Express Rally Past Redbirds 7-5
April 28, 2018 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
MEMPHIS, Tennessee - The Round Rock Express (9-14) earned their first series victory at AutoZone Park since early 2016 after scoring six unanswered runs in the final five innings of play to rally past the Memphis Redbirds (16-7) by a final score of 7-5.
Express RHP Adrian Sampson (1-2, 7.40) earned his first victory of the season following 1.2 scoreless innings of relief. Redbirds reliever RHP Arturo Reyes (1-2, 8.38) suffered the loss after giving up three unearned runs on three hits in an inning. Round Rock RHP R.J. Alvarez earned his fourth save of the year and his second in as many games with a shutout ninth inning.
Memphis scored the first run of the game in the second as RF Adolis Garcia worked a one-out walk before advancing to second on a Yohander Mendez balk and scoring on an ensuing Wilfredo Tovar double. Round Rock answered in the top of the fourth as RF Scott Heineman blasted his first career Triple-A home run, a towering shot to left-center field that leveled the game at 1-1.
However, the Redbirds responded with a big inning. 3B Patrick Wisdom opened the bottom of the fourth with a leadoff home run. Following an Alex Mejia walk, Tovar went deep to extend the Redbirds' lead to 4-1. Mendez then walked CF Oscar Mercado and 2B Max Schrock in consecutive order to end his evening. The lefty surrendered five runs on five hits and six walks while striking out one in 3.1 innings.
Sampson then entered in relief, walking DH Luke Voit and LF Rangel Ravelo to force in another run. The righty then enticed C Carson Kelly to ground into an inning-ending double play to limit the damage.
Round Rock began their comeback in the top of the fifth inning. SS Hanser Alberto, 2B Christian Lopes, CF Jose Cardona and Heineman teamed up for four straight singles, driving in two runs in the process.
An inning later, the E-Train mounted a two-out rally, sparked by a Tovar error that allowed 3B Andy Ibanez to reach base safely. After a Tony Sanchez single, Alberto tripled home a pair of runs to tie the game. Lopes followed up with an RBI single that gave the Express their first lead of the night.
Round Rock added one last insurance run in the seventh thanks to another Memphis error. Heineman jumped aboard via a miscue by Schrock then proceeded to steal both second and third base. Hood later poked a sacrifice fly to deep right field, allowing Heineman to tag and score, extending the lead to 7-5. Heineman finished the game a triple short of the cycle.
Sampson, RHP Reed Garrett, RHP Matt Bush and Alvarez teamed up to allow just three hits in 4.2 shutout innings of relief to preserve the series-clinching victory.
Round Rock will look for one final win in Memphis in Sunday afternoon's series finale. Redbirds LHP Austin Gomber (2-0, 2.45) is set to face an Express pitcher yet to be announced. First pitch at AutoZone Park is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.
For more information on the Express, visit RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter!
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