PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express - Game Notes at Albuquerque Isotopes

Published on July 6, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK EXPRESS (50-35) at ALBUQUERQUE ISOTOPES (44-41)

GAME 86 | 6 JULY ‚¬Ë†2011 | 8:05 P.M. CDT | ISOTOPES PARK | ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.

TONIGHT'S GAME

Round Rock and Albuquerque (Los Angeles Dodgers) conclude a three-game series with an 8:05 p.m. CDT first pitch at Isotopes Park. The Isotopes snapped Round Rock's season-best, six-game winning streak last night, defeating the Express 13-4. Round Rock is 8-2 over its last 10 games, matching Tucson for the Pacific Coast League's best record in that time. Albuquerque is 2-8 over its last 10 games. The Express are 23-18 on the road, the third-best road record in the league. The Isotopes are 27-15 at home, the league's best home record.

RADIO BROADCAST INFORMATION

Tonight's game airs on 104.9 FM The Horn ESPN ‚¬Ë†Radio Austin. Online audio also is available at www.espnaustin.com. Express Director of Broadcasting Mike Capps provides play-by-play.

EXPRESS-ISOTOPES SERIES

This is the second of four series between the Express and Isotopes. Round Rock and Albuquerque own two of the PCL's four best home records; ironically, the road team has won four of six meetings this season. Albuquerque won three of four at The Dell Diamond in early June, and the teams split the first two games of this series at Isotopes Park. The Express and Isotopes meet again Aug. 24-28 at Albuquerque and Sept. 2-5 at Round Rock in the season's final series.

GAME ‚¬Ë†84 | MODNAY, JULY 4

Express 13, Isotopes 10

WP: Delcarmen (3-2). LP: Troncoso (0-1). SV: Eppley (7).

GAME ‚¬Ë†85 | TUESDAY, JULY 5

Isotopes 13, Express 4

WP: Snell (1-1). LP: Feldman (2-1). SV: None.

GAME ‚¬Ë†86 | WEDNESNAY, JULY 6 | 8:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Derek Hankins (5-5, 6.03 ERA)

Isotopes: LHP Dana Eveland (7-5, 3.99 ERA)

EXPRESS STARTER

RHP Derek Hankins (5-5, 6.03 ERA)

Last Outing: No-decision in July 1 start vs. Nashville, a 5-3 Express victory ‚¬Â¦ Tossed 3.1 scoreless innings on two hits and a walk with two strikeouts ‚¬Â¦ Used 51 pitches, 28 strikes.

2011: Makes 16th appearance, 13th start tonight ‚¬Â¦ Logged 68.2 innings with 21 walks, 51 strikeouts and a .292 opponents' average ‚¬Â¦ Lost each of last four decisions - May 23 vs. Reno, June 2 at Oklahoma City, June 7 vs. Albuquerque and June 16 at Nashville ‚¬Â¦ Last win May 12 at Tucson ‚¬Â¦ Also won April 11 vs. Omaha, April 16 at New Orleans, April 21 at Oklahoma City and May 2 at Iowa ‚¬Â¦ Also lost April 26 vs. Oklahoma City ‚¬Â¦ 4-4, 6.44 ERA, .302 opponents' average as a starter ‚¬Â¦ 4-2, 5.25 ERA, .259 opponents' average in eight road outings - five starts ‚¬Â¦ First-inning ERA is 7.50 (10 ER / 12.0 IP) ‚¬Â¦ Opponents hitting .438 (14-for-32) with runners in scoring position and two outs ‚¬Â¦ Allowed at least one home run in 10 of 15 starts, including at least two five times ‚¬Â¦ One run allowed (solo homer) over last three outings (8.1 innings).

2011 vs. Albuquerque: Suffered loss in June 7 start at The Dell Diamond, a 6-3 Isotopes win ‚¬Â¦ Allowed four runs on seven hits, including three home runs, over 6.0 innings ‚¬Â¦ All three home runs were solo shots ‚¬Â¦ Did not walk a batter five strikeouts.

2010: Split season between Altoona (AA) and Indianapolis (AAA) in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization ‚¬Â¦ Combined 6-5 record with a 3.05 ERA in 37 games and seven starts, all of which came at Altoona ‚¬Â¦ Was 1-0 in three relief outings at Indianapolis but with a 16.20 ERA, working just 1.2 innings ‚¬Â¦ Eastern League All-Star Game selection.

Notable: Pittsburgh Pirates 10th-round draft selection out of the University of Memphis in 2004 ‚¬Â¦ Signed minor league contract Dec. 23, 2010, with Texas Rangers.

