PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Bested by Memphis in Series Finale, 9-7

Published on August 5, 2015 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Round Rock Express (61-48) and Memphis Redbirds (59-52) end their series with an offensive showcase Tuesday night at Dell Diamond as the Redbirds took the finale, 9-7. The fourth act consisted of 16 runs on a total of 27 hits.

ML rehabber Derek Holland crafted three strikeouts through the first two innings of his second rehab appearance in Round Rock, but found trouble as the Memphis battle picked up the pace in the third. Holland issued a lead-off walk to Redbirds LF Rafael Ortega and fell victim to a fielding error that put two on with no outs. Another walk from Holland loaded the bases for 1B Xavier Scruggs. Scruggs did not need to swing his bat to be effective thanks to Holland yielding another walk that brought in the first run of the game. The walk marked the end of Holland's (0-1, 7.36) night with 2.0 innings under his belt, three hits, two runs (one earned), three walks and three Ks. RHP Francisco Mendoza ran out of the bullpen with bases still loaded and no out. The right-hander surrendered a sacrifice fly to deep center that scored the second Memphis run of the inning, but got out of the jam on a caught stealing and a strikeout.

The E-Train offense discovered its wheels in the bottom of the third with an attack on Memphis starter Nick Greenwood. 1B J.T. Wise started the inning with a single, however SS Beamer Weems flew out to freeze Wise on first and place the first out in Greenwood's pocket. Greenwood was unable to find the zone against CF Jared Hoying who reached on a four-pitch walk. 2B Hanser Alberto plugged a grounder that terminated Hoying at second, but lit the corners for LF Tyler Pastornicky. Pastornicky caused a roar from the crowd with a RBI single that allowed Wise to score and move Alberto to third, making it a one-run game. C Brett Nicholas supplied the tying run with a RBI single of his own that trotted Alberto home. Greenwood stopped the spurt with a fly out to send the game into the fourth.

Memphis broke the tie in the top of the fourth as Mendoza walked in a run with two outs on the board that sent the score to 3-2 in favor of the Redbirds. Round Rock answered with back-to-back solo home runs by 3B Joey Gallo and RF Michael Choice to take the lead 4-3. Gallo's 440 ft. shot went to the entrance of the Fun Zone while Choice launched his to the Home Run Porch.

The back-and-forth action persisted as Memphis exposed new Express pitcher Phil Irwin. The righty began his 2015 debut with a walk and was then taken to left field on a Jeremy Hazelbaker double that tied the contest at four. C Ed Easley gave Memphis the lead with a RBI single, still with no outs on the board. Irwin finally amassed the first out with a fly out and saw out number two occur as Easley was caught stealing. Another walk forced pitching coach Brad Holman to make his way to the mound and talk to his pitcher. The visit did not help Irwin who surrendered three consecutive singles that ran the score to 7-4. Irwin finally ended the inning with a strikeout.

Greenwood kept pitching into the fifth, which proved to be beneficial for DH Ed Lucas who left the yard on a 1-1 pitch that cut the deficit to two, 7-5. Greenwood (10-3, 5.13) was pulled two batters after 4.2 innings with nine hits, five runs (five earned), one walk and four strikeouts. RHP Miguel Socolovich closed the fifth with a strikeout.

The Redbirds padded their lead in the sixth by adding two runs on a Jeremy Hazelbaker homer and a sacrifice fly from SS Matt Williams, augmenting the lead to 9-5.

Pastornicky ripped a triple to lead off the seventh and shuffled his way across the plate three pitches later on a Nicholas sacrifice fly, inching Round Rock back 9-6. The sacrifice fly signaled the end of Socolovich's night, calling in RHP Mitch Harris. Harris completed his mission with a fly out and strikeout, escaping the seventh with a three-run advantage.

Choice picked up his third hit of the night to open the bottom of the eight with Wise stepping to the plate, looking to add to the E-Train's run total. The first baseman delivered with a RBI single that scored Choice from second and brought the Express within two.

Memphis closer Sam Tuivailala threw a shutout ninth to dash any notion of an Express comeback, spliting the series 2-2.

Round Rock heads to the bayou to face off with the New Orleans Zephyrs for five games starting tomorrow night at 6:00 p.m. Express RHP Stolmy Pimentel (3-3, 5.81) toes the rubber against Zephyrs RHP Rob Morey (2-2, 2.93).

For tickets and more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Follow the Express on Facebook and Twitter!

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 5, 2015


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