PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express - Game Notes at Memphis Redbirds

Published on July 14, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK EXPRESS (52-38) at MEMPHIS REDBIRDS (48-42)

GAME 91 | 14 JULY ‚¬Ë†2011 | 7:05 P.M. CDT | AUTOZONE PARK | MEMPHIS, TENN.

TONIGHT'S GAME

Round Rock returns to action following the All-Star break, opening a four-game series at Memphis (St. Louis Cardinals). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT at AutoZone Park. Both teams are 6-4 in their last 10 games after splitting a four-game series at The Dell Diamond immediately prior to the All-Star break. Round Rock is 23-19 on the road, while Memphis is 27-16 at home. The Redbirds own the Pacific Coast League's second-best home record behind only Albuquerque (30-17).

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 handles play-by-play duties.

EXPRESS-REDBIRDS SERIES

This is the third of four series between the Express and Redbirds; Memphis leads the season series 4-3. Round Rock dropped two of three in a rain-shortened series April 28-30 at Memphis, and the teams split a four-game series at The Dell Diamond last weekend. All seven meetings have been decided by three runs or fewer, including four one-run games - two of which were extra-inning games. The teams will play five games in this series, including a doubleheader Friday as they make up the May 1 game that was postponed due to inclement weather.

GAME ‚¬Ë†91 | THURSDAY, JULY 14 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Eric Hurley (2-0, 4.91 ERA)

Redbirds: RHP Maikel Cleto (1-0, 3.63 ERA)

GAME ‚¬Ë†92 | FRIDAY, JULY 15 | 5:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Neil Ramirez (4-3, 3.77 ERA)

Redbirds: RHP Brian Broderick (2-2, 5.26 ERA)

GAME ‚¬Ë†93 | FRIDAY, JULY 15 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Ryan Tucker (1-1, 4.45 ERA)

Redbirds: TBA

GAME ‚¬Ë†94 | SATURDAY, JULY 16 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: TBA

Redbirds: LHP Nick Additon (2-5, 3.96 ERA)

GAME ‚¬Ë†95 | SUNDAY, JULY 17 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Brett Tomko (5-3, 6.89 ERA)

Redbirds: RHP Brandon Dickson (4-7, 4.04 ERA)

EXPRESS STARTER

RHP Eric Hurley (2-0, 4.91 ERA)

Last Outing: Earned victory in July 7 start vs. Memphis, a 6-4 Express win ‚¬Â¦ Allowed two runs on five hits and three walks over 6.0 innings with three strikeouts ‚¬Â¦ Both runs came on solo homers ‚¬Â¦ Used 81 pitches, 51 strikes.

2011: Makes seventh start tonight ‚¬Â¦ Express are 5-1 in his starts, winning five straight ‚¬Â¦ No-decision in season's first start April 8 vs. Iowa ‚¬Â¦ Missed second scheduled start April 13 vs. Omaha due to a viral infection ‚¬Â¦ Sustained small skull fracture after taking a comebacker just above right temple on fourth pitch of April 18 start at New Orleans ‚¬Â¦ Placed on disabled list April 20 ‚¬Â¦ Returned to the mound June 20 vs. Omaha (no-decision) ‚¬Â¦ Earned first victory since July 14, 2008, (Double-A Frisco) in June 26 start vs. Oklahoma City ‚¬Â¦ No-decision in July 2 start vs. Nashville, a 9-7 Express victory ‚¬Â¦ Opponents are 1-for-15 (.067) with runners on base and two outs, and 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and two outs ‚¬Â¦ Makes first road start since the New Orleans incident tonight.

2011 vs. Memphis: Earned victory in July 7 start at The Dell Diamond, a 6-4 Express win.

2010: Missed entire season due to injury.

Notable: Rangers 2004 first-round draft pick (30th overall) out of Wolfson High School in Jacksonville, Fla. ... 2004 first-team High School All-American ... MLB debut June 12, 2008, vs. Kansas City ... Missed each of last two seasons due to injury.

