Ninth-Inning Rally Powers E-Train Past Chihuahuas
September 8, 2023 - Pacific Coast League (PCL)
Round Rock Express News Release
EL PASO, Texas - The Round Rock Express (36-24 | 80-54) topped the El Paso Chihuahuas (27-33 | 59-76) by a score of 11-10 behind a four-run ninth inning on Thursday. It was Round Rock's first win of the season at Southwest University Ballpark after the Express had gone 0-8 in El Paso prior to the win.
Express reliever RHP Matt Bush (1-0, 6.75) earned the win after tossing 1.0 scoreless inning with one hit and two strikeouts. Chihuahuas reliever RHP Kevin Kopps (0-1, 5.40) was dubbed with a blown-save loss after giving up four runs on four hits and two walks in the ninth inning. Round Rock RHP Yerry Rodriguez secured the save despite giving up two runs on three hits in the top of the ninth inning.
Along the Train Track
In the first inning, Round Rock had the first two batters reach via walk in CF Elier Hernandez and SS Jonathan Ornelas. Next up, 2B Justin Foscue hit a three-run home run to put the E-Train up 3-0. In the home half, El Paso had two runners in scoring position following a leadoff double from 2B Tim Lopes and a walk and stolen base from SS Ray-Patrick Didder. RF Tirso Ornelas hit a two-RBI single to pull the game within one run at 3-2.
The Express extended their lead to 4-2 in the second inning after Jonathan Ornelas grounded into a double play but pushed C Matt Whatley home after he had hit a leadoff single. The lead did not last long after the Chihuahuas plated five runs in the home half of the second. A two-run home run from C Chandler Seagle and RBI singles from Didder, Tirso Ornelas and DH Brandon Dixon gave El Paso a 7-4 lead.
Round Rock tied the game at 7-7 in the fourth inning when Foscue's second three-run home run of the night scored Hernandez and Jonathan Ornelas, who had doubled and singled, respectively.
With one run in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Chihuahuas took an 8-7 lead. Tirso Ornelas lined a one-out triple then scored on a single from LF Taylor Kohlwey.
In the ninth, the Express tied the game at 8-8 when a double from LF Dustin Harris and single from 3B Dio Arias plated the inning's first run. With two outs, Hernandez singled to score Arias for a 9-8 lead. A hit batter and a walk loaded the bases for 1B Blaine Crim, who extended the lead to 11-8 with a two-RBI single.
Dixon hit a single in the bottom of the ninth before a two-run homer from Kohlwey pulled the game within one for El Paso. Round Rock RHP Yerry Rodriguez retired two of the final three batters and the 11-10 score stood final.
E-Train Excerpts:
Round Rock 2B Justin Foscue ended the team's six-game homer-less streak after he hit two in his first two at-bats on Thursday. It was his third multi-homer game of the season. Foscue finished the game tying a season-high four hits after going 4-for-5 with two home runs, two doubles, five RBI, two runs scored and one walk.
The Express hit win number 80 on the season with Thursday night's victory. It is the seventh time in franchise history that Round Rock has hit the 80-win mark.
Express CF Elier Hernandez finished Thursday 3-for-5 with one double, one RBI, three runs scored and one walk. Thursday marked his 13th three-hit game this season, which leads all Round Rock batters. The outfielder extended his Pacific Coast League-leading number of hits to 151, which is 20 more than the next closest player.
Next up: Round Rock and El Paso will meet for game four on Friday night, with first pitch at Southwest University Park slated for 7:35 p.m. Express RHP Robert Dugger (7-9, 4.30) is scheduled to take the mound up against Chihuahuas LHP Jay Groome (4-9, 8.53).
For more information about the Express, visit RRExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Subscribe to the E-Train email newsletter and keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
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