Joey Gallo Homers Twice in 9-3 Round Rock Victory
April 9, 2016 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
DES MOINES, Iowa - Round Rock Express (3-0) 3B Joey Gallo hit two homers and drove in four runs to propel his team to a convincing 9-3 win over the Iowa Cubs (0-3) this evening at Principal Park in Des Moines. RHP Nick Tepesch picked up the win after 5.0 shutout innings in which he allowed just three hits and two walks while striking out a pair of Cubs.
The win moves Round Rock to 3-0 on the young season, matching the franchise's best start in its 17-year history. The E-Train previously began 3-0 in 2013.
A pair of Patricks opened the scoring for Round Rock Saturday afternoon as C Patrick Cantwell drove in DH Patrick Kivlehan to give the Express a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Gallo then recorded his first bomb of the day in the third, a three-run blast that scored SS Jurickson Profar and RF Nomar Mazara. On the season, 11 of Round Rock's 20 total runs scored have come in the third inning.
The hot E-Train bats struck again in the fifth as all nine hitters saw a plate appearance. The inning began with a Profar walk before Mazara knocked it out of the park for his first home run of the year. He would finish the game 3-5 with two RBI. Kivlehan then walked and scored thanks to a single from LF Jared Hoying and a fielding error by Cubs RF Ryan Kalish. A Drew Robinson double in the next at bat scored Hoying, pushing the E-Train lead to 8-0.
With two outs in the top of the sixth, Gallo struck again. The power-hitting third baseman launched a shot that ultimately landed on top of Principal Park's luxury seating area, well above the wall in left field. Gallo's final stat line read 2-5 with four RBI, eight total bases and a strikeout. As a team, the Express recorded a season-high 14 hits.
It was a day of firsts on the mound for Round Rock. After dominating his first start of the year, Tepesch handed the ball over to RHP Luke Jackson, who made his first major league rehab appearance with the Express, issuing just one walk in an otherwise flawless sixth inning. RHP Jefri Hernandez tossed a scoreless seventh in his first career appearance at the Triple-A level.
After signing a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers on April 6, RHP Burke Badenhop came in to pitch the eighth, where Iowa abruptly ended the Round Rock shutout bid. LF John Andreoli started the late rally with a single before back-to-back doubles from 2B Arismendy Alcantara and Kalish trimmed the lead to 9-2. A single from 1B Dan Vogelbach scored Kalish before Badenhop became the beneficiary of a 5-6-3 double play that ended the inning.
RHP Jesus Pirela shut the door in the ninth, retiring the Cubs in order to seal the 9-3 win for the Express.
Tomorrow's series finale will feature RHP Anthony Ranaudo for Round Rock opposite RHP Drew Rucinski for Iowa. First pitch in Des Moines is set for 1:08 p.m. A win would give the Express their best start in franchise history.
After tomorrow's finale, Round Rock will travel west for a four-game set against the Omaha Storm Chasers before returning home to host Opening Day festivities at Dell Diamond on Friday, April 15. The home opener will include a ceremonial first pitch from Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a schedule magnet giveaway, postgame Bud Light Friday Fireworks and much more.
Single game tickets are on sale now. For more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
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