PCL1 Round Rock Express

Express Headed Back Home Monday

Published on May 7, 2007 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Round Rock fell to the Sounds for the second straight game Monday, marking the end of another 3-5 roadtrip for the Express. Round Rock is now 6-10 away from The Dell Diamond this season.

During its recent push through New Orleans and Nashville, the Express' team batting average on the road dipped more than 15 points to .260 while the team's earned-run average rebounded to 5.02.

Through its last five games, Round Rock is batting just .201, marking the roughest offensive path for the team since the beginning of the season. Over that same stretch, the pitching staff has trimmed a 3.60 ERA and carved out a 2-3 record.

Round Rock returns home to open up a stretch of 16 games in 21 days at The Dell Diamond, a period which will feature four teams - two with American League affiliates and two with National League parent clubs.

Here's a brief look at the Express' last eight games:

May 7: Express One-Hit In Loss

Express starter Chad Reineke looked solid yet again in today's afternoon affair against the Sounds, but his attempt for the complete game was derailed in the eighth as Round Rock fell victim to yet another big inning on the season. Three hits, one error, and five runs later, Reineke earned his third loss on the year as his club fell 7-1 in the series finale. Brooks Conrad's solo home run was the club's only hit.

May 6: Gallardo Baffles Express

Not much has stood in the way of Nashville right-hander Yovani Gallardo this season. The 21-year-old polished off his fourth consecutive win of the season Sunday, fanning nine Express batters on three walks and just one hit over seven shutout innings en route to a 5-2 victory. The 21-year-old has now recorded 51 strikeouts in 37 innings of work. Jared Gothreaux allowed three runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings, suffering his first loss of the season for Round Rock.

May 5: Express Rallies to Win (game 2) It took Round Rock 12 innings over the span of two days to finally get their bats going, but it came just at the right time as the team scored five runs over the final two innings to down Nashville in game three of the series, 5-4. Express starter Philip Barzilla bounced back after his last outing, allowing two runs on six hits over four innings of work and fanning three. The lefty gave up a two spot in the fourth frame on a bases loaded sacrifice bunt and single to outfielder Danny Klassen.

May 5: Express Falls In Continuation (Game 1) Round Rock and Nashville completed the first of two games today, finalizing the postponement from last night's rain delay. The Express entered the game in the bottom of the fifth inning with a 1-0 lead and a Sounds runner on third base. Stephen Randolph, back from a brief stint with the Astros, got his club out of the jam with two swinging strikeouts. The lefty was sharp over his 2 2/3 innings, giving up no hits and fanning three.

May 3: Express Splits Series Two days ago the Express had hit rock bottom through the first month of the season, sitting four games under .500 and last in the division. The winds of change have blew through the clubhouse as of late however, helping Round Rock escape New Orleans with a series split by winning 7-6. Lefty Mark McLemore made the emergency start on the night after Fernando Nieve was scratched. McLemore pitched well over three innings, allowing a solo homer to infielder Wilson Batista in the third.

May 2: Reineke Delivers Gem Round Rock entered tonight's game having matched their longest losing streak of the season and continually snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. In this game against the Zephyrs, however, the Express were not to be denied, winning 5-1. Starter Chad Reineke was the story of the night, turning in by far the most impressive performance of the season by an Express pitcher. The 25-year-old tossed seven shutout innings, allowing just one hit and fanning four. Reineke carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning before he gave up a one out single to Mike DiFilice.

May 1: Hitting Can't Help Express

Brooks Conrad shelled out a career-high three doubles, matching a franchise record. Mark Saccomanno and Barry Wesson each drilled a home run and the rest of the Express contributed eight more hits, but it wasn't enough. Despite all of its heavy hitting Tuesday, Round Rock fell for the fifth straight time, 10-9 at New Orleans. The Express has lost eight of its last 10 games despite a team batting average of .305 and an average of 6.3 runs per game over the stretch.

April 30: Late Inning Heroics Not Enough to Save Express

On Monday night at Zephyrs Field, it seemed as if the Express were ready to snap their losing streak and break out of the month-long funk that has plagued the club.Despite Philip Barzilla getting tagged for six runs in 5 2/3 innings of work, the Express battled back for the first time this season. Never before had the team overcome a deficit after the sixth inning, but they did just that by scoring four in the final three frames to knot the game at 7-7. It turned out, however, to be all for not as Chip Ambres hit an RBI, two-out single in the bottom of the ninth to extend the Round Rock losing streak to four games.

Homestand Preview

Tuesday, May 8 vs. Tacoma (Seattle), 7:05 p.m. - Half-Price Group Night presented by Papa Murphy's Take 'N Bake Pizza, Ben Hur Shrine clowns

Wednesday, May 9 vs. Tacoma, 12:05 p.m. - D.A.R.E. Day presented by A+ Federal Credit Union, Gates open at 9:30 a.m.

Thursday, May 10 vs. Tacoma, 7:05 p.m. - Thirsty Thursday with half-price beer and $1 sodas presented by Firetrol Protection Systems, Union State Back "Skills for Bills" benefiting The Salvation Army

Friday, May 11 vs. Tacoma, 7:05 p.m. - Post-game fireworks presented by Bud Light, Texas Lottery Night

Saturday, May 12 vs. Portland (San Diego), 7:05 p.m. - Camouflage Caps presented by Alcoa Rockdale Operations (first 3,000 fans), AT&T Fan Photo Booth

Sunday, May 13 vs. Portland, 2:05 p.m. - Kid's Day with Sock-Hop inflatables, Kiddie Express train and more presented by H-E-B, Mother's Day roses for all moms

Monday, May 14 vs. Portland, 7:05 p.m. - $1 hotdogs and sodas presented by Mrs. Baird's, Fireworks Plus Plan game (no fireworks)

Tuesday, May 15 vs. Portland, 7:05 p.m. - Half-Price Group Night presented by Papa Murphy's Take 'N Bake Pizza, Boy Scout pre-game parade

*Express Cap Night sponsored by Nyle Maxwell Pontiac GMC has been rescheduled to May 25.

Player Moves

The Express' pitching staff underwent a minor facelift last week, placing starter Fernando Nieve on the disabled list and adding veterans Travis Phelps and Stephen Randolph.

Randolph, who struck out 18 on one walk over five appearances for the Express being called up by Houston late in April, allowed one hit, a home run, on three strikeouts and a walk over two outings with the Astros. The 33-year-old cleared waivers and returned to Round Rock on May 4.

To make room for Randolph on the Express' 24-man roster, Nieve went on the disabled list. The right-hander is 1-3 with a 6.23 earned-run average over five starts with Round Rock. He's fanned 13 and walked 15 over 21 2/3 innings.

Phelps, who was added on April 30, has made three appearances, allowing three runs on six hits, four walks and a strikeout over 3 2/3 innings.

Check out the Round Rock Express Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 7, 2007


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