LAST GAME

Tyler Greene's two-run triple keyed a four-run eighth inning as the Redbirds eclipsed the Express 10-9 in Sunday night's series finale at The Dell Diamond. Memphis tallied six consecutive one-out hits in the eighth, snapping a 6-6 tie. Round Rock made things interesting as Matt Kata delivered a two-out, two-run triple in the eighth, and Esteban German blasted a one-out solo homer in the ninth. After Joey Butler walked, Victor Marte retired the next two batters to end the game. Brad Nelson also homered for the Express.

DIVISION STANDINGS UPDATE

Round Rock (52-38, .578) returns to play with a five-game lead over Albuquerque (47-43, .522) in the PCL's American Southern Division standings. The Express are 15-7 since June 18; the Isotopes are 8-14 in that time. Round Rock has at least shared the division lead following 68 of 90 games this season. New Orleans (44-47, .484) has won four straight and trails Round Rock by eight-and-a-half games. Oklahoma City (39-52, .429) is 13-and-a-half games back. The Express are 17-14 against their division foes.

ROSTER MOVES

Pitchers Manny Delcarmen and Seth McClung were released during the All-Star break. Delcarmen, who was signed as a free agent in early June after being released by Tacoma, was 1-0 with a 6.75 ERA in eight relief appearances with the Express. McClung was 2-3 with a 5.19 ERA in 19 outings - 11 starts.

ROUND ROCK vs. AMERICAN NORTHERN DIVISION

The Express are 28-15 against American Northern Division teams this season, winning nine of their last 11 such games. Round Rock has completed its season series against Iowa, winning nine of 16 meetings. The Express are 7-1 against Omaha - all at The Dell Diamond - and 9-3 against Nashville. Memphis has won four of seven meetings.

MEMPHIS vs. AMERICAN SOUTHERN DIVISION

The Redbirds are 24-18 against American Southern Division foes, winning 10 of their last 12. Memphis has concluded its season series against New Orleans, winning seven of 16 meetings. The Redbirds are 11-1 against Oklahoma City and 3-5 against Albuquerque. The Redbirds currently trail division-leading Omaha by one-and-a-half games in the American Northern Division.

EXPRESS AMONG TOP PCL TEAMS

At 52-38 (.578), Round Rock owns the PCL's third-best record behind Sacramento (54-36, .600) and Reno (53-36, .596). Furthermore, the Express are two-and-a-half games ahead of Omaha (50-41, .549) in the overall American Conference standings. Only one other time has Round Rock reached 50 wins prior to the All-Star Game; the 2006 squad was 57-33 at the break en route to the division title.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Round Rock (23-19, .548) owns the best road record in the American Conference. In fact, Omaha (24-23, .511) is the only other American Conference team above .500 on the road. Sacramento (30-13, .698) owns the PCL's best road record. The Express have not won a road series since taking three of four June 9-12 at Iowa. Since then, Round Rock lost three of four at Nashville, split a four-game series at New Orleans and lost two of three at Albuquerque.

NO REST FOR THE WEARY

Tonight's game begins a 29-game, 28-day stretch for the Express. With only one off-day between the All-Star break and the end of the regular season, Round Rock will play 54 games in 54 days.

BIG-FLY GUYS

The Express enter tonight's game with 121 home runs on the season. Round Rock - the first PCL team to 100 home runs this season - currently leads the league in home runs ahead of Reno (120) and Colorado Springs (116). Albuquerque (108) is the next closest American Conference team. The Express clubbed 37 homers over the last 22 games after being shutout in consecutive 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 1.34 home runs per game and are on pace to hit 193 on the season.

OFFENSE STRUGGLES WITHOUT HOMERS

The Express have homered in 59 of 90 games this season, going 39-20 in those games. However, Round Rock is just 13-18 when failing to hit at least one home run. The Express average 3.68 runs per game (114 total) when failing to homer. Meanwhile, Round Rock averages 6.08 runs per game (359 total) when hitting at least one home run. The Express have homered in 22 of their last 32 games and scored a total of 23 runs in the other 10 games, getting shutout three times and scoring one run three times.

