PCL1 Round Rock Express

Ninth Inning Explosion Gives Express 9-4 Win over RedHawks

Published on June 16, 2013 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK, Texas - Trailing by three runs and down to its final three outs, the Round Rock Express (39-32) erupted for eight runs in the top of the ninth to stun the Oklahoma City RedHawks (36-31) 9-4 Sunday night.

The Express offense was held quiet for eight innings as the RedHawks looked to be in command, but two home runs from third baseman Mike Olt as well as a three-run shot off the bat of catcher Eli Whiteside aided the ninth inning rally.

Oklahoma City scored all four of its runs via the long ball Sunday night, using four separate solo shots as its only form of offense.

Shortstop Jonathan Villar got the RedHawks started early, jumping on the second pitch of Mills' outing and taking the southpaw's offering over the center field wall for a 1-0 lead.

One inning later, Oklahoma City grabbed a 2-0 advantage on another solo home run when third baseman Brandon Laird went deep on a 3-1 pitch to start the second frame.

Trailing by two runs, center fielder Engel Beltre pulled the E-Train within one after he smacked his fourth home run of the season, a solo shot in the third off Oklahoma City starter Asher Wojciechowski. That would be the only mistake Wojciechowski would make as the right-hander struck out eight over his 6.0 innings of work against the E-Train offense.

Mills settled in and blanked the RedHawks over the next three frames, but the Express offense could not find a spark. After logging one hit in each of the first four innings, Round Rock went hitless over the next three while Oklahoma City built its lead.

The RedHawks added a third solo shot off Mills in the sixth, putting an insurance run on the board before the E-Train delved into its bullpen. Mills exited after 6.0 innings, allowing three solo home runs as he turned in his seventh quality start of the season.

Right-hander Johan Yan did not fare much better against the Oklahoma City offense, allowing a solo home run to Villar in the seventh, his second long ball of the evening.

Trailing 4-1 entering the ninth and down to its final three outs, the Round Rock offense finally awoke. Olt began the frame with his fifth home run of the season which cut the Oklahoma City lead to two. The next two Express batters singled to put two on for Whiteside. The backstop turned the course of the game with one swing, cranking a three-run homer on a 0-1 pitch to put the E-Train in the lead 5-4. Three batters later, Round Rock was in search of more runs after Beltre and left fielder Joey Butler singled to put two more runners on base. With two outs, designated hitter Robinson Chirinos plated both base runners with a two-run double, pushing the Express lead to three at 7-4.

Oklahoma City had seen enough out of reliever Jose Valdez who was charged with seven runs over his 1.0 inning of work. The RedHawks brought in Philip Humber to try and slow the E-Train offense but Olt kept the inning going, slamming his second home run of the frame, a two-run shot that gave Round Rock a 9-4 lead.

After the RedHawks were able to finally end the inning, left-hander Joseph Ortiz finished off Oklahoma City in the bottom of the ninth, retiring the side in order to earn his first victory. Valdez (3-2) suffered the loss after his late-inning meltdown as the E-Train will now go for the series victory tomorrow night.

The Express concludes the four-game set with Oklahoma City Monday night at 7:05 p.m. Round Rock will hand the ball to left-hander Martin Perez (4-1, 2.10 ERA) as the RedHawks will counter with southpaw Brett Oberholtzer (4-5, 4.95 ERA). For more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook and Twitter!

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 16, 2013


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