PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express - Game Notes at Iowa Cubs (Chicago Cubs)

Published on June 23, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


GAME 76 | 23 JUNE 2012 | 7:05 P.M. CDT | PRINCIPAL PARK | DES MOINES, IOWA

ROUND ROCK EXPRESS (33-42) vs. IOWA CUBS (32-43)

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

EXPRESS: LHP Zach Jackson (2-8, 5.33 ERA) | CUBS: RHP Chris Vostad (2-1, 4.78 ERA)

TONIGHT, TONIGHT

Round Rock opens a four-game series at Iowa (Chicago Cubs), following the Cubs back to Des Moines. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT at Principal Park. The teams split a four-game series at The Dell Diamond over the previous four days. The Express are 6-4 over their last 10 games. Round Rock is 14-25 on the road. The Cubs have lost eight of their last 11 and are 7-15 since June 1. Iowa is 16-23 at home. Round Rock is fourth in the PCL's American Southern Division, 10-and-a-half games back of Oklahoma City. Iowa is second in the American Northern Division but trails Omaha by 14 games - the league's largest first-place margin.

RADIO GA GA

Tonight's game airs on 104.9 FM The Horn 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 last of four series between Round Rock and Iowa. The season series is tied 6-6. The teams split each of the first three series. ... SERIES HISTORY: The all-time series is tied 62-62; the Cubs hold a 33-27 advantage at Principal Park. Round Rock won the season series in 2006 (12-4), 2008 (11-5) and 2011 (9-7), while Iowa claimed the season series in 2005 (10-5), 2007 (10-6), 2009 (9-7) and 2010 (11-5). The teams split a pair of series - one at each location - earlier this season. There have been five sweeps in the series: Iowa at home in 2005, Round Rock at Iowa in 2006, Round Rock at home in 2006, Round Rock at home in 2008 and Round Rock at home in 2009. The Express have not won a home series against the Cubs since the 2009 sweep, splitting three series and dropping three of four in the other two series. ... 2012 SERIES: Six of the 12 meetings were one-run affairs with each team winning three times. Nine of the 12 games were decided three or fewer runs. The teams have played one extra-inning game - an 11-10 Express victory 13-innings April 15 at The Dell Diamond. Round Rock is hitting .252 (104-for-413) with 11 homers, 21 doubles, a triple, seven stolen bases and 4.8 runs per game. Mike Bianucci is 14-for-41 (.341) in 11 games with five homers, 11 RBI and nine runs scored. Joey Butler is 14-for-45 (.311) with one homer, four RBI, six doubles and 11 runs scored in 12 games. Express pitchers have a 4.81 ERA (59 ER/110.1 IP) with 77 strikeouts against 42 walks. Martin Perez is 2-1 with a 1.74 ERA (4 ER/20.2 IP) in three starts against the Cubs. Iowa is hitting .301 (129-for-429) with 13 homers, 23 doubles, three triples, 13 stolen bases and 5.1 runs per game. Brett Jackson is 15-for-50 (.300) with three homers, seven RBI, five doubles, a triple, 10 runs scored and 10 walks in 12 games; he also has 22 strikeouts. Anthony Rizzo is 16-for-48 (.333) with three homers, 12 RBI, six runs scored and 10 strikeouts in 11 games.

SERIES"ˆINFORMATION

GAME"ˆ76 | SATURDAY, JUNE 23 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Zach Jackson (2-8, 5.33 ERA)

Cubs: RHP Chris Volstad (2-1, 4.78 ERA)

GAME"ˆ77 | SUNDAY, JUNE 24 | 1:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Greg Reynolds (6-5, 4.57 ERA)

Cubs: RHP Rodrigo Lopez (1-2, 4.29 ERA)

GAME"ˆ78 | MONDAY, JUNE 25 | 12:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Ben Snyder (1-2, 3.55 ERA)

Cubs: LHP Brooks Raley (3-2, 4.72 ERA)

GAME"ˆ79 | TUESDAY, JUNE 26 | 12:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Martin Perez (5-5, 4.59 ERA)

