PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express - Game Notes at Albuquerque Isotopes

Published on July 6, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


GAME 89 | 6 JULY 2012 | 8:05 P.M. CDT | ISOTOPES PARK | ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.

ROUND ROCK EXPRESS (38-50) at ALBUQUERQUE ISOTOPES (50-38)

RADIO: 104.9 FM The Horn ESPN"ˆAustin | ONLINE"ˆAUDIO: www.espnaustin.com

EXPRESS: LHP Chad Bell (2-0, 0.77 ERA) | ISOTOPES: RHP Stephen Fife (6-5, 4.88 ERA)

TONIGHT, TONIGHT

Round Rock continues a five-game road series against the Albuquerque Isotopes (Los Angeles Dodgers). First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. CDT at Isotopes Park. Albuquerque won the series' first two games, including a 10-9 victory last night. The Express, 3-7 in their last 10 games, have lost four straight and six of their last seven games. Round Rock is 17-28 on the road. The Isotopes, 6-4 in their last 10 games, are 30-15 at home, winning eight of their last nine at Isotopes Park. Omaha (34-13) is the only PCL team with a better home mark. Round Rock is fourth in the PCL's American Southern Division, 12-and-a-half games back of Oklahoma City and eight games behind third-place New Orleans. Albuquerque trails Oklahoma City by a half game.

RADIO GA GA

Tonight's game airs on The Horn 104.9 FM ESPN"ˆAustin. Online audio also is available at www.espnaustin.com. Express Director of Broadcasting Mike Capps handles play-by-play duties.

US AND THEM

This is the third of four series between the two teams. Albuquerque returns to The Dell Diamond for a four-game series July 24-27, closing Round Rock's antepenultimate home stand. ... SERIES NOTES: Albuquerque leads the all-time series 64-57, but Round Rock has won eight of the last 13 meetings. The series has been dominated by the home team with the Express leading the series 36-24 at The Dell Diamond and the Isotopes leading 40-21 at Albuquerque. Round Rock won season series in 2006 (10-6) and 2008 (9-7). Albuquerque won series in 2005 (9-7), 2007 (10-6), 2009 (10-6) and 2010 (9-7). The Express swept four-game series at home in 2008 and last season, and a three-game home series in 2006. The Isotopes swept four-game series at home in 2005 and 2007. ... 2012 SERIES: Albuquerque leads the season series 5-4, winning three of five games at Isotopes Park. The teams split a four-game series June 2-5 at The Dell Diamond, and the Express won two of three games at Isotopes Park the following week. Round Rock is hitting .294 (92-for-313) with five homers (Mike Bianucci and Tommy Mendonca two each; Dusty Brown one), 20 doubles, two triples and 4.6 runs per game. Luis Hernandez is 10-for-31 (.323) with five RBI, two doubles and a triple in eight games. Brad Nelson, the lone Express player to appear in all nine games, is 12-for-37 (.324) with four RBI, four doubles and four runs scored, but he also has 10 strikeouts. Ryan Spilborghs is 10-for-29 (.345) with two walks, five runs scored and two stolen bases in seven games. Express pitchers have a 4.48 ERA (39 ER/78.1 IP) with 48 strikeouts against 25 walks. Albuquerque is hitting .287 (87-for-303) with six homers, 19 doubles, four triples and 5.1 runs per game. The Isotopes scored eight-plus runs in three of the last five meetings, all at Albuquerque. Josh Fields is 17-for-36 (.472) with a homer, eight RBI, four doubles and six runs scored in nine games. Trent Oeltjen is 7-for-20 (.350) in five games with two homers and seven RBI. Jerry Sands is hitting only .229 (8-for-35), but he has eight RBI and one homer - last night's game-winning, two-run shot in the ninth inning. Isotopes pitchers have a 3.65 ERA (32 ER/79.0 IP) with 63 strikeouts against 22 walks.

SERIES"ˆINFORMATION

GAME"ˆ87 | WEDNESDAY, JULY 4

Isotopes 8, Express 2

WP: Nieve (4-6). LP: Jackson (3-10). SV: None.

GAME"ˆ88 | THURSDAY, JULY 5

Isotopes 10, Express 9

WP: Wall (2-1). LP: Heilman (1-1). SV: None.

