PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Drops Series Finale to New Orleans, 7-4

Published on July 13, 2015 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK, Texas - The five-game series between the Round Rock Express (52-37) and New Orleans Zephyrs (42-48) came to an exciting conclusion at Dell Diamond Sunday night, but saw the E-Train lose 7-4. The contest signaled the final game before the Triple-A All-Star break.

New Orleans starter Justin Nicolino sent two down quickly in the bottom of the second inning, but hot-hitting Express 1B Brett Nicholas had other plans for the Zephyrs southpaw. Nicholas plugged a single into right field, setting the table for C Chris Gimenez. Gimenez wasted no time on his attack of Nicolino and laced his eighth double of the season into left, scoring Nicholas and putting the E-Train up 1-0. SS Beamer Weems joined the action with a sharp chopper to third that saw him reach first on an error and hustled Gimenez home for the second run. CF Ryan Strausborger ended the second on a fly.

ML rehabber Martin Perez surrendered a lead-off triple to Zephyrs 3B Juan Diaz to start the third, but recovered with a line out to freeze Diaz. New Orleans 2B Reid Brignac then launched a sacrifice fly to deep left field that put the first Zephyrs run on the board. Perez went on to give up a double, but closed the top of the third on a ground out.

The Zephyrs kept the pressure on Perez as CF Marcell Ozuna drove a solo shot to the Home Run Porch in the fourth that tied the contest at 2-2. New Orleans continued to score with a Vinny Rottino RBI double in the fifth, followed by a RBI single from C Jhonatan Solano in the sixth that made it a 4-2 Zephyrs advantage. Perez (0-1, 4.95) then tossed a wild pitch that supplied the second New Orleans run of the sixth inning and fifth of the game. The Round Rock rehabber used a pop out and ground out to end his night after 6.0 innings pitched with 12 hits, five runs (five earned) and four Ks. Nicolino (5-5, 3.40) also went 6.0 innings, giving up six hits, two runs (one earned), two walks while striking out five.

RHP Phil Klein took the helm from Perez and began his night with a line out and strikeout before issuing a walk. Klein sent Zephyrs DH Kila Ka'aihue down swinging after an eight-pitch battle to finish the top of the seventh.

Express LF Joey Gallo snapped out of his recent slump with a powerful two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh over the Zephyrs bullpen, instantly making it a one-run game. DH Michael Choice then took Zephyrs reliever Lay Batista to deep center for his first triple of the 2015 campaign, summoning RF Tommy Field to the plate with two outs. Batista settled by striking out Field to halt the Round Rock momentum.

The Zephyrs added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth thanks to a two-run blast from Rottino off Express LHP Will Lamb, signaling the first runs Lamb has allowed in his time with Round Rock. The homer completed Lamb's night and beckoned RHP Luke Jackson. Jackson went strikeout, fly out and strikeout to send the game into the bottom of the ninth.

Round Rock managed a burst offense in the ninth as 2B Hanser Alberto led off with a double. Gallo got aboard with a walk and Michael Choice loaded the bases after being hit with a pitch, all with no outs. Zephyrs RHP Nick Wittgren extinguished any notion of a Round Rock rally with back-to-back Ks and a fly out to deep center.

Triple-A baseball comes to a halt for the next three days as the best from the Pacific Coast League and the International League meet at Werner Park in Omaha, NE for the First National Bank 2015 Triple-A All Star Game. Round Rock sends RHP Jon Edwards and C Tomas Telis as representatives to the Triple-A Midsummer Classic, both earning their first All-Star nod at the Triple-A level.

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 July 13, 2015


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