PCL1 Round Rock Express

Express Smashes Redbirds in Series Finale

June 21, 2013 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Round Rock Express (43-33) owned the second half of Friday night's game, scoring 13 runs over the final four frames to knock off the Memphis Redbirds (36-40) at Dell Diamond.

Pitching dominated the first half of the game as each starter was stingy. Memphis right-hander Boone Whiting held the E-Train scoreless through the first four frames, allowing just three hits and only two runners into scoring position. Express starter Brad Mills was also stifling, allowing only one run on two hits through the first five innings.

The Redbirds got to the scoreboard first for the third consecutive night. Left fielder Jamie Romak doubled to lead off the third and later scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of second baseman Ryan Jackson.

Trailing 1-0, the Express offense exploded in the fifth, plating seven runs on seven hits. The first three batters to come to the plate singled, loading the bases with no outs off Boone. Shortstop Leury Garcia singled on a ground ball to first which brought left fielder Aaron Cunningham across the plate for the first Round Rock run, tying the game at one. Center fielder Engel Beltre followed with a RBI single to center to push the second run in and give the E-Train a 2-1 lead. After a strikeout, second baseman Yangervis Solarte singled in two more to bump the advantage to 4-1.

That would be all for Boone as the right-hander was lifted after 4.1 innings of work, leaving two runners on with just one out. Memphis called on Eric Fornataro out of the bullpen, but the right-hander was roughed up by the first batter he faced when third baseman Mike Olt blasted his eighth home run of the season onto the Home Run Porch for a three-run shot. After the fifth finally came to a close, the Express had opened up a six-run lead on the Redbirds.

Memphis got one run back in the top of the sixth when center fielder Oscar Taveras doubled in right fielder Adron Chambers to cut the Express lead to five at 7-2.

Round Rock's offense was at it again in the bottom of the sixth, plating three more runs off Fonataro. After the E-Train loaded the bases with two outs, Solarte cleared them with a double down the left field line as the Express took a 10-2 lead and the second baseman collected his fifth RBI of the night.

Mills exited after 7.0 innings on the mound, allowing two runs on four hits with five strikeouts for his third straight quality start.

The bats never cooled off, putting three more runs on the board before the night's end. First baseman Chris McGuiness and right fielder Joey Butler knocked in three with a pair of RBI singles to bolster the lead to 13-2 entering the ninth.

Right-hander Ben Rowen made his Express debut, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings in relief and adding three strikeouts to finish off the game. Mills earned his seventh win, improving to 7-1 while Boone suffered the loss, falling to 4-3.

The Express hits the road for four games in Albuquerque before returning home to Dell Diamond on Thursday, June 27 to open a four-game series with the New Orleans Zephyrs. Right-hander Jake Brigham will take the mound for the Express in tomorrow night's series opener against the Isotopes while Albuquerque will send RHP Red Patterson (4-1, 4.29 ERA) to the bump. For more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook and Twitter!

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 21, 2013


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