PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Edges Iowa 8-5 to Open Series

Published on June 9, 2016 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


DES MOINES, Iowa - A bases-clearing double off the bat of SS Hanser Alberto provided just enough insurance for the Round Rock Express (31-27) to skirt past the Iowa Cubs (29-28) by a final score of 8-5 Thursday night at Principal Park in Des Moines.

E-Train starter RHP Nick Martinez (6-4, 4.50) recorded the victory after holding the I-Cubs to three runs on eight hits over 5.1 innings on the mound. Martinez struck out two and walked just one. For the Cubs, starter Rob Zastryzny (1-1, 5.09) suffered his first loss of the 2016 season following a performance in which he gave up five runs on a total of just five hits over 5.2 innings on the mound. The lefty struck out six and walked three.

After being outscored 10-2 in the first inning over the last five games, the Express flipped the script by sprinting out to a 3-0 lead in the opening frame. 3B Drew Robinson kicked things off with a leadoff single before Alberto followed with a walk. After a Brett Nicholas strikeout, 1B Joey Gallo grounded into a force out that eliminated Alberto at second but left runners on the corners for LF Justin Ruggiano. The left fielder worked a 3-2 count into a walk before the newly-activated RF Trever Adams lined a towering fly ball to deep center field. Cubs CF Juan Perez tracked down the flaming hot shot but ultimately couldn't corral the baseball as it dropped for a bases-clearing triple. Adams' first base hit of 2016 gave his team a 3-0 lead. CF James Jones grounded out to end the frame.

Round Rock added another run in the fifth as Gallo blasted his 11th home run of the season, a solo shot that clanked off the right field scoreboard at Principal Park.

After four brilliant innings from Martinez, the Cubs tagged the righty with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. A one-out double off the bat of 3B Jeimer Candelario followed by a single courtesy of LF John Andreoli set up 1B Kristopher Negron to do some damage. The infielder delivered with a line drive shot that escaped the range of Ruggiano, rolling all the way to the wall for a two-run triple. After the Cubs tightened things, Martinez responded by inducing a groundout and flyout to leave Negron stranded on third.

Adams' hot start continued in the sixth inning as the outfielder roped a double into left field to begin the frame. A sacrifice bunt served up by Jones moved Adams 90 feet closer to home. Another sacrifice bunt, this one complements of 2B Doug Bernier, allowed Adams just enough time to sprint home from third, resetting the score at 5-2.

The three-run advantage would last for just minutes as RF Mark Zagunis and C Willson Contreras combined for back-to-back singles to open the home half of the sixth. In the next at-bat, DH Dan Vogelbach picked up a single on a long fly ball to right field. After racing to the ball, Adams launched a rocket across the outfield to Bernier at second. The former Minnesota Twins infielder accepted the relay, spun 180 degrees, and fired a perfect strike to C Patrick Cantwell, who slapped a sprinting Zagunis as he attempted to score on the play. Perez seized momentum right back with a single that scored Contreras to cut his team's deficit to 5-3. LHP Alex Claudio then relieved Martinez and retired Candelario and Andreoli to end the inning.

I-Cubs RHP Carl Edwards, Jr. emerged in the ninth, hoping to keep the I-Cubs' deficit at 5-3. The righty dished up a leadoff single to Jones, however the speedy outfielder was gunned down attempting to steal second base in the next at-bat. The play proved to be significant, at least for the time being, as Edwards then walked Bernier, Cantwell and Robinson in consecutive plate appearances to load the bases.

Alberto provided the knockout blow with a double into deep left field to clear the bases and reset the score at 8-3. A Nicholas groundout moved Alberto to third before Gallo collected a two-out walk. Ruggiano couldn't add to the lead as he struck out swinging to end the late scoring streak.

The Iowa Cubs wouldn't go quietly in the ninth. With RHP Carlos Fisher on the mound, Candelario opened the inning with a ground-rule double that skipped over the fence in right field. After Andreoli worked a walk, Negron doubled home Candelario to tighten the gap to 8-4. Fisher recovered by striking out Watkins before SS Munenori Kawasaki grounded out to Gallo at first base. The slow roller down the line gave Andreoli enough time to score from third. Fisher again recovered from allowing a run by striking out Zagunis to slam the door on the 8-5 victory.

The Express and Cubs will meet up for game two Friday evening. E-Train RHP Chi Chi Gonzalez (2-5, 5.52) is scheduled to face off against RHP Jake Buchanan (5-3, 4.22) of the Cubs. First pitch at Principal Park in Des Moines is slated for 7:08 p.m. Following the brief four-game road trip, the E-Train will return home to host the New Orleans Zephyrs on Monday, June 13.

Single game tickets are available along with season ticket packages and group discounts. For more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 9, 2016


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