PCL1 Round Rock Express

Oklahoma City Races Past Round Rock 11-7

Published on May 14, 2016 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Oklahoma City Dodgers (19-13) scored early and often on Friday night, claiming an 11-7 victory that completed a four-game sweep of the Round Rock Express (18-15) at Dell Diamond. RHP Chi Chi Gonzalez (1-4, 6.63) took the loss after his toughest outing of the season. The righty allowed nine runs on ten hits and a walk over just 2.2 innings on the mound.

Former University of Texas RHP Sam LeCure collected the victory for Oklahoma City despite surrendering five runs on seven hits in six innings of work. The righty dealt five strikeouts as compared to just one walk.

The Dodgers jumped all over Gonzalez in the first three innings. The scoring started almost immediately as 2B Micah Johnson recorded a leadoff single before scoring on a double from C Austin Barnes in the next at-bat. CF Corey Brown then tripled to make it 2-0. Brown scored with ease just moments later as 3B Rob Segedin singled before advancing to second on a throwing error by LF James Jones.

After spotting the visitors three runs, Gonzalez turned on a dime, enticing RF James Ramsey to ground out before striking out DH Jose Tabata and 1B Alex Hassan to end the inning. The righty's recovery continued in the second, as he set down the side in order. However, Gonzalez' run of six straight retired batters came to an abrupt end in the third.

Barnes singled to open the inning. Following a strikeout of Brown, Segedin singled then Ramsey singled to drive home Barnes. A Tabata double in the next at-bat scored both Segedin and Ramsey, increasing the lead to 6-0. Hassan drew a one-out walk, then SS Drew Maggi singled to load the bases. In the next plate appearance, LF Rico Noel grounded to 1B Drew Robinson, who scooped up the ball and launched it to C Brett Nicholas for the force out at home.

With the bases still loaded, Johnson lined a hard-hit double into left field that scored all three runners, bumping the OKC advantage to 9-0. The latest blow knocked Gonzalez from the game as Express manager Jason Wood called on RHP Luke Jackson to stop the bleeding. The righty did just that, allowing just one hit while facing the minimum over 2.1 innings of relief.

Round Rock cut into Oklahoma City's lead in the third. After Robinson notched a leadoff walk, Jones and RF Ryan Strausborger teamed up for back-to-back singles that loaded the bases. SS Jurickson Profar picked up his first RBI of the night on a ground out that allowed Robinson just enough time to score from third, putting the E-Train on the board.

The Express continued to fight back in the middle innings as CF Jared Hoying recorded a leadoff single before DH Ike Davis launched a towering home run over the wall in left field. The two-run blast cut the deficit to 9-3 in the fourth. In the very next inning, Jones doubled before Profar took LeCure deep to reduce the OKC lead to 9-5.

It didn't take long for the Dodgers to regain their six-run advantage as a critical error in the top of the sixth inning helped the visitors plate a pair of runs. With RHP Jefri Hernandez on the mound, Johnson and Barnes each collected one-out singles. During Brown's at-bat, Nicholas attempted to gun down Barnes at first, however his throw skipped past Robinson and rolled deep into left field. The error allowed Johnson to score from second while Barnes advanced all the way to third. Brown would then pick up an RBI single to make it 11-5.

The E-Train tried to rally in the eighth, pushing two runners across to cut the deficit back to four. Hoying worked a one-out walk before back-to-back singles from Ciriaco and Davis. The latter base hit allowed Hoying to score from second and moved Davis to third. Robinson grounded out as Davis raced home to reset the score at 11-7 in favor of the visitors.

OKC reliever RHP Casey Fien entered in the ninth, making quick work of the top of the Round Rock order to complete the sweep.

The Express now head west for an eight-game road trip against teams from the Pacific Conference. Round Rock will start the stretch of play away from home by paying their lone visit of the season to the Albuquerque Isotopes this weekend. First pitch in Saturday's series opener is set for 8:05 p.m. central time and is scheduled to feature RHP Nick Martinez (3-1, 3.71) against RHP Matt Flemer (3-0, 3.86).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 14, 2016


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