GAME"ˆ89 | FRIDAY, JULY 6 | 8:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Chad Bell (2-0, 0.77 ERA)

Isotopes: RHP Stephen Fife (6-5, 4.88 ERA)

GAME"ˆ90 | SATURDAY, JULY 7 | 8:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Ben Snyder (1-3, 4.20 ERA)

Isotopes: RHP John Ely (8-5, 3.15 ERA)

GAME"ˆ91 | SUNDAY, JULY 8 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Derek Hankins (3-5, 4.75 ERA)

Isotopes: LHP Derrick Loop (7-2, 5.12 ERA)

START ME UP

LHP CHAD BELL (1-0, 1.59 ERA, 7 K)

2012: Began season with Class A-Advanced Myrtle Beach, going 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA (2 ER/11.1 IP) and 12 strikeouts against four walks in four relief outings ... assigned to Double-A Frisco prior to April 25 game ... moved into the RoughRiders rotation May 19 ... 2-2 with a 2.84 ERA (16 ER/50.2 IP) and 40 strikeouts against 13 walks in seven starts and six relief appearances with Frisco ... Texas League Mid-Season All-Star ... assigned to Round Rock prior to June 22 game ... made first career Triple-A appearance June 26 at Iowa (start) ... won each of first two Triple-A starts - June 26 at Iowa, July 1 vs. New Orleans ... allowed one run on nine hits over 11.2 innings in those two starts ... averages 3.5 runs of support per start ... opponents are 1-for-12 (.083) with runners in scoring position ... allowed only two of 12 leadoff batters to reach base (both walks) with three strikeouts ... lone run allowed scored in third inning ... four of six walks issued were in the sixth inning.

LAST START: Won July 1 start vs. New Orleans at The Dell Diamond (4-0) ... combined with Willie Eyre and Aaron Heilman on a five-hit shutout ... surrendered five hits (four singles, one double) over 6.0 innings with two walks and two strikeouts ... utilized one double play ... 87 pitches, 52 strikes.

2012 vs. ALBUQUERQUE: First meeting.

CAREER"ˆvs. ALBUQUERQUE: First meeting

NOTABLE: Chadwick Bell ... Rangers 14th-round draft pick in 2009 out of Walters State [Tenn.] Community College ... 8-1, 2.08 (15 ER/65.0 IP) with five complete games, one shutout, 78 strikeouts in 12 starts as a sophomore at Walters State ... garnered Tennessee Community College Athletic Association Pitcher of the Year honors and was first-team all-TCCAA ... NJCAA third-team All-America in 2009 ... committed to University of Tennessee but signed with Rangers rather than attending Tennessee ... 4-1, 1.51 (9 ER/53.2 IP) with 51 strikeouts for Cotuit of Cape Cod League in summer of 2009 ... tossed a no-hitter July 12 ... drafted in the 37th round by Cleveland in the 2008 June Draft ... TBCA Todd Helton Player of the Year as a senior at South Doyle High School in Knoxville, Tenn. ... selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 25th round of the 2007 draft.

BUFFALO SOLDIER

Joey Butler was selected to the 2012 PCL All-Star Team, the league office announced last week. Butler, a 2011 PCL Postseason All-Star, is the lone Express representative on the 30-member team. The 25th-Annual Triple-A All-Star Game is July 11 at Coca-Cola Field in Buffalo, N.Y., and pits the PCL All-Stars against the International League All-Stars. The team consists of 13 elected players who received the most votes from ballots submitted by the league's field and general managers (one-third), media members (one-third) and online fan voting (one-third). The elected members are joined by 17 players selected by the league office. Each of the 16 PCL clubs will be represented in Buffalo.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Round Rock is 17-28 on the road this season; however, the Express won five of their last eight away from The Dell Diamond. Express batters have been significantly more productive in 45 road games (.282, 56 homers, 5.8 runs per game) than in 43 home games (.262, 28 homers, 4.1 runs per game). However, Round Rock pitchers have struggled on the road, posting a 5.73 ERA (247 ER/387.2 IP). Greg Reynolds (5-3, 5.02 ERA) and Zach Jackson (3-3, 5.24 ERA) provided eight of Round Rock's 17 wins on the road; the rest of the staff is 9-22 with a 5.99 ERA (183 ER/275.0 IP).

