PCL1 Round Rock Express

Express Top First-Place Redbirds 5-4

Published on April 27, 2018 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


MEMPHIS, Tennessee - Round Rock Express (8-14) C Cameron Rupp launched a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning to break a 4-4 deadlock and give the E-Train a 5-4 victory over the Memphis Redbirds (16-6) on Friday night at AutoZone Park.

Express RHP Deolis Guerra (2-0, 5.23) earned his second win of the year after allowing just one run on three hits and a walk in 2.0 innings of relief. Rehabbing St. Louis Cardinals LHP Ryan Sherriff (0-1, 9.00) suffered the loss after giving up Rupp's go-ahead homer in the seventh. Round Rock starter LHP David Hurlbut surrendered three runs on five hits and a pair of walks while striking out three in 4.0 innings.

The Express jumped out to a 4-0 lead through the first five innings of play. In the second, SS Christian Lopes and Rupp teamed up for back-to-back one-out doubles before 3B Nick Noonan worked a walk to load the bases. A two-out fielding error by Redbirds 2B Yairo Munoz on a line drive off the bat of 2B Hanser Alberto allowed a pair of runs to score to give the Express an early edge.

An inning later, RF Scott Heineman and CF Willie Calhoun led off the frame with consecutive singles. A Tommy Joseph ground ball double play eliminated Calhoun at second but allowed Heineman to score Round Rock's third run of the evening. Heineman continued his hot hitting in the fifth with a leadoff double. A Calhoun groundout moved Heineman to third before a Joseph RBI single padded the E-Train lead to 4-0.

However, the Redbirds stormed back in the bottom of the frame. SS Wilfredo Tovar singled to open the inning, then Hurlbut hit LF Randy Arozarena with a pitch. The mistake proved to be costly as CF Oscar Mercado went deep in the next at-bat, trimming the gap to 4-3. With Guerra on in relief, C Carson Kelly blasted a solo home run that leveled the game at 4-4.

In the seventh, Rupp lined a two-out, go-ahead solo home run over the wall in right field to put the E-Train back up 5-4. Express relievers RHP Connor Sadzeck, RHP Nick Gardewine and RHP R.J. Alvarez turned in three perfect innings of relief to preserve the narrow victory.

Round Rock LHP Yohander Mendez (0-3, 5.75) is scheduled to face Memphis LHP Austin Gomber (2-0, 2.45) in game four on Saturday evening. First pitch at AutoZone Park is scheduled for 6:35 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!

Check out the Round Rock Express Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Pacific Coast League Stories from April 27, 2018


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.

OurSports Central