Express Split Series After 3-2 Victory over Sounds
August 16, 2018 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
NASHVILLE, Tennessee - The Round Rock Express (55-68) forced a series split after beating the Nashville Sounds (66-57) by a 3-2 score on Thursday night at First Tennessee Park. Round Rock 3B Nick Noonan delivered the biggest hit of the night when he broke a 0-0 tie in the seventh inning with a two-run triple.
Express starter RHP Adrian Sampson (6-4, 4.02) came out on top in a pitcher's duel with Sounds RHP Daniel Mengden, tossing 5.2 shutout inning while picking up the win. Sampson allowed eight hits, struck out six and walked one as he lowered his ERA as a starter this season to 3.61. For Nashville, reliver RHP Chris Hatcher (0-1, 9.00) was left with the loss after allowing three runs, only one of them earned, in the seventh.
Following six scoreless innings, Round Rock put an end to the stalemate in the seventh when they jumped out to a 3-0 lead. 1B Hanser Alberto reached on an error to get things rolling with one out. SS Cliff Pennington then singled to put runners on the corners. On a 1-0 pitch from Hatcher, Noonan smoked a drive down the line in right that skipped past Nashville RF B.J. Boyd and ricocheted off the wall into center field.
Alberto jogged home from third to end the shutout while Pennington rounded the bases from first and slid home safely with an additional run. Behind them both, Noonan dove into third base without a throw to record his second three-bagger of the year. Two batters later, CF Drew Robinson plated Noonan on a double off the right-field wall to make it 3-0.
The Sounds offense got on the board for the first time in the eighth as they narrowed the Express advantage to 3-2. After sitting down the first batter of the side on a groundout, Round Rock reliever RHP Connor Sadzeck surrendered back-to-back singles. With one out, Boyd collected Nashville's third consecutive hit on a single to left off E-Train reliever LHP Brady Feigl. Two runs scored on the play as Express LF Scott Heineman misplayed the groundball in the outfield. But as Boyd loomed in scoring position, Feigl hunkered down to retire the next two batters on a pair of flyouts.
In the ninth, Sounds CF Boog Powell was walked by Round Rock reliever RHP Reed Garrett to leadoff the inning. Powell would advance to second on a flyout and then to third on a groundout before Nashville LF Anthony Garcia popped out to third to end the game. Garrett was awarded the save for the second time in as many nights.
The E-Train road trip continues Friday night as Round Rock rolls into Memphis for a three-game set with the Redbirds (74-48) at Autozone Park. Express RHP Tyler Wagner (1-5, 4.87) is slated to start in game one against Memphis RHP Jack Woodford (3-3, 4.17). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT.
• Discuss this story on the Pacific Coast League message board...
Pacific Coast League Stories from August 16, 2018
- Garcia's clutch hit the difference in 4-2 victory - Sacramento River Cats
- Storm Chasers Send Dodgers to 4-3 Defeat - Oklahoma City Comets
- Sounds Fall to Express, Settle for Series Split - Nashville Sounds
- Express Split Series After 3-2 Victory over Sounds - Round Rock Express
- Thomas' Three-Run Home Run Powers Redbirds - Memphis Redbirds
- Birds End Baby Cakes' Streak - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Reno Aces Game Notes vs. Salt Lake - Reno Aces
- Nashville Sounds Game Information: Round Rock Express (54-68) at Nashville Sounds (66-56) - Nashville Sounds
- Sky Sox Fall to Cubs 9-3 in Series Finale - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- I-Cubs Secure Series over Sky Sox - Iowa Cubs
- Redbirds Playoff Tickets on Sale Now - Memphis Redbirds
- OKC Dodgers Game Notes - August 16, 2018 - Oklahoma City Comets
- Game Notes: Memphis Redbirds (74-48) vs New Orleans Baby Cakes (60-61) - Memphis Redbirds
- Gomez hit seals extra-inning win for River Cats - Sacramento River Cats
- Las Vegas avoids sweep despite homers by J.D. Davis and A.J. Reed - Fresno Grizzlies
- Chihuahuas Bite Bees, Take 2 of 3 in Series - Salt Lake Bees
- Chihuahuas Use two-Out Hits to Top Salt Lake - El Paso Chihuahuas
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.