NEVER-ENDING MATH EQUATION

Round Rock scored seven-plus runs last night for the first time since June 12 at Albuquerque (9-2), snapping a streak of 21 consecutive games scoring six or fewer runs. The Express averaged 2.3 runs over seven games prior to last night's contest and were shutout twice in that time. Last night's nine-run output also stopped a stretch of 13 consecutive games in which the Express scored fewer than six runs; Round Rock scored 34 runs in that time (2.6 per game). Dusty Brown's grand slam last night was Round Rock's third of the season, all of which were on the road and only the team's fourth homer over the last 11 games; Brown hit two of the four homers. Furthermore, Round Rock eclipsed six runs only once in its last 21 home games - a 7-3 victory June 3 vs. Albuquerque.

RAMBLIN' MAN

Brad Nelson hit safely in 31 of his last 33 road games, going 47-for-127 (.370) on the road since an 0-for-4 night April 21 at New Orleans. That stretch included a 21-game road hitting streak. His lone hitless outings over the last 33 road games were June 8 at Omaha (0-for-1 as pinch hitter) and June 26 at Iowa (0-for-2, two walks). Nelson hits more than 100 points better on the road (.335, 54-for-161) than at home (.206, 32-for-155). Nine of his 11 homers and 34 of his 47 RBI were in road games. Nelson was 1-for-27 (.037) in the most recent home stand, going hitless in each of the last six games.

UNDER PRESSURE

Matt Kata is hitting .429 (24-for-56) with runners in scoring position (34 RBI), going 9-for-21 (.429) with runners in scoring position and two outs (18 RBI). However, he is 41-for-180 (.228) without runners in scoring position. Kata is 5-for-8 with the bases loaded (one homer, 12 RBI); he is 4-for-5 with the bases loaded since delivering a game-winning, three-run double May 24 vs. Sacramento. Furthermore, Kata is hitting .333 (18-for-54) after the seventh inning (10 RBI).

WALK THIS WAY

Joey Butler leads the PCL with 55 walks, eight more than any other player. He walked at least once in five of his last seven games. Meanwhile, Tommy Mendonca (currently on the disabled list) last walked May 2, a span of 29 games and 112 plate appearances. Earlier this season, Luis Hernandez endured a stretch of 33 games and 147 plate appearances without a walk. Matt Kata walked in his final plate appearance July 1 vs. New Orleans, one of only two walks since May 13 (37 games, 149 plate appearances).

FIVE TO ONE

The Express are 31-8 when holding the opposition to fewer than five runs but 7-42 when allowing at least five runs, losing 16 straight in that situation. Conversely, Round Rock is 11-29 when scoring fewer than five runs; four of the 11 wins were shutouts.

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH

The Express are 7-15 in series openers, going 2-9 on the road. ... Of Round Rock's 84 home runs, 56 were on the road (1.24 per game). Meanwhile, Express batters average 0.63 homers per game at home (27 homers, 43 games). ... Round Rock is hitting .337 (29-for-86) with the bases loaded (three grand slams), going 19-for-48 (.396) since May 21. Opponents are 33-for-84 (.393) with seven grand slams. ... Round Rock leads the PCL with 110 double plays turned, 15 more than any other team (Nashville). Express pitchers induced at least one double play in nine straight games and 15 of the last 16 games (25 double plays). ... Round Rock is 7-12 in one-run games. Seven of the 19 games were against Iowa. ... The Express are 1-40 when trailing after seven innings, dropping 28 straight in that situation. Round Rock's lone win was May 2 thanks to a six-run eighth to rally past New Orleans 10-5. Conversely, the Express are 36-6 when leading after seven innings and 38-1 when out-scoring the opponent.

EVERYDAY PEOPLE

MIKE BIANUCCI: Hit safely in each of his last four games, all one-hit efforts ... 22-for-64 (.344) over his last 18 games with six multiple-hit games ... no multiple-hit efforts since four straight two-hit outings June 23-26 ... 14 games, 51 at bats since hitting homers in back-to-back at bats June 19 vs. Iowa ... four RBI since last multiple-RBI game (four RBI, June 19 vs. Iowa), a span of 14 games ... double Tuesday night was first extra-base hit since June 24 (double at Iowa) ... 22-for-46 (.478) in the fourth inning (four homers, nine RBI) ... no more than 11 hits in any other inning ... hitting .364 (20-for-55) when leading off an inning with three walks (.417 OBP).