MORE HOME-RUN NUMBERS

Round Rock has won 12 of its last 14 games when hitting at least one home run. ‚¬Â¦ Only twice this season have the Express gone more than two straight games without a home run - a four game stretch in mid-April, and a three-game stretch earlier this month. ‚¬Â¦ Round Rock has homered at least twice 36 times, going 27-9 in those games. Twelve of the 36 games were on the road, and the Express were 9-3 in those games. ‚¬Â¦ The Express are 15-2 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.

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

ROUND ROCK PERFECT FOLLOWING CONSECUTIVE LOSSES

The Express have not suffered a three-game skid this season, going 12-0 following consecutive losses. Every other PCL team has suffered three consecutive losses at least once. Reno lost three straight only once. Eleven of the other 14 teams have lost at least five straight at some point this season. Albuquerque and Las Vegas both suffered 10-game skids, the league's longest this season. Nashville and Sacramento both lost nine straight.

NO LATE LOSSES AS OF LATE

The Express have won 16 straight when leading after seven innings and 17 straight when leading after eight innings. Round Rock is 40-3 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. The Express have not lost a game when leading after nine innings.

BIG-INNING THEORY

Round Rock is 18-5 this season when scoring at least four runs in an inning and 34-33 when failing to do such. However, the difference in record is even more pronounced based upon what the opponent does. The Express are 47-22 when not allowing an inning of at least four runs but 5-16 when the opponent posts such an inning. Round Rock posted an inning of at least four runs in three of the five victories when allowing an inning of at least four runs. Likewise, the opponent had an inning of at least four runs in three of Round Rock's five losses with an inning of at least four runs.

COMEBACK KIDS

The Express have 30 comeback wins this season (trailing at any point in the game). Round Rock has won 10 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 44-12 this season when scoring at least five runs. Only eight times have the Express won when scoring fewer than five. Meanwhile, Round Rock is 31-12 when allowing fewer than five runs and 21-26 when allowing at least five runs.

EXPRESS LEAD PCL IN ATTENDANCE

Round Rock leads the PCL in attendance, averaging 8,503 fans per game. Sacramento is second with a 7,810 per-game average, while Albuquerque (7,725) 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 12-0 after consecutive losses.

* The Express are 17-10 in one-run games and 27-18 in games decided by two runs or fewer.

* Opponents have scored first in 52 of 90 games this season. The Express are 24-28 in those games, going 9-12 when responding with at least one run in their next at bat.

* The Express have tallied at least 10 hits in eight of their last 15 games, collecting at least 15 hits five times in that span.

* Round Rock has produced at least 15 hits 15 times.

* 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 38-13 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 20-13 when allowing a first-inning run.

* Round Rock is 36-6 when out-hitting the opponent.

* The Express are 40-6 when leading after six innings, 39-3 when leading after seven innings and 40-3 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 225-156 in innings four through six, including an 86-51 advantage in the sixth.

* Round Rock averages 2.2 two-out RBI per game.

PLAYER NOTES

JOEY BUTLER

* Currently riding a five-game hitting streak

* Sixth streak of at least five games

* Has enjoyed two streaks of at least 10 games, including a 16-gamer

* Hit safely in 10 of last 11 games (.333, 13-for-39)

* Seven RBI in last eight games

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

* Has not gone hitless in consecutive games since going 0-for-5 June 16-17 - immediately followed 16-game hitting streak

* Hit safely in 55 of 64 games with Round Rock (played one game without a plate appearance)

* Hitting .358 (43-for-120) at The Dell Diamond with hits in 31 of 34 games

* Hitting .455 (10-for-22) in the fourth inning

* Four of six home runs were hit in the sixth inning

* Hitting .409 (18-for-44) when leading off an inning

* Hitting .342 (64-for-187) in 52 games since May 1 after hitting .265 (13-for-49) in April

KEVIN CASH

* Currently riding a four-game hitting streak (.500, 8-for-16)

* Was hitless in nine at bats prior to current streak

* Multiple hits in three of last four games

* 16 of 40 hits (42.1 percent) have been for extra bases (12 doubles, one triple, three home runs)

* Two of seven leadoff hits were homers

* Hitting .258 (17-for-66) after the sixth inning

CHRIS DAVIS

* Has played once in last six games (sore groin)

* Tied for fifth in PCL with 20 home runs, five shy of league lead

* Hitting .422 (27-for-64) over last 16 games with 10 home runs, 23 RBI and 10 multiple-hit outings