LAST NIGHT'S GAME

Albuquerque out-scored the Express 10-0 over the game's final five innings for a 13-4 victory. The Isotopes erased a 4-3 deficit with a three-run fifth inning. Jerry Sands' solo homer proved to be the game-winning hit; John Lindsey followed with a solo shot of his own. After a solo spot in the sixth, Albuquerque with a five-run seventh and added another run in the eighth for good measure. One night after Round Rock established a franchise record with 23 hits, the Isotopes out-hit the Express 17-8. Matt Kata accounted for three of Round Rock's hits, including a three-run homer in the fourth.

ISOTOPES TRIM ROUND ROCK'S DIVISION LEAD

Albuquerque (44-41, .518) picked up a game on Round Rock (50-35, .588) in the PCL's American Southern Division, but the Express still lead the division by six games. The Express are 13-4 since June 18, during which time the Isotopes are 5-12. The Express have at least shared the division lead following 63 of 85 games this season. New Orleans (40-46, .465) has lost nine of 11 after a 6-5 loss to Omaha last night and trails Round Rock by 10-and-a-half games. Oklahoma City (36-50, .419) defeated Iowa 7-6 last night; the RedHawks are 14-and-a-half games back.

ROUND ROCK vs. AMERICAN SOUTHERN DIVISION

The Express are 17-13 against American Southern Division teams this season. Round Rock has completed its season series against Oklahoma City, winning 10 of 16 meetings. The Express won five of eight over two series at New Orleans but have lost four of six against Albuquerque. The Isotopes are 13-13 in division play, New Orleans is 13-11, and Oklahoma City is 15-21. Tonight's game concludes a stretch in which Round Rock plays 11 of 15 against division opponents.

BIG-FLY GUYS

The Express enter tonight's game with 116 home runs on the season. Round Rock - the first PCL team to 100 home runs this season - currently is tied with Reno for the league lead. Albuquerque is the next closest American Conference team with 104 homers. Round Rock clubbed 32 homers over the last 17 games after being shutout in consecutive games. In fact, the Express have at least one home run in 20 of their last 27 games with 48 in that time and were shutout in three of the seven homerless games. Round Rock already has eclipsed the franchise's season totals from 2009 (97) and 2010 (108). The Express hit 170 home runs in 2006, an average of 1.18 per game and still the club's Triple-A era (since 2005) record. The 2011 Express average 1.36 home runs per game and are on pace to hit 196 on the season.

OFFENSE STRUGGLES WITHOUT HOMERS

The Express have homered in 57 of 85 games this season, going 38-19 in those games. However, Round Rock is just 12-16 when failing to hit at least one home run. Furthermore, the Express average 4.01 runs per game when failing to homer. Meanwhile, Round Rock averages 6.07 runs per game when hitting at least one home run. The Express have homered in 20 of their last 27 games and scored a total of 13 runs in the other seven games, getting shutout three times and scoring one run twice.

MORE HOME-RUN NUMBERS

Round Rock snapped a 12-game winning streak when hitting at least one home run last night. ‚¬Â¦ The Express have gone more than two straight games without a home run only once this season - a four-game stretch April 18-21. ‚¬Â¦ Round Rock has homered at least twice 34 times, going 26-8 in those games. Twelve of the 34 games were on the road, and the Express were 9-3 in those games. ‚¬Â¦ The Express are 14-2 when hitting at least three home runs and 6-0 when hitting at least four home runs. ‚¬Â¦ Round Rock has two five-homer games (June 18 vs. Omaha, June 19 vs. Omaha), two five-homer games (May 15 at Las Vegas, June 28 vs. Oklahoma City) and one six-homer game (April 9 vs. Iowa). ‚¬Â¦ The six-homer game was the second-best game total in franchise history, a single-game Dell Diamond record and one homer shy of the club record set at Albuquerque in 2006. ‚¬Â¦ Six Express players have posted multiple-homer games this season: Chris Davis (five), Brian Barden, Luis Cruz, Esteban German, Taylor Teagarden and Chad Tracy.

