Luis Marte's Blast Gives Express Walkoff Win
July 20, 2017 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
ROUND ROCK, Texas - INF Luis Marte launched a three-run homer onto the berm in left field in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Round Rock Express (43-53) a dramatic 5-3 walkoff win over the New Orleans Baby Cakes (38-58) on Tuesday night at Dell Diamond. Marte's game-winner was his first career Triple-A home run.
Express closer RHP Preston Claiborne (3-0, 1.48) earned the win despite allowing a go-ahead run on three hits and a walk in the top of the 10th inning. Baby Cakes LHP Daniel Schlereth (0-1, 6.23) suffered the loss after giving up Marte's three-run bomb in the bottom of the frame.
Round Rock starter RHP Tyler Wagner was solid in six innings of work, limiting New Orleans to just one run on two hits in six innings. The righty walked four and struck out two in the no-decision.
The E-Train took a brief lead in the bottom of the second inning as LF Ryan Rua lined a leadoff double to left field. Back-to-back groundouts via CF Jared Hoying and 1B Ronald Guzman eventually brought Rua home with the game's first run.
New Orleans answered in the next half inning. DH Christian Colon collected a leadoff double before advancing to third on a Peter Mooney groundout. 2B Steve Lombardozzi tied the game with a two-out single that sent Colon racing to the plate.
In the fifth, Hoying stepped to the plate and sent a screaming line drive over the wall in deep center field for a solo home run. His 10th homer of the season gave Round Rock the lead once again. However, two innings later, Baby Cakes 3B Cal Towey lined a triple to right field before scoring on an ensuing Brandon Barnes single, leveling the game at 2-2 in the process.
With Claiborne on for the 10th inning, LF Mike Aviles collected a leadoff single before C Tomas Telis followed up with a one-out single of his own. An ensuing Moises Sierra single sent Aviles home to give New Orleans the lead at 3-2. After issuing a two-out walk to Towey, Claiborne recovered to strike out Barnes to keep the deficit at one.
Guzman opened the bottom of the 10th with a line-drive single to left-center field. After 3B Jason Martinson walked, Marte stepped to the plate and connected on an 0-2 offering from Schlereth, sending the baseball crashing onto the berm in left field as the crowd at Dell Diamond erupted.
The two American Southern Division rivals will face off again on Wednesday night. Neither team's starting pitcher has been announced as of yet. First pitch at Dell Diamond is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 20, 2017
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