Cubs: RHP Frankie De La Cruz (1-2, 2.68 ERA)

START ME UP

LHP ZACH JACKSON (2-8, 5.33 ERA, 40 K)

2012: Allowed four runs on five hits in two innings of relief with no walks and one strikeout in April 2 exhibition game vs. Rangers ... suffered losses April 9 at Omaha, April 19 vs. Omaha, April 30 vs. New Orleans, May 18 vs. Fresno, May 23 vs. Sacramento, June 5 vs. Albuquerque, June 11 at Albuquerque and June 16 vs. Oklahoma City (all starts) ... claimed wins April 24 at New Orleans and May 31 at Memphis (both starts) ... no-decisions April 14 vs. Iowa, May 5 vs. Memphis and May 10 at Salt Lake ... also made a relief appearance May 14 at Tacoma ... lost each of last three starts and five of last six ... allowed three or fewer runs in seven of last 10 starts but is 1-6 record in that time ... six-plus innings in 10 of 13 starts, going season-high 7.0 innings May 10 at Salt Lake ... 2.08 ERA (6 ER/26.0 IP) through first two innings; 7.05 ERA (41 ER/52.1 IP) thereafter, including a 9.00 ERA (13 ER/13.0 IP) in the third inning ... opponents hitting .307 (23-for-75) when leading off an inning with five homers, six strikeouts and nine walks (.381 on-base percentage) ... 11 double plays induced ... two double plays since May 5 (seven starts, one relief appearance) ... averages staff-low 3.62 runs of support per start, including 2.75 runs per game in eight losses ... 1-6 with two no-decisions (one win, one loss) following an Express loss ... team is 3-10 in his starts ... 2-2, 5.23 ERA"ˆ(19 ER/32.2 IP) in five starts, one relief appearance on the road.

LAST START: Lost June 16 start vs. Oklahoma City at The Dell"ˆDiamond, an 8-5 RedHawks win ... allowed six runs on eight hits (two homers) over 6.2 innings with two walks and no strikeouts ... also hit one batter and utilized one double play ... led 2-1 before five-run fifth inning that included back-to-back homers from Mike Hessman (two-run) and Brad Snyder (solo) ... left game trailing 6-2 ... 94 pitches, 56 strikes.

2012 vs. IOWA: No-decision in April 14 start at The Dell Diamond, a 6-5 Express win ... allowed four runs on 10 hits (one homer) and two walks with two strikeouts over 5.0 innings ... surrendered Brett Jackson leadoff homer in the fifth inning ... left game tied 3-3.

CAREER"ˆvs. IOWA: 5-1, 3.84 ERA"ˆ(26 ER/61.0 IP) in 10 starts, four relief appearances with 40 strikeouts against 16 walks ... 15.2 percent of career PCL wins (33) against Iowa ... 3-0, 2.45 ERA"ˆ(5 ER/18.1 IP) in three starts last season ... has not lost to Cubs since June 1, 2008, with Nashville (five starts, three relief outings since) ... also posted wins May 1, 2007, with Nashville at Des Moines and April 13, 2008, with Nashville at home (both starts) ... 2-0, 3.55 ERA"ˆ(10 ER/25.1 IP) in five career outings at Principal Park (all starts).

NOTABLE: Began college career at Louisville (2002-2003) ... at Louisville, lettered two years as a pitcher ... had an overall record of 17-9 which ranked third all-time at Louisville ... earned Freshman All-American honors after the 2002 season ... earned All-Conference USA second team and CUSA All-Freshman team honors after the 2002 season ... played for the Hyannis Mets in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2003, earning a spot on the Cape Cod All-Star Game ... transferred to Texas A&M in 2004 ... went 10-7 with a 3.58 ERA in 18 starts his junior year prior to being drafted by Toronto ... was a community health and sport management major in college ... lettered four years at Seneca Valley High School in Cranberry Township, Pa. ... compiled a career high school record of 25-4 on the mound and hit a school-record 12 home runs ... struck out 17 batters in final high school game ... originally drafted by the White Sox in the 50th round of the 2001 June draft.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Round Rock is 14-25 (.359) on the road again, the PCL's third-lowest winning percentage ahead of only Nashville (.308, 12-27) and Tucson (.286, 10-25). The Express won each of their last two road games (both at Albuquerque) but have won three straight on the road only once this season - April 22-24 at New Orleans. Round Rock split a four-game series at Des Moines in the season's first series (April 5-8).