ROUND ROCK MULTIPLE-HOMER GAMES

PLAYER HR DATE OPPONENT

Chris Davis 3 April 9 Iowa

Taylor Teagarden 3 May 8 Nashville

Luis Cruz 2 April 22 at Oklahoma City

Brian Barden 2 May 15 at Las Vegas

Chad Tracy 2 May 19 Colorado Springs

Chris Davis 2 June 18 Omaha

Chris Davis 2 June 20 Omaha

Chris Davis 2 June 26 Oklahoma City

Chris Davis 2 June 28 Oklahoma City

Esteban German 2 June 28 Oklahoma City

DAVIS CONTINUES TORRID PACE

Chris Davis is tied for fourth in the PCL with 20 home runs despite playing only 37 games. Each of the other players in the league's top five has played at least 22 more game and logged at least 80 more at bats than Davis. He averages one homer every 7.40 at bats - a rate nearly four at bats per home run lower than anyone else in the league - and has five multiple-homer outings, including four in the last 15 games. If Davis were to have played the entire season with the Express, played 10 of every 11 games and homered at his current pace, he would have hit 70 home runs. Over the last 15 games, Davis is hitting .441 (26-for-59) with 10 multiple-hit games, 10 homers, 23 RBI and 16 runs scored.

PCL HOME RUN LEADERS

PLAYER, TEAM HR G AB HR/G AB/HR

*Bryan LaHair, Iowa 23 80 288 0.28 12.52

*Cody Ransom, Reno 23 80 301 0.29 13.09

Wily Mo Pena, Reno 21 63 237 0.33 11.29

*Mike Carp, Tacoma 20 59 228 0.34 11.40

*Chris Davis, Round Rock 20 37 148 0.54 7.40

*Trayvon Robinson, Albuquerque 20 80 300 0.25 15.00

Mat Gamel, Nashville 18 76 293 0.24 16.39

*Chad Tracy, Round Rock 18 79 310 0.23 17.22

*Brandon Allen, Reno 17 78 284 0.22 16.71

*Jeff Baisley, Salt Lake 17 80 318 0.21 18.71

*Clint Robinson, Omaha 17 83 314 0.20 18.47

* - currently on team's active roster

NO LATE LOSSES AS OF LATE

The Express have won 14 straight when leading after seven innings and 15 straight when leading after eight innings. Round Rock is 38-3 this season when leading after eight innings; all three losses came in a 12-game span in the second half of May. The last time Round Rock lost when leading after eight innings was May 28 when Iowa posted three ninth-inning runs for a 6-4 win at The Dell Diamond.

BIG-INNING THEORY

Round Rock is 18-4 this season when scoring at least four runs in an inning and 32-31 when failing to do such. However, the difference in record is even more pronounced based upon what the opponent does. The Express are 45-21 when not allowing an inning of at least four runs but 5-14 when the opponent posts such an inning; Round Rock posted an inning of at least four runs in three of the five wins.

COMEBACK KIDS

Round Rock has 28 comeback wins this season (trailing at any point in the game). The Express have won nine times when trailing after five innings, seven times when trailing after six innings, seven times when trailing after seven innings and four times when trailing entering the ninth inning.

FIVE IS THE KEY

Round Rock is 42-11 this season when scoring at least five runs. Only eight times have the Express won when scoring fewer than five. Meanwhile, Round Rock is 29-11 when allowing fewer than five runs and 21-24 when allowing at least five runs.

ROUND ROCK PERFECT FOLLOWING CONSECUTIVE LOSSES

The Express have not lost three straight games this season, going 11-0 following consecutive losses. Round Rock wins in that situation were April 9 vs. Iowa, April 25 vs. Oklahoma City, April 29 at Memphis, May 15 at Las Vegas, May 19 vs. Colorado Springs, May 24 vs. Reno, June 1 at Oklahoma City, June 9 at Iowa, June 15 at Nashville, June 18 vs. Omaha and June 24 at New Orleans.

EXPRESS LEAD PCL IN ATTENDANCE

Round Rock leads the PCL in attendance, averaging 8,476 fans per game. Sacramento is second with a 7,810 per-game average, while Albuquerque (7,656) is third. The Express have finished second or third in the PCL each season since joining the league in 2005.

TEAM NOTES

* Round Rock has not lost three straight games, going 11-0 after consecutive losses.

* The Express are 16-9 in one-run games and 26-16 in games decided by two runs or fewer.

* Opponents have scored first in 48 of 85 games this season. The Express are 23-25 in those games, going 9-11 when responding with at least one run in their next at bat.

* The Express tallied at least 15 hits in four of the last 10 games.

* Five of Round Rock's 13 games this season with at least 15 hits were against Iowa.

* The Express have 15 last-at-bat wins, including seven walk-off victories.

* Round Rock is 7-2 in extra-inning games, including a 5-2 mark on the road.