JULIO BORBON: Hit safely in five of last six games (.333, 8-for-24) with three multiple-hit games ... stretch comes on the heels of a 2-for-41 slump ... hitting .343 (59-for-172) since May 12 ... no RBI since two-run homer June 16 vs. Oklahoma City (17 games) ... one extra-base hit since that homer (double, June 28 vs. Nashville) ... 37-for-89 (.416) during middle innings with 17 of 32 RBI.

DUSTY BROWN: Snapped 0-for-11 skid with sixth-inning grand slam last night ... each of last two hits were homers (June 28 vs. Nashville) ... hit safely in eight of last 11 games (.281, 9-for-32) ... was 2-for-47 (.043) over his previous 20 games ... one multiple-hit effort (June 23 at Iowa) since May 9 ... at least one strikeout in seven straight games (nine strikeouts, no walks) ... 3-for-29 (.103) with runners in scoring position; both hits came with two outs ... snapped 0-for-12 runners-in-scoring-position skid with last night's grand slam ... owns a .405 on-base percentage when leading off an inning, hitting .267 (8-for-30) with one homer and seven walks against seven strikeouts ... hitless in each of last six leadoff at bats ... one grand slam, three walks and two sacrifice flies in seven bases-loaded plate appearances (nine RBI).

JOEY BUTLER: Snapped 0-for-9 skid with second-inning double last night ... 4-for-36 (.111) over his last 10-plus games ... two multiple-hit games since June 10 ... 6-for-41 (.146) over his last 13 games ... at least one strikeout in 12 of last 13 games (17 strikeouts) ... leads PCL with 55 walks, one more than any other player ... at least one walk in five of last seven games (six walks) ... one homer in last 30 games, 104 at bats (July 1 vs. New Orleans) ... one homer at The Dell Diamond since May 17 vs. Fresno (27 games) ... seven of 12 home runs were solo shots ... 13-for-29 (.448) in the fifth inning (four homers, nine RBI) ... 10 RBI in the eighth inning ... two-RBI game last night was first multiple-RBI effort since May 29 at Memphis; seven RBI between multiple-RBI outings ... hitting .212 (25-for-118) when batting fifth or higher in the order, .315 (57-for-181) when batting sixth or lower.

LUIS HERNANDEZ: Riding a four-game hitting streak, all one-hit efforts (.286, 4-for-14) ... hit safely in six of last seven games (.360, 9-for-25) with five RBI ... one homer over last 25 games, 94 at bats (July 2 vs. New Orleans) ... three-run double July 3 vs. New Orleans matched RBI total from previous 16 games ... six RBI over last four games with two multiple-RBI efforts ... four of five home runs were solo shots ... 3-for-22 (.136) with runners in scoring position and two outs ... 12-for-62 (.200) when leading off an inning with one homer, four walks, six strikeouts ... leads all PCL shortstops with a .981 fielding percentage (seven errors, 375 total chances) ... one error in three of last nine games.

MATT KATA: No multiple-hit efforts since two-hit game June 22 vs. Iowa ... 8-for-49 (.163) since then with no extra-base hits and two RBI ... two walks in last 37 games, 149 plate appearances ... one extra-base hit (triple, June 30 vs. New Orleans) since June 23, a span of 12 games ... three extra-base hits (double, two triples) since last home run (grand slam May 31 at Memphis).

LUIS MARTINEZ: Hit safely in 12 of his last 14 games ... two-hit effort outing Wednesday night was first multiple-hit effort in that time ... two-run single Wednesday night produced first RBI since May 29 at Memphis ... no extra-base hits since June 12 at Albuquerque (double) ... 16-for-39 (.411) in the third and fourth innings; 22-for-110 (.200) the rest of the game ... 4-for-27 (.148) with runners in scoring position and two outs ... 0-for-5 with bases loaded (one walk, one hit-by-pitch, one sacrifice fly).

GREG MICLAT: Activated from disabled list prior to Tuesday night's game ... saw action that night for first time since June 19 ... hit safely in each of last three games with more than one at bat (two hits in each game) ... no walks since May 1 (nine games).

BRAD NELSON: Snapped 0-for-24 skid spanning seven games with fourth-inning single Wednesday night ... longest hitless stretch since July 28-Aug. 6, 2010, with Tacoma (seven games, 24 at bats) ... 3-for-6 since snapping skid ... double last night was first extra-base hits since June 24 grand slam at Iowa ... two-hit outing last night was first multiple-hit effort since June 22 vs. Iowa (two hits) ... at least one strikeout in seven of last eight games (10 strikeouts) ... six of 11 homers were solos, including four leadoff shots ... 4-for-7 with bases loaded (homer, 10 RBI).