* Has gone more than two straight games without an RBI only once - a three-game stretch to start July

* Hitting .415 (39-for-94) through the fifth inning, .288 (17-for-59) after the fifth

* Second on team with 16 multiple-RBI outings

* All but three home runs came prior to the seventh inning

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

* Hitting .400 (42-for-105) at home, .298 (14-for-47) on the road

ROBINZON DIAZ

* Hit safely in all nine of 10 games with at least one plate appearance at The Dell Diamond

* Hitting .432 (16-for-37) at home

* Hit safely in 18 of 23 games with Round Rock, including two five-game streaks

* 10 multiple-hit games

* Each of first 16 hits with Express were singles

* Hitting .396 (19-for-48) when batting ninth; .244 (11-for-45) elsewhere in the order

CODY EPPLEY

* At least one strikeout in eight of last nine appearances

* Converted all seven save opportunities

* Five of seven saves were on the road

* Stranded 10 of 14 inherited runners

* Issued seven leadoff walks

ESTEBAN GERMAN

* Hitting .327 (18-for-55) over last 14 games with five multiple-hit outings

* Leads team with 24 multiple-hit games

* Three games of three-plus hits in last 10 games

* Leads Express with 11 games of three-plus hits, including a pair of four-hit games

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

* Second on team with 21 two-out RBI

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

MARK HAMBURGER

* Snapped a three-decision winning streak in last outing, suffering loss July 10 vs. Memphis

* Also snapped seven-outing, 12.1-inning scoreless streak

* Surrendered four runs in 1.0 inning in last appearance after yielding only one run in 16.2 innings over previous nine outings

* Allowed three-plus earned runs five times - 1.16 ERA (3 ER / 23.1 IP) in other 13 appearances

* 3-1, 2.55 ERA (5 ER / 17.2 IP) since June 6

ERIC HURLEY

* Express are 5-1 in his starts

* Won two of last three outings

* Opponents are 1-for-15 (.067) with runners on base and two outs - 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and two outs

* All four home runs allowed were solo shots

ZACH JACKSON

* Won four of last six 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, .331 at The Dell Diamond

* Nine of 12 home runs allowed were at home

BEAU JONES

* Matched season-high with four strikeouts in last appearance (July 10 vs. Memphis)

* Also had four strikeouts over 3.0 innings June 2 at Oklahoma City

* Opponents are 2-for-11 (.182) with runners in scoring position and two outs

MATT KATA

* Hit safely in 13 of last 15 games, hitting .298 (17-for-57) during that time

* Reached safely in 27 of last 30 games

* Three multiple-hit outings in last 25 games

* 11 RBI in last 12 games - four multiple-RBI outings

* Struck out looking only twice in 223 at bats

* Hitting .316 (34-for-107) when batting second or eighth in the lineup - hitting .224 (26-for-116)

* 15-for-50 (.300) with 12 RBI after the seventh inning

* Hitting .173 (9-for-52) when leading off an inning but .425 (17-for-40) with runners on base and two outs

MICHAEL KIRKMAN

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

* Third stint with Express this season

* 16 of 30 runs allowed were in two outings - April 7 vs. Iowa, July 5 at Albuquerque

* 3.03 ERA (12 ER / 35.2 IP) in other 10 appearances

LEONYS MARTIN

* Signed as a non-drafted free agent May 4, 2011

* Began play at Double-A Frisco

* Hit .348 with four homers and 10 stolen bases in 29 games with RoughRiders

* Assigned to Express prior to July 9 game

* Went 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored in Express debut July 10 vs. Memphis

BRAD NELSON

* Hitting .301 (31-for-103) as designated hitter, .243 (41-for-169) when playing in the field

* At least one strikeout in eight of nine games with 15 in that time

* Three home runs in last 126 at bats after hitting nine in season's first 146 at bats

* Hit safely in 11 of last 15 games, going 17-for-58 (.293) in that time with five multiple-hit outings

* Hitting .143 (4-for-28) in the fifth inning

* 7-for-38 (.184) with runners in scoring position and two outs

* Hitting .360 (9-for-