* The Express are 36-12 when holding the opponent to fewer than six runs.

* Round Rock is 27-10 when scoring first and 23-10 when scoring in the first inning.

* The Express are 20-12 when allowing a first-inning run.

* Round Rock is 35-6 when out-hitting the opponent.

* The Express are 38-6 when leading after six innings, 37-3 when leading after seven innings and 38-3 when leading after eight innings.

* Round Rock has won eight of 12 games when tied after eight innings.

* The Express have out-scored their opponents 216-146 in innings four through six, including an 83-51 advantage in the sixth.

* Round Rock averages 2.1 two-out RBI per game.

PLAYER NOTES

JULIO BORBON

* Hitting .425 (17-for-40) over last nine games with four games of at least three hits and two four-hit games

* Six multiple-hit outings in last 13 games, hitting .357 (20-for-56) in that time

* Hitless in consecutive games only twice with no three-game spells

* Has stolen third seven times

* Hitting .208 (11-for-53) prior to the fourth inning, .333 (23-for-69) thereafter

JOEY BUTLER

* Hit safely in 14 of last 17 games and in 29 of last 34 games

* Multiple hits in four of last 10 games

* Hitless in consecutive games only twice with no three-game hitless streaks

* Hit safely in 50 of 59 games with Round Rock (played one game without a plate appearance)

* Hitting .349 (38-for-109) at The Dell Diamond with hits in 27 of 30 home games

* Hitting .390 (32-for-82) during middle innings (fourth through sixth), including a .476 mark (10-for-21) in the fourth inning

* Three of five home runs were hit in the sixth inning

* Hitting .337 (58-for-172) in 46 games since May 1 after hitting .265 (13-for-49) in April

KEVIN CASH

* Multiple hits in each of last two - second time this season (May 10, 12)

* 5-for-9 in last two games after going hitless in previous nine at bats

* Season-high three hits in first game of Albuquerque series - first multiple-hit game since June 10

* 16 of 37 hits (43.2 percent) have been for extra bases (12 doubles, one triple, three home runs)

* Two of five leadoff hits were homers

* Hitting .266 (17-for-64) after the sixth inning

CHRIS DAVIS

* Tied for fourth in PCL with 20 home runs, three shy of league lead

* Hitting .433 (26-for-60) over last 15 games with 10 home runs, 23 RBI and 10 multiple-hit outings

* Snapped longest RBI drought of season last night (three games)

* Hitting .418 (38-for-91) through the fifth inning, .298 (17-for-57) after the fifth

* Second on team with 16 multiple-RBI outings

* 17 of 20 home runs came prior to the seventh inning

* 17 of 20 home runs, 44 of 55 RBI at The Dell Diamond

* Hitting .406 (41-for-101) at home, .298 (14-for-47) on the road

DOUG DEEDS

* Hitless in last two games (fourth time)

* Has not gone hitless in three straight

* Hit a walk-off, two-run homer July 2 vs. Nashville - Round Rock's first walk-off homer this season

* 14 multiple-hit games

* Hit safely in 10 of last 15 games with nine one-hit outings (.186, 11-for-59)

* Four of seven home runs were solo shots

ROBINZON DIAZ

* Hit safely in 16 of 19 games with Round Rock, including two five-game streaks

* Nine multiple-hit games

* Each of first 16 hits with Express were singles

* Hitting .409 (18-for-44) when batting ninth; .267 (8-for-30) elsewhere in the order

CODY EPPLEY

* Converted all seven save opportunities

* Five of seven saves were on the road

* Stranded 10 of 14 inherited runners

* Issued six leadoff walks

ESTEBAN GERMAN

* Hitting .342 (26-for-76) over last 19 games

* Multiple hits in four of last nine games, going 14-for-35 (.400) in that time

* Hitless in consecutive games twice with no three-game skids

* Second on team with 20 two-out RBI

* Hitting .185 (5-for-27) after eighth inning

* Tied for team lead with 23 multiple-hit games, tops among active players

* Leads Express with 10 games of three-plus hits, including a pair of four-hit games

MARK HAMBURGER

* Won each of last three decisions, including each of last two outings

* Has not allowed a run since June 9 (six outings)

* 0.57 ERA (1 ER / 15.2 IP) over last eight appearances

* 3-0, 2.80 ERA (4 ER / 17.1 IP) since June 1

DEREK HANKINS

* Tied for fifth in league with 16 home runs allowed

* Surrendered at least one home run in 10 of 15 outings, multiple homers five times

