Round Rock Drops Series Opener to Fresno
July 31, 2013 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
ROUND ROCK, Texas - After grabbing an early lead, the Round Rock Express (62-49) allowed seven unanswered runs in a 7-1 loss to the Fresno Grizzlies (50-60) in the series opener at Chukchansi Park Tuesday night.
A solo home run would be the only offense the E-Train could muster in the first of four games at Fresno, snapping a three-game winning streak with the six-run defeat.
In the top of the second, right fielder Joey Butler put the Express in front with his 10th home run of the season, a solo shot off Fresno starter Eric Surkamp.
Butler's blast would be the lone blemish on Surkamp's evening as the southpaw went on to allow just the one run over 7.0 innings, holding the Express offense in check long enough for the Grizzlies to mount a rally.
It would not take Fresno long to erase Round Rock's advantage as the Grizzlies countered in the bottom of the second. A pair of one-out singles put runners on first and second before third baseman Chris Dominguez put Fresno in the driver's seat with a two-run double off Express starter Jake Brigham.
With Surkamp blanking the Express, the Grizzlies added to their lead in the fourth, plating three runs off the right-hander as Fresno took advantage of two E-Train miscues. After another set of singles to start the inning, right fielder Juan Perez reached on an error by center fielder Jared Hoying which loaded the bases with no outs. A ground out off the bat of Dominguez brought the first run across the plate, but left runners on second and third. Another single off the bat of catcher Jackson Williams loaded the bases again before shortstop Ydwin Villegas grounded into what looked like a double play but second baseman Yangervis Solarte's relay throw was offline, allowing both runners to score on the play.
Riding a four-run lead, Surkamp worked his way through the seventh before the Grizzlies were able to tack on a pair of insurance runs. Fresno loaded the bases once more off Brigham before first baseman Johnny Monell delivered a RBI single that chased the right-hander from the game. Right-hander Ryan Rodebaugh entered out of the bullpen, surrendering the second run of the inning before finally retiring the side.
Holding a 7-1 lead entering the eighth, the Grizzlies called on the bullpen. Round Rock's offense went quietly in the eighth and stranded Solarte on third in the ninth as the E-Train dropped the series opener. Starters received the decisions with Brigham (4-3) suffering the loss while Surkamp (3-0) picked up the win.
The Express and Grizzlies square off in game two of a four-game set Wednesday night at 9:05 p.m. CST. Round Rock will send right-hander Evan Meek (5-4, 3.65 ERA) while Fresno will counter with southpaw Mike Kickham (3-7, 5.29 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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