PCL1 Round Rock Express

Field Goes Deep Again, Express Take Second Straight

Published on April 16, 2015 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - A frigid night in Colorado Springs saw the Round Rock Express top the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, 9-4. The crisp Colorado air kept both teams on ice to start, but the Express turned up the heat with another effective fourth inning as they improved to 3-4 on the young season.

Starting pitcher Luke Jackson was able to stymie Sky Sox hitters in the early innings, but saw his pitch count inflate and his control fade in a hurry during the third inning. Jackson found himself in a bind with the bases loaded for Colorado Springs 1B Matt Clark with two outs. The right hander found his composure after a mound visit from pitching coach Brad Holman and struck out Clark for the third out. Jackson finished the game with 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB and 4 K over 3.2 IP. His record in now 0-1 with a 5.87 ERA. His competitor, Sky Sox RHP John Ely, had a similar outing to Jackson's with 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB and 4 K.

Express catcher Tomas Telis crafted the first E-Train hit of the game with a single off of Ely in the first inning with one out, but was left on base after Ely sent LF Alex Hassan and CF Jared Hoying back to the Round Rock dugout. Telis found his way on base again in the fourth inning and cracked the scoring stalemate. DH Kyle Blanks stepped into the box and smashed a one-run double to left field, bringing Telis home and giving the Express a 1-0 lead. LF Alex Hassan added to the score on an Ed Lucas ground out before 1B Chris Gimenez grounded out to end the inning. Round Rock claimed the lead in the fourth inning for the second night in a row, producing a 2-0 advantage.

Jackson picked up the first two outs of the fourth inning before RHP Ryan Rodebaugh was brought in for his second relief appearance of the season. Rodebaugh got Colorado Springs 2B Pete Orr to fly out to center field to close the inning, but he struggled in the fifth. Sky Sox RF Shane Peterson got a hold of a pitch on a 1-1 count and hit a two-run homer to right field to tie the game. Rodebaugh was able to strike out Clark for the second out of the inning before giving up back-to-back singles to RF Bryan Petersen and CF Ben Guez. Another effective visit from Holman gave Rodebaugh the poise to ground out SS Luis Sardinas and end the inning.

Round Rock answered the Sky Sox hitting in the top of the sixth inning as Telis, Hassan and Hoying hit back-to-back-to-back singles off of Sky Sox reliever Chris Leroux with no outs. Hoying brought in Telis to score with a single and moved Hassan to third, making the score 3-2. Hoying went on to steal second base before Blanks grounded out for the first out. Ed Lucas continued his hitting streak with a clutch single that brought both Hassan and Hoying home, giving the E-Train a 5-2 advantage. Lucas has recorded a hit in seven consecutive games.

Lefty Alex Claudio was the next member out of the Express bullpen to replace Rodebaugh and was immediately in a tough spot, giving up a lead-off triple to C Juan Centeno. Orr then grounded out to score Centeno, cutting the Round Rock lead to 5-3. Claudio then gave up his second triple of the night to 1B Matt Long with one out. Claudio put a stop to the Colorado Spring charge with back-to-back strikeouts to exit the sixth inning.

Express SS Thomas Field, a one-time Sky Sox infielder, sent a message to his former team with his second home run of the year, a solo-shot to center field that stretched the score to 6-3. Field possesses both Express home runs for 2015 and finished the night 2-for-4.

The Express concocted its second three-run inning of the night in the top of the eighth. Blanks and Lucas both drew walks and Gimenenz hit a RBI single to bring in Blanks from second and move Lucas to third. 3B Trever Adams then singled to score Lucas and Field followed with a double to bring in Gimenez. The Express finished the inning with three runs, three hits, two men left on base and a 9-3 advantage.

Claudio pitched into the eighth inning and threw a remarkable last inning of relief. Claudio struck out the first two batters he faced and grounded out the third for a 1, 2, 3 inning.

Lefty Juan Perez came in for Claudio to finish the game in the ninth and instantly gave up a double to Peterson that gave Colorado Springs a pulse. With one out, Perez gave up a single and threw a wild pitch before recording a pop up and earning the third out to seal Round Rock's victory, 9-4.

Game four of the series will be postponed due to weather. The game will be rescheduled as part of a double-header on Sunday, May 17th. The games will both be seven inning contests with the first game starting at 1:35 PM and the second game to follow 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.

The Express return to Dell Diamond Thursday to open the 2015 home schedule against the Memphis Redbirds. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. 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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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 16, 2015


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