WHAT'S GOING ON

Despite sitting 10-and-a-half games back (last place) in the division standings, Round Rock is 13-10 against division foes. In fact, Oklahoma City leads the division; however, the RedHawks are 11-16 against the division. The Isotopes are 17-14 against division foes but 3-4 against the Express. Round Rock's schedule is quite favorable in the season's second half (72 games). The Express play only 12 games against non-division teams with .500-or-better records - four against Omaha (home), four against Las Vegas (home) and four against Reno (road).

RAMBLIN' MAN

Brad Nelson hit safely in 26 of his last 27 road games, going 41-for-109 (.376) on the road since an 0-for-4 night April 21 at New Orleans. That stretch included a 21-game road hitting streak that is the PCL's longest this season. His lone hitless outing over the last 27 road games was June 8 at Omaha when he was hitless in a pinch-hit role. Nelson is hitting nearly 100 points better on the road (.336, 48-for-143) than at home (.242, 31-for-128). Seven of his nine homers and 28 of his 41 RBI were in road games; six of his 13 RBI at The Dell Diamond came in the just-completed home stand. Six of his nine homers were solos, including four leadoff shots.

UNDER PRESSURE

Matt Kata is hitting .478 (22-for-46) with runners in scoring position, delivering 32 RBI. He is even more deadly with runners in scoring position and two outs, going 9-for-17 (.529) with 18 RBI. However, he is 36-for-145 (.248) without runners in scoring position. Kata hit Round Rock's lone grand slam (May 31 at Memphis) and is 4-for-6 with the bases loaded (11 RBI); he is 3-for-3 with the bases loaded since delivering a game-winning, three-run double May 24 vs. Sacramento. Furthermore, Kata is hitting .364 (16-for-44) after the seventh inning with 10 RBI. He is 30-for-81 (.370) over his last 21 games with two homers, 16 RBI, three doubles, a triple, 10 multiple-hit outings and four multiple-RBI games. He snapped an 0-for-10 skid last night, going 2-for-4; it was his longest skid of the season both in terms of games (three) and at bats.

WALK THIS WAY

Three Express players have gone at least 90 plate appearances without a walk: Luis Hernandez (May 19 - 30 games, 134 plate appearances), Matt Kata (May 13 - 24 games, 98 plate appearances) and Tommy Mendonca (May 2 - 29 games, 112 plate appearances). Meanwhile, Joey Butler leads the PCL with 48 walks.

FIVE TO ONE

The Express are 26-5 when holding the opposition to fewer than five runs but 7-37 when allowing at least five runs. Round Rock surrendered at least five runs nine times in the last 17 games and lost all nine games. Meanwhile, the Express are 7-22 when scoring fewer than five runs; three of the seven wins were shutouts.

BRING IT ON HOME

In stark contrast to last season, The Dell Diamond has not been a launching pad for the Express. Round Rock averages 0.67 homers per game through 36 home dates this season (24 homers). Conversely, Round Rock averages 1.36 homers in 39 road games (53 homers), including a season-high five May 8 at Salt Lake. The Express clubbed at least two homers 13 times on the road but only six times at The Dell Diamond. Last season, Round Rock averaged 1.46 home runs per game at The Dell Diamond and 0.97 homers per game on the road. Teams have combined to score 9.28 runs per game at The Dell Diamond this season as opposed to the 11.90 average in 2011. ... Round Rock is third in the PCL with 78 homers, 53 of which were on the road. Of Round Rock's 78 home runs, 42 were solo shots, including 23 to leadoff an inning.

