PCL1 Round Rock Express

Leone homer ruins Express evening

Published on July 9, 2003 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


With a gashed roster and the best team in the Texas League coming to town, the Round Rock Express were facing their biggest challenge of the season.

For the most part, Chad Qualls met the challenge. One pitch, however, wrecked everything.

Justin Leone's two-run homer in the top of the eighth inning gave the San Antonio Missions the lead and three pitchers limited the Express to two hits to give the Missions a 7-2 win in front of 9,368 at The Dell Diamond.

Qualls was rolling through the best hitting team in the League before running into Leone. Qualls left one pitch up and Leone deposited his mistake onto the left field berm. San Antonio added four insurance runs in the ninth.

Other than that, Qualls was masterful. A start after throwing a complete game shutout at El Paso, Qualls went eight innings Wednesday night, giving up all three runs and nine hits while striking out seven.

That wasn't enough to get past the San Antonio staff, though. Starter Bobby Madritsch was wild – walking six – but still limited Round Rock to only a pair of fifth inning runs. Gavin Wright drove in the first with a triple and a John Tamargo fielder's choice plated the second.

Josue Matos (6-1) got the win in relief and Qualls (4-9) took the tough loss.

The four-game series will continue with game two Thursday night at 7:05 p.m.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 9, 2003


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