I-Cubs Clip Express 5-4
July 19, 2014 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Iowa Cubs' (54-46) bats showed up in the second inning Saturday and the Round Rock Express (48-50) responded in the third, but the I-Cubs offense proved to be slightly more productive as they defeated the E-Train 5-4 at Dell Diamond.
With the loss, the E-Train is on the verge of suffering their first sweep loss of the season.
The I-Cubs jumped all over Express starter Justin Germano in the second to take a five-run lead. 1B Chris Valaika started off the frame by launching this 10th home run over the left field wall. After back-to-back strikeouts, E-Train alum C Eli Whiteside and SS Logan Watkins both went deep, their fourth round trippers of the season respectively, to triple Iowa's advantage. CF Matt Szczur and RF Brett Jackson followed the back-to-back homers with back-to-back singles to extend the inning and 2B Javier Baez made the most of it, driving a two-run double into the left-center field gap to stretch their lead out to 5-0.
Round Rock's bats finally came to life in the third as the E-Train plated four runs to pull to within one. 2B Josh Wilson drew a walk to lead off the inning then advanced to third on a double by SS Luis Sardinas. After 1B Tomas Telis walked to load the bases, CF Jim Adduci lined a shot into right-center. Cubs center fielder Szczur laid out in an effort to make the grab, but wasn't able to control the ball through impact. Wilson scored easily from third on the hit, but the runners had to hold, causing a logjam on the paths. With Telis bearing down on him at third, Sardinas was forced to run home, and the relay throw to the plate was in time, however, Sardinas's slide jarred the ball from Whiteside's grasp. When the ball squirted away to the backstop, Telis was able to trot home with the third E-Train run. LF Michael Choice followed the eventful play with an RBI double to left to make it 5-4 and the score held as pitching dominated the final six innings.
The E-Train's Germano (3-10, 4.53 ERA) took the loss after allowing five runs in five innings. The right-hander scattered eight hits, struck out three and walked one.
I-Cubs RHP Carlos Pimentel (1-6, 4.84 ERA) picked up the win in relief of starter LHP Eric Jokisch. Pimentel surrendered three hits in three innings after taking over in the fifth. He had four strikeouts in the outing and issued two walks. Jokisch gave up four runs on six hits.
Iowa's closer Blake Parker recorded his Pacific Coast League-leading 20th save after working a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
C Brett Nicholas went 3-4 on the night to lead the E-Train's offensive attack, while Telis and Wilson also reached base three times. Adduci and Choice both finished with two hits apiece.
The Express and Cubs will conclude their regular season series Sunday evening at Dell Diamond. RHP Phil Irwin (4-1, 2.41 ERA) is scheduled to make his first start for Round Rock since returning from the big leagues. Iowa will counter with LHP Chris Rusin (7-10, 3.87 ERA). Be one of the first 2,500 to enter the park and receive this season's official Express team card set courtesy of Precision Camera and Video. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
Listen to the game live on 104.9 FM The Horn or online at hornfm.com . For more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook and Twitter.
Pacific Coast League Stories from July 19, 2014
- Albuquerque Dukes Beat River Cats 8-7 - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Reno Rolls as Weber Stays Red-Hot - Reno Aces
- Three-Homer Inning Leads Cubs over Express - Iowa Cubs
- Isotopes Edge River Cats, 8-7 - Sacramento River Cats
- Offense Falls Flat in Loss After 5-Run First - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Sounds Stall RedHawks Saturday - Oklahoma City Comets
- Zephyrs Rally Down 5 to Defeat Omaha 9-5 - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Sounds Defeat RedHawks, 7-3 - Nashville Sounds
- I-Cubs Clip Express 5-4 - Round Rock Express
- Redbirds Sweep Doubleheader against Sky Sox - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Petrick, Whiting Fire Back-To-Back Seven-Inning, Complete-Game Shutouts in Twinbill Sweep - Memphis Redbirds
- RHP Steve Smith Rejoins Isotopes - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Omaha Storm Chasers July 19th Game Notes - Omaha Storm Chasers
- INF Carlos Triunfel Rejoins Isotopes - Albuquerque Isotopes
- RedHawks Game Notes: July 19, 2014 - Oklahoma City Comets
- Zephyrs Continue Dominance over Chasers - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Bees Lose in a Slugfest - Salt Lake Bees
- Andrew Susac's Homer And Behind The Plate Presence Help Lead Fresno To Victory - Fresno Grizzlies
- Cats Lose Shootout in Albuquerque, 13-11 - Sacramento River Cats
- Isotopes Erase Six-Run Deficit, Beat River Cats 13-11 to Even Series - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Tacoma's Offense Powers Second Straight Win in Reno - Reno Aces
- Fresno beats Chihuahuas - El Paso Chihuahuas
- Power and Pitching Lead Cubs Past Express - Iowa Cubs
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.
