Express Wins Series Finale over Aces 4-3
May 23, 2013 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
ROUND ROCK, Texas - In the series finale of an eight-game homestand, the Round Rock Express (25-22) earned a series victory over the Reno Aces (18-30) with a 4-3 win Thursday night.
A true pitcher's duel unfolded over the first three innings as the two teams were held to a combined one hit by the starters. The first six batters on each side went down in order until Express starter Scott Richmond allowed a single in the third. He quickly erased that base runner, inducing a double play from the next batter as he faced the minimum nine hitters through the first three frames.
Round Rock put the first run on the board in the bottom of the fourth when first baseman Chris McGuiness singled in center fielder Engel Beltre from second to take a 1-0 lead.
The one-run advantage was short-lived when Reno loaded the bases on Richmond in the top half of the fifth. The Aces then used two sacrifice flies to take a 2-1 lead at the midway point of the game.
Control issues got the best of Reno starter Randall Delgado in the bottom of the fifth as the E-Train loaded the bases for catcher Robinson Chirinos. Delgado plunked Chirinos with the first pitch to tie the score at two apiece and then walked left fielder Aaron Cunningham to force in the second run of the inning as Round Rock took a 3-2 lead into the top of the sixth.
South paw Brad Mills took over for the Express in the sixth inning, making his first bullpen appearance since May 1, 2012 as a member of the Salt Lake Bees (Anaheim Angels).
After a scoreless sixth inning from Mills, designated hitter Joey Butler padded the Express lead with a solo shot to left-center, his second in as many games, to put the E-Train ahead by two at 4-2.
The Aces tried to cut the lead to one in the seventh, but Beltre picked up his second outfield assist of the season when he threw out catcher Ed Easley at the plate trying to score on a fly ball to shallow center.
The newest addition to the Express roster, right-hander Kyle McClellan, entered the game in the top of the eighth in his first action at the Triple-A level this season. McClellan tossed 2.0 scoreless innings in two appearances with Double-A Frisco prior to his transfer to Round Rock.
With runners on first and third, the Aces got one run back in the eighth when third baseman Alex Buchholz committed a throwing error trying to record the third out of the frame at second. The ball sailed into right field, allowing shortstop Chris Owings to cross the plate.
McClellan finished off the Aces in the ninth to nail down the series victory for the E-Train. He also picked up his first save since September 27, 2010 when he was a member of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Richmond (1-0) earned his first win after 5.0 innings of work in which he allowed two runs on three hits. Delgado suffered the loss, dropping his season record to 1-4.
The Express starts an eight-game road trip tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. with game one of four against the Memphis Redbirds. Southpaw Ryan Feierabend (1-0, 4.24 ERA) will take the mound for Round Rock to face Maikel Cleto (1-2, 7.90 ERA). 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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