Sox, 7-6 and 12-7 - Reno Aces
- Cubs Double Up Zephyrs, 4-2 - Iowa Cubs
- Van Hekken Leads Express Past Oklahoma City, 3-2 - Round Rock Express
- Narron Pitches Sounds by 'Birds - Memphis Redbirds
- Narron, Sounds Shut Down Redbirds, 5-1 - Nashville Sounds
- Seddon Selected to Triple-A All-Star Team - Tacoma Rainiers
- RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets
- Sounds sweep doubleheader - Memphis Redbirds
- Fresno Rallies Past Rainiers - Tacoma Rainiers
- Sounds Complete Doubleheader Sweep Of Redbirds - Nashville Sounds
- River Cats hit four solo home runs in win - Portland Beavers
- Sky Sox Prevail in Nail Biter Over Reno, 9-7 - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Aces lose series opener to Sky Sox - Reno Aces
- Express Drop Second Straight To Oklahoma City 4-2 - Round Rock Express
- Z's and Cubs split double dip - New Orleans Baby Cakes
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
