Express Storm Back to Top Sky Sox
Published on June 9, 2017 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado - The Round Rock Express (30-31) stared down a 6-0 deficit in the second inning, storming back to defeat the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (33-24) by a final score of 14-10 in Thursday night's series finale. Round Rock used a pair of six-run innings to pick up the series win.
E-Train reliver LHP Adam Loewen (2-0, 2.70) picked up the win by virtue of tossing a scoreless seventh inning of relief. Sky Sox reliever RHP Tyler Cravy (4-2, 5.26) suffered the loss after a disastrous performance in which he allowed six runs on three hits and four walks while recording just two outs.
The wild Round Rock comeback saved starter RHP Tyler Wagner, who gave up nine runs on 11 hits and two walks in just 3.1 innings of work. Closer RHP Preston Claiborne earned his team-leading 10th save of the season after working out of a bases-loaded mess in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The game began with early fireworks as the Sky Sox plated six runs in the bottom of the first inning before the Express responded with a six-spot of their own in the very next frame. First up, Colorado Springs LF Kyle Wren and 2B Nate Orf collected back-to-back singles to open the first inning. CF Lewis Brinson walked to load the bases, then a 1B Garrett Cooper single put the Sky Sox on the board. In the next at-bat, Wagner skipped a wild pitch past C Brett Nicholas, allowing Orf to race home from third.
The inning continued as RF Ryan Cordell and DH Kirk Nieuwenhuis recorded base hits, driving in two more runs in the process. Wagner recovered to record a pair of outs, however two singles courtesy of C Andrew Susac and Wren pushed the fifth and sixth runs of the inning across.
Round Rock's impressive comeback began with a Nicholas double followed by a Peter O'Brien home run, his first of the season as a member of the Express. SS Jason Martinson then doubled and was driven home on a Preston Beck single. CF Drew Stubbs put runners on the corners with a single before 2B Drew Robinson continued his red-hot streak with a two-run triple. The speedy infielder managed to tie the game by sprinting home on a wild pitch during the next at-bat.
The game's frenetic scoring carried over into the third as 3B Gabriel Noriega and Susac teamed up for a couple of doubles, the second of which gave the Sky Sox the lead once again. A Wren single upped his team's advantage to 8-6. Colorado Springs tacked on an insurance run in the fourth thanks to a pair of doubles from Cooper and Nieuwenhuis.
The E-Train inched closer with runs in the fifth and sixth. 3B Will Middlebrooks opened the fifth inning with a double before taking third on an O'Brien groundout. 1B Ronald Guzman drove his fellow infielder home with a single in the next at-bat, trimming the deficit to 9-7. In the next inning, Stubbs singled prior to a Travis Snider double that narrowed the gap even further to 9-8.
Martinson kickstarted the eighth inning with a solo home run to center field that tied the game once again. After picking up a pair of outs, Cravy walked Robinson, Snider and Middlebrooks in consecutive order to load the bases for Nicholas. The catcher delivered with a clutch two-run double, giving Round Rock its first lead of the game at 11-9. O'Brien kept the inning alive with a walk before Guzman cleared the bases with a triple, upping the gap to 14-9.
The Sky Sox attempted to rally in the bottom of the ninth inning. With LHP Wesley Wright on in relief, Susac recorded a two-out double before Wren walked. After an Orf flyout, Brinson grounded into a fielder's choice that eliminated Wren at second but left runners on the corners. Wright then allowed an RBI single to Cooper before being replaced by Claiborne. The closer promptly walked Cordell to load the bases but recovered to entice Nieuwenhuis to ground out to mercifully end the game after over four hours of play.
The Express now head to Oklahoma City for a quick three-game series against the Dodgers. Rehabbing Texas Rangers RHP Tyson Ross (2-0, 5.27) is set to start for Round Rock against Oklahoma City RHP Justin Masterson (3-3, 3.97). First pitch at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark is set for 7:05 p.m.
Single game tickets, season memberships, Flex Plans and Kids Club packages are on sale now. For more information on the Express, visit or call (512) 255-2255.
Pacific Coast League Stories from June 9, 2017
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- Aces Fall 1-0 in Eleven-Inning Battle, Take Series - Reno Aces
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- Fresno defeats Sacramento - Fresno Grizzlies
- Express Storm Back to Top Sky Sox - Round Rock Express
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