PCL1 Round Rock Express

Gem by Muecke Equals Sweep for Express

Published on June 30, 2009 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK - Iowa starting pitcher Mitch Atkins took a no-hitter into the seventh inning Tuesday night, and then Round Rock (36-42) took it away, along with a 1-0 win over the I-Cubs (40-37).

Tommy Manzella broke up the no-hitter in the top of the seventh inning when he led off with a line drive single to right field. One out later, John Gall singled to right-center field to put runners at first and second. After Jason Smith struck out swinging, Chris Johnson came through with a double to left-center field, scoring Manzella to break the scoreless draw.

Atkins' loss was Express starter Josh Muecke's gain, as the Round Rock southpaw picked up his first win since May 3, thanks to eight innings of three-hit, scoreless pitching. Muecke sat down the first nine batters he faced to open the game before surrendering two hits in a row in the fourth inning, but was flawless the rest of the way.

For his part, Atkins finished the game with one run on three hits with seven strikeouts over eight innings of work, earning likely the most unfair of his eight losses this season.

Express reliever Brendan Donnelly shut down Iowa in the ninth inning for his sixth save of the season.

The win secured the Express' second sweep of the season, with the last sweep coming June 2-5 at Omaha. It also gave Round Rock six straight home wins for the first time since early July, 2008.

The game took one hour and 55 minutes - Round Rock's shortest game of the year.

Round Rock takes on Nashville at home for a short three-game series starting Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. Sounds left-hander Lindsay Gulin will open the series for the opposition, while right-hander Bud Norris takes the mound for Round Rock.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 30, 2009


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