Express Edge Iowa 3-1
Published on June 26, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
DES MOINES, Iowa - Chad Bell struck out seven over five and two-thirds innings in his Triple-A debut as the Round Rock Express defeated the Iowa Cubs 3-1 in Tuesday afternoon's Pacific Coast League series finale at Principal Park. The Express (36-43) won three of four in the series, claiming their third road series win of the season, and also claimed the season series with a 9-7 record against the Cubs (33-46).
Bell (1-0) allowed one run on five hits and four walks. Iowa loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth on a Juan Apodaca double and two walks. Bell gave way to Johan Yan, who preserved the 3-1 Express lead by inducing a Matt Tolbert inning-ending groundout. Yan stranded only two of five inherited runners in his first eight appearances with the Express before getting Round Rock out of the bases-loaded jam Tuesday.
Yan worked a perfect seventh, and Yoshinori Tateyama worked around a two-out Apodaca double for a scoreless eighth. Aaron Heilman allowed only a two-out Brett Jackson single in a scoreless ninth for his fifth save.
Iowa starter Frankie De La Cruz (1-3) was collared with the loss; he allowed all three runs on five hits and five walks over five innings and did not record a strikeout.
Round Rock plated all three runs in the top of the fourth. After Blake Lalli's two-out RBI broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third, the Express sent seven men to the plate in the game-deciding fourth. Matt Kata tied the game with an RBI single. Mike Bianucci, who reached on a one-out single ahead of Kata, scored the winning run on a wild pitch. Yangervis Solarte plated Kata with an RBI single.
Bianucci was 2-for-4, his fourth consecutive two-hit game. He is 17-for-40 (.425) over his last 11 games with six multiple-hit outings. Solarte also was 2-for-4, while Guilder Rodriguez and Luis Martinez added singles. Kata also walked; it was his first since May 13, ending a stretch of 27 games and 110 plate appearances.
Apodaca (2-for-4) had the lone multiple-hit game for the Cubs. Brett Jackson (1-for-5) finished the season series 19-for-67 (.284) with five homers and nine RBI in 16 games, but he also struck out 31 times, including a hat trick Tuesday.
Round Rock returns home Wednesday, beginning a seven-game home stand with the opener of a three-game series against the Nashville Sounds (Milwaukee Brewers). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT at The Dell Diamond. Southpaw Derek Holland (0-0, 0.00 ERA) is scheduled to make a 50-pitch rehab start for the Express. Right-hander Wily Peralta (2-8, 5.96 ERA) is listed as the Sounds starter.
TRANSACTIONS: The Texas Rangers recalled left-handed pitcher Martin Perez, scratching him from his scheduled Tuesday start. The Rangers also placed right-hander Colby Lewis on the 15-day disabled list.
Pacific Coast League Stories from June 26, 2012
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- Sounds Lose Finale in Albuquerque, 7-3 - Nashville Sounds
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- Offense Absent in I-Cubs Loss - Iowa Cubs
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- River Cats Homestand Highlights - Sacramento River Cats
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- Omaha Storm Chasers Home for Seven Games from June 27-July 3 - Omaha Storm Chasers
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