PCL1 Round Rock Express

Express Struggles Continue After 9-0 Loss to Storm Chasers

Published on August 10, 2018 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK, Texas - Rehabbing Texas Rangers RF Nomar Mazara went 1-2 with a strikeout and a single while suiting up for the Round Rock Express (52-64) in an 8-0 defeat courtesy of the Omaha Storm Chasers (52-63) on Thursday night at Dell Diamond. Mazara, who is working his way back from a thumb injury suffered on July 14, batted third and manned right field through 5.0 frames, but didn't see any action defensively.

Express starter RHP Chris Tillman (0-1, 7.71) took the loss in his first appearance with Round Rock after allowing two runs, both earned, over 2.1 innings. Tillman, who signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers on August 2, picked up a strikeout while walking four and surrendering a pair of hits. The 2013 MLB All-Star pumped out a total of 50 pitches, throwing 24 of them for strikes.

Earning the win was Storm Chasers starter LHP Jonathan Dziedzic (6-8, 3.58), who shutout the E-Train through 6.0 frames. The southpaw allowed just eight batters to reach base on five hits, a walk and an error.

After Tillman held Omaha scoreless through the first two innings of play, the visitors rallied to put up a five-spot in the third as they jumped out to a 5-0 lead. Tillman issued a pair of one-out walks to Omaha 3B Ramon Torres and LF Paulo Orlando before Round Rock RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx entered the game out of the bullpen and proceed to dish out free passes to the next two batters, walking in the first run of the night. With the bases loaded, Storm Chasers RF Elier Hernandez lofted a sac fly to left prior to an RBI single by CF Donnie Dewees. A base hit from 1B Humberto Arteaga and a two-run double off the bat of 2B Jack Lopez punctuated the surge.

Bibens-Dirkx would settle down after coughing up three earned runs in the third, keeping Omaha off the board in the fourth and fifth while racking up five punchouts. However, the Storm Chasers offense would return to tack on three additional runs to their total in the sixth and seventh.

Torres got things started in the sixth when he smacked a solo homer to left on a 2-0 offering from Round Rock reliever LHP James Jones. In the seventh, Hernandez and Dewees started the side with back-to-back singles. Following a wild pitch that advanced both runners up a base, the Lopez-Lopez duo of Jack and Nicky brought a couple more runs in on a sacrifice fly and an RBI single.

Omaha notched one last insurance run in the top of the ninth when Jack Lopez recorded an RBI single off E-Train reliever LHP Brady Feigl. On the night, Feigl hurled 2.0 innings and permitted one run on four hits.

Game two of the four-game set will take place on Friday night at Dell Diamond. Express RHP Chris Rowley (0-2, 8.38) is slated to start on the mound opposite Omaha RHP Arnaldo Hernandez (2-1, 5.33). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 10, 2018


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