EVERYDAY PEOPLE

Mike Bianucci is 9-for-25 (.360) over his last seven games after going 5-for-33 (.152) in his previous eight games. His two-homer game June 19 vs. Iowa was his first multiple-homer game since the 2011 season opener (April 7) with Double-A Frisco. The homers came in back-to-back bats after going 133 at bats with only three homers. Bianucci has one walk over his last 18 games (74 plate appearances). He is 4-for-11 (.364) with the bases loaded (two doubles, two walks, 10 RBI) and 18-for-38 (.474) in the fourth inning (four homers, eight RBI). ... Julio Borbon is hitless in his last 17 at bats since a third-inning single June 17 vs. Oklahoma City. It is his longest hitless stretch of the season both in terms of games (four) and at bats. Borbon is 49-for-124 (.395) since May 12, a stretch that included a career-best, 21-game hitting streak. He is hitting .423 (33-for-78) in the middle innings with three homers, 17 RBI and six doubles. Borbon maintains a 13-game road hitting streak. ... Dusty Brown is 5-for-54 (.093) since an eighth-inning double May 11 at Salt Lake with 18 strikeouts in that time. However, he also has 15 walks in that time, including four games with two walks. Brown is 2-for-23 (.087) with runners in scoring position; both hits came with two outs. He owns a .483 on-base percentage when leading off an inning, hitting .318 (7-for-22) with one homer and seven walks against four strikeouts. Brown has three walks and two sacrifice flies in six bases-loaded plate appearances. ... Joey Butler is 8-for-15 (.533) over his last four games with three doubles and four runs scored. This comes on the heels of the least-productive stretch in his Triple-A career, a seven-game span during which time he was 2-for-24 (.083) with no extra-base hits and one RBI. Butler's three-hit game Thursday night was his seventh of the season and first since June 5. He is second on the team with 11 homers, six of which were solo shots. However, he has not homered since June 1 at Memphis, a span of 18 games and 66 at bats. Butler has not homered at The Dell Diamond since May 17 vs. Fresno (19 games). He is 13-for-27 (.481) in the fifth inning with four homers and nine RBI; he also has 10 eighth-inning RBI. ... Luis Hernandez is 15-for-47 (.319) over his last 11 games with six multiple-hit outings (one three-hit game), four doubles, five RBI and seven runs scored. He has not walked since May 19, a span of 30 games and 135 plate appearances. Three of his four home runs were solo shots. Hernandez leads all PCL shortstops with a .987 fielding percentage (four errors, 307 chances). ... Luis Martinez is riding an eight-game hitting streak (.333, 9-for-27), his longest of the season; he has six walks, a double, a triple and six runs scored during that time. Martinez is 13-for-32 (.406) in the third and fourth innings but 20-for-98 (.204) the rest of the game, going 4-for-23 (.174) prior to the third inning. He is 3-for-23 (.130) with runners in scoring position and two outs, and he is 0-for-5 with the bases loaded (one walk, one hit-by-pitch, one sacrifice fly). ... Yangervis Solarte's three-hit game Thursday night was his fourth of the season and first since three consecutive three-hit games April 20-22 - the second, third and fourth games of his franchise-record, 22-game hitting streak. Solarte snapped a modest four-game hitting streak (.462, 6-for-13) last night, going 0-for-4. Solarte is hitting .228 (21-for-92) through the first three innings but .310 (58-for-187) thereafter with five of his six home runs and 26 of his 33 RBI. He has not homered since May 14, a span of 32 games and 126 at bats. Five of his six home runs were solo shots. Solarte is 16-for-44 (.364) when leading off an inning with one home run and three walks (.404 on-base percentage). He is 5-for-41 (.122) with runners in scoring position and fewer than two outs. ... Ryan Spilborghs has not homered since May 26, a span of 22 games and 84 at bats. He is 9-for-50 (.180) over his last 13 games, and three of the eight hits came June 13 at Albuquerque; his average dropped from .400 to .331 in that time. Spilborghs is 21-for-47 (.447) during the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. He is 5-for-27 (.185) with runners in scoring position and two outs; he is hitless in each of his last 10 such at bats. Spilborghs has played 225 career PCL games, hitting .340 (289-for-851) with 24 homers, 119 RBI and 64 doubles.