* Express are 6-6 in his starts, snapping a five-game skid in his last start

* Averages 5.50 runs of support

ZACH JACKSON

* Won four of last five decisions

* Express are 11-4 in his starts, best of any pitcher on staff

* Averages staff-best 6.40 runs of support

* Opposing batters hit .255 on the road, .330 at The Dell Diamond

* Eight of 11 home runs allowed were at home

MATT KATA

* Multiple hits in each of last two games after going 20 consecutive games without a multiple-hit outing

* Riding a 10-game hitting streak, eight of which were one-hit outings

* Hitting .342 (13-for-38) during current streak

* Eight RBI in last seven games - three multiple-RBI outings

* Reached safely in 24 of last 25 games, including 11 straight

* Struck out looking only twice in 204 at bats

* Advanced a runner with an out 18 times, tied for best on team

MICHAEL KIRKMAN

* Optioned to Round Rock from Texas prior to July 3 game

* Third stint with Express this season

* Allowed career highs of 10 runs and 10 hits over 3.1 innings vs. Iowa in season opener one week after taking a Nelson Cruz comebacker on left bicep in an exhibition game at The Dell Diamond

SETH McCLUNG

* Express are 6-5 in his starts

* Averages 5.55 runs of support per start

* 1-0, 3.03 ERA, .221 opponents' average (27-for-122) in six road appearances - all starts

BRAD NELSON

* Two home runs in last 107 at bats

* Hitting .115 (3-for-26) in the fifth inning

* Hitting .303 (30-for-99) as designated hitter, .234 (36-for-154) when playing in the field

ZACH PHILLIPS

* Leads staff with 31 appearances

* Allowed seven earned runs in 19.0 innings (3.32 ERA) over last 14 outings

* Has not allowed a home run since May 12 at Tucson - 23.1 innings over 17 appearances)

* 2.49 ERA (6 ER / 21.2 IP) and .262 opponents' average in 17 home outings

* 6.86 ERA (16 ER / 21.0 IP) and .306 opponents' average in 14 road appearances

OMAR QUINTANILLA

* Snapped eight-game hitting streak last night, going 0-for-3 with a walk

* Hit .486 (18-for-37) during streak with four multiple-hit performances

* Established Express single-game record with six hits July 4 at Albuquerque

* Hit safely in 10 of last 12 games

* All five home runs were solo shots

* Hitting .183 (11-for-60) after the sixth inning

* Three of eight hits after the seventh inning were game-winning hits

PEDRO STROP

* Snapped five-outing scoreless streak in last appearance, allowing two runs over 1.1 innings

* Four strikeouts in last six appearances after 22 strikeouts in previous 10 appearances

* Stranded seven of 11 inherited runners

* Four extra-base hits allowed in 104 at bats

BRETT TOMKO

* Credited with win in each of last three decisions

* Express are 5-1 in his last six outings (four starts)

* At least one home run allowed in eight of 10 appearances, including each of last five outings

CHAD TRACY

* Tied for seventh in league with 18 home runs

* Hit safely in five of last six games, going 8-for-26 (.308) in that time

* Six of 18 home runs were with two outs and at least one runner on base

* Fourth in PCL with 67 RBI

* Hitting .189 (14-for-74) over last 20 games, going hitless 11 times

* Leads the team in hits with runners in scoring position (34)

* Also leads team with 32 two-out hits and 28 two-out RBI

* Leads team with 21 multiple-RBI games - five more than any other player (Chris Davis)

NEXT SERIES

Round Rock returns to The Dell Diamond for a four-game series against the Memphis Redbirds. The series runs Thursday through Sunday with a 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch each night. This is the final series before the All-Star Game break. The Express dropped two of three in a rain-shortened series at Memphis in late April.

GAME ‚¬Ë†87 | THURSDAY, JULY 7 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Eric Hurley (1-0, 5.49 ERA)

Redbirds: RHP P.J. Walters (7-4, 4.25 ERA)

GAME ‚¬Ë†88 | FRIDAY, JULY 8 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Zach Jackson (6-2, 5.61 ERA)

Redbirds: TBA

GAME ‚¬Ë†89 | SATURDAY, JULY 9 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Brett Tomko (4-3, 7.24 ERA)

Redbirds: RHP Adam Ottavino (3-5, 3.91 ERA)

GAME ‚¬Ë†90 | SUNDAY, JULY 10 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Scott Feldman (starts tonight)

Redbirds: LHP Nick Addition (2-4, 3.38 ERA)

Check out the Round Rock Express Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 6, 2011


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