GUILDER RODRIGUEZ: Hitless in first 12 at bats with Express after being promoted from Double-A Frisco ... 6-for-10 since, including three-hit game July 3 vs. New Orleans ... scored in each of last three games ... four of six hits were with bases empty ... 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position ... 0-for-2 with bases loaded.

ELIO SARMIENTO: Activated from disabled list prior to Wednesday night's game ... saw first action since June 1 ... hitless in last five games ... 0-for-20 since second-inning double May 11 at Salt Lake ... at least one strikeout in nine of 11 games played, including each of last eight games (12 strikeouts).

YANGERVIS SOLARTE: Riding a four-game hitting streak (.375, 6-for-16) ... hit safely in 13 of his last 17 games (.345, 20-for-55) with six multiple-hit games (one three-hit outing) and six RBI ... five of six home runs, 29 of 36 RBI came after the third inning ... no homers since May 14, a span of 44 games and 167 at bats ... five of six home runs were solo shots ... 6-for-45 (.133) with runners in scoring position and fewer than two outs ... second in PCL with 13.69 plate appearances per strikeout ... one strikeout over last 11 games, 41 plate appearances (July 3 vs. New Orleans) ... hitting .369 (24-for-65) in bottom third of order, .267 (68-for-255) when batting sixth or higher.

RYAN SPILBORGHS: 5-for-10 over last two games ... hit safely in four of last six games (.333, 8-for-24) ... 11-for-68 (.162) over previous 17 games ... no homers since May 26, a span of 33 games and 126 at bats ... one RBI (June 28 vs. Nashville) since two-RBI effort June 13 at Albuquerque (18 games) ... 25-for-60 (.417) during the fifth, sixth and seventh innings ... 5-for-33 (.152) with runners in scoring position and two outs ... hitless in each of his last 16 such at bats ... 235 career PCL games, hitting .335 (299-for-893) with 24 homers, 120 RBI and 68 doubles.

BROTHERS IN ARMS

NEAL COTTS: Stranded five of seven inherited runners ... one run allowed over last eight outings (8.0 innings) ... walked one batter in each of first four outings but none in five appearances since ... opponents are 2-for-13 (.154) with runners in scoring position, 0-for-3 with bases loaded ... seven of nine hits allowed were with bases empty.

WILLIE EYRE: At least one run allowed in three of six outings ... both inherited runners scored ... opponents are 1-for-10 when leading off an inning (no walks, two strikeouts) ... opponents are 3-for-6 with runners in scoring position and two outs.

AARON HEILMAN: Suffered first blown save since May 2 last night ... converted each of previous six save chances ... Jerry Sands two-run homer last night snapped 10.1-inning scoreless streak over seven-plus outings ... first run allowed since coughing up three runs June 9 at Omaha ... first home runs surrendered since May 23 vs. Sacramento ... 2.89 ERA (5 ER/19.2 IP) over last 16 outings, going 1-1 with six saves ... opponents are 6-for-34 (.176) over last nine appearances ... allowed no more than one hit in any of those nine outings ... 30 strikeouts in his last 30.0 innings ... stranded seven of 11 inherited runners ... opponents hitting .378 (14-for-37) with runners in scoring position.

BEN SNYDER: 1-0, 3.00 ERA (6 ER/18.0 IP) in 14 outings at The Dell Diamond ... 0-3 with a 5.00 ERA (15 ER/27.0 IP) in 14 road games ... 19 strikeouts over last 20.0 innings with nine walks in his last 13 appearances.

JOHAN YAN: Allowed at least one run in seven of 11 outings ... entered game with bases loaded in three of last four outings and stranded six of those nine runners ... stranded seven of 11 inherited runners on the season.

WHO'S NEXT

Following the All-Star Game break, the Express return to The Dell Diamond for a four-game series against the Memphis Redbirds. The series begins Thursday, July 12, with a 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch and continues July 13 (7:05 p.m.), July 14 (6:05 p.m.) and July 15 (7:05 p.m.).

Check out the Round Rock Express Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Pacific Coast League Stories from July 6, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central