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PCL1 Round Rock Express

Nashville Claims 7-6 Walkoff Win After Late Bullpen Collapses

June 1, 2016 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK, Texas - On two separate occasions Tuesday night, the Round Rock Express (28-23) were just one strike away from collecting a huge road victory over the Nashville Sounds (32-20). However, the hottest team in the Pacific Coast League proved to be tough to silence as the Sounds improved their winning streak to nine consecutive games by knocking off the Express 7-6 after 12 innings at First Tennessee Park.

Round Rock RHP Carlos Fisher (4-3, 3.10) suffered the loss after blowing his third save of the season. Fisher allowed a pair of runs on two hits and two walks in the bottom of the 12th inning to seal his team's fate. Nashville RHP Ryan Doolittle (1-1, 5.63) managed to do a lot, picking up the win despite allowing a go-ahead run on three hits in the top of the 12th.

Round Rock opened the scoring tonight in the third inning. Following back-to-back singles by SS Doug Bernier and C Patrick Cantwell, RF James Jones grounded to first, advancing both of his teammates 90 feet closer to home. A line drive single off the bat of CF Delino DeShields in the next at-bat scored Bernier and moved Cantwell to third. 3B Drew Robinson doubled the lead with a long fly ball out to left field that allowed the speedy Cantwell to tag and score, making it 2-0 Express.

The Sounds responded almost immediately as 2B Joey Wendle and C Bruce Maxwell recorded leadoff singles to open the bottom of the third. CF Jaycob Brugman grounded to first in the next at-bat, scoring Wendle easily from third. Express starter RHP Nick Tepesch recovered to retire the next two hitters to end the inning.

The E-Train quickly neutralized that run with a one-out home run off the bat of LF Justin Ruggiano in the top of the fourth, making it 3-1 in favor of the visitors. It was his second of the season.

Sounds 3B Renato Nunez further cut into Round Rock's lead with a towering solo home run to left field in the sixth. Just one frame later, Nashville tied the contest at three. SS Chad Pinder and Wendle opened the rally with back-to-back singles. A Maxwell groundout scored Pinder from third and chased Tepesch from the game. The righty posted a quality start despite not receiving a decision. Tepesch went 6.1 innings deep, allowing just three runs on seven hits. He recorded two strikeouts to just one walk.

E-Train LHP Jimmy Reyes entered in relief and shut down the Sounds by striking out Brugman before enticing LF Max Muncy into flying out to center field.

In just his third relief appearance at the Triple-A level, RHP Jose Leclerc escaped a sticky situation in the bottom of the ninth. After allowing a leadoff double to RF Matt Olson, the 23-year-old righty picked up back-to-back strikeouts of Pinder and Wendle. After walking Maxwell, Leclerc then faced Brugman with the game on the line. A six-pitch battle between the pair of Triple-A rookies resulted in Brugman flying out to DeShields to send the contest into extra innings.

The Express wasted no time regaining their lead in the 10th. Jones greeted Nashville RHP Tucker Healy with a smoking hot line drive double to left field. In the very next at-bat, DeShields laid down a picture perfect bunt. Healy tried to gun down Jones at third but instead made an errant throw that allowed Jones to come flying home as DeShields advanced to second. Robinson then added a clutch insurance run with a double on another long fly ball to center field.

In the bottom of the 10th, RHP Andrew Faulkner couldn't protect Round Rock's lead. The righty started strong, striking out Muncy to open the frame. A walk to Nunez and single off the bat of DH Andrew Lambo created quite the jam for Faulkner. After a strikeout of 1B Ryon Healy, Faulkner dished up a game-tying two-run double to Olson. Express manager Jason Wood went to the bullpen, bringing in RHP Anthony Carter to keep the game alive. The righty stepped up, forcing Pinder to ground out to send the contest to the 11th inning.

The E-Train claimed their third lead of the game in the 12th as Robinson picked up a one-out double before coming home to score on a line drive single off the bat of 1B Brett Nicholas, who replaced Gallo at first base in the eighth inning after Gallo was ejected by home plate umpire Bryan Fields for arguing a called third strike.

Fisher then entered in the bottom of the 12th inning, where he immediately walked Muncy to bring the game-winning run to the plate. After two quick outs, Fisher surrendered a double to Healy on a line drive that rolled to the deepest part of the warning track in left field. Muncy likely could have scored the game-tying run on the play, however the left fielder stumbled while rounding third and was forced to return to the bag. Following an intentional walk to Olson, Pinder smoked a shot just fair down the right field line, scoring both Muncy and Healy to give the Sounds a 7-6 walkoff victory, the team's ninth straight win.

The Express will look to even things up in game two on Tuesday afternoon with LHP Michael Roth (4-1, 1.69) on the mound to face RHP Angel Castro (0-2, 5.68). First pitch in the matinee contest is set for 12:05 p.m. in Nashville. Round Rock will return home for a four-game set against the Oklahoma City Dodgers on Saturday, June 4.

Single game tickets are available along with season ticket packages and group discounts. For more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter!

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