Late rally falls one hit short
April 8, 2004 - Texas League (TL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
Hector Gimenez's eighth inning line drive into center field had the look and feel of a game tying double. That is, at least, until Marland Williams came out of nowhere to make the catch and save the El Paso's 7-6 Opening Day win over the Round Rock Express.
6,446 at Cohen Stadium saw the Diablos jump on the Express for a 6-2 win heading into the eighth. However, RBI hits by Todd Self and Charlton Jimerson brought the game to 6-4 with one out. Gimenez battled Matt Henrie in a nine-pitch at-bat before finally getting a ball that he drove directly into the glove of a diving Williams. Jimerson was then thrown out at second trying to tag up.
Round Rock staged a second attempted comeback in the ninth, with Self driving in two with a two-out single to bring the Express within one run. That brought on Matt Wilkinson, who struck out Tommy Whiteman to end the game.
Despite the loss, a pair of Round Rock rookies had a very auspicious debut. Self went 3 for 5 with three RBI and Brooks Conrad was 2 for 4 with a pair of doubles.
Henrie (1-0) was the winner, while Denny McDaniel (0-1) took the loss in relief of D.J. Houlton. Wilkinson got his first save.
The second game of the opening six-game series will be Friday at 7:30 p.m. CT.
Texas League Stories from April 8, 2004
- Late rally falls one hit short - Round Rock Express
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- Corpus Christi Baseball Announces Name of New Team - Corpus Christi Hooks
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