BROTHERS IN ARMS

Neal Cotts, who has battled injuries over the past three seasons, made his Texas Rangers organizational debut June 12 at Albuquerque. It was his first outing since June 24, 2009, with the Iowa Cubs. Cotts stranded four of six inherited runners and has not allowed a run in three outings at The Dell Diamond (2.2 innings). He walked one batter in each of his four appearances. ... Derek Hankins has two walks in his last 10 outings (19.2 innings) with 10 strikeouts. Opposing batters are 0-for-20 with runners in scoring position and two outs, and 0-for-5 with the bases loaded. Hankins stranded 11 of 12 inherited runners. ... Aaron Heilman has a 1.88 ERA (3 ER/14.1 IP) over his last 11 outings, going 1-0 with three saves. He recorded at least one strikeout in 19 of 21 appearances since failing to do so in each of the season's first two outings. He has 27 strikeouts in his last 24.2 innings. Four of 10 inherited runners scored, and opponents are hitting .361 (13-for-36) with runners in scoring position. ... Ben Snyder is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA (6 ER/15.0 IP) in 12 outings at The Dell Diamond but 0-2 with a 5.09 ERA (13 ER/23.0 IP) in 13 road games. He has 14 strikeouts over 14.0 innings with seven walks in his last 10 appearances. ... Yoshinori Tateyama has not allowed an earned run in 12 of 13 outings. He has not allowed an earned run with the Express since April 21 at New Orleans, a span of 13.0 innings over nine appearances. Tateyama has allowed four runs (one earned), all of which scored in the eighth inning. Opponents are 1-for-12 (.083) with runners in scoring position and 3-for-30 (.100) when behind in the count. ... Johan Yan surrendered at least one run in six of eight outings since joining the Express (May 25) and allowed an inherited runner to score in one of the other two outings.

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH

Round Rock is 6-12 in series openers. ... Round Rock is hitting .325 (25-for-77) with the bases loaded, going 15-for-39 (.385) since May 21. ... Round Rock leads the PCL with 88 double plays turned, turning a season-high four twin-killings last night. ... The Express have at least one double in 70 of 75 games, including 35 of 36 home games. Round Rock enjoyed a 47-game streak with at least one double after failing to double in the season opener. ... Round Rock is 7-10 in one-run games. Six of the 17 games were against Iowa. ... Round Rock is 1-33 when trailing after seven innings, posting their lone win May 2 with a six-run eighth to rally past New Orleans 10-5. Conversely, the Express are 31-5 when leading after seven innings and 33-1 when out-scoring the opponent.

WHO'S NEXT

The Express return home for a seven-game home stand - the final home stand before the All-Star Game break. Round Rock hosts the Nashville Sounds (Milwaukee Brewers) for a three-game series that runs Wednesday through Friday with a 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch each night. The Express split a four-game series at Nashville in late May, winning the final two games 19-3 and 8-5 in 10 innings, respectively. Round Rock established franchise records for runs and hits (24) in the 19-3 win. The Sounds won the first game 7-6 and the second game 7-3.

GAME"ˆ80 | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Chad Bell (0-0, 0.00 ERA; first Triple-A start)

Sounds: RHP Wily Peralta (2-8, 5.96 ERA)

GAME"ˆ81 | THURSDAY, JUNE 28 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Derek Hankins (2-4, 4.20 ERA)

Sounds: RHP Mark Rogers (2-4, 5.68 ERA; starts tonight)

GAME"ˆ82 | FRIDAY, JUNE 29 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Zach Jackson (2-8, 5.66 ERA; starts tonight)

Sounds: RHP Tyler Thornburg (0-0, 0.00 ERA; first Triple-A start)

Check out the Round Rock Express Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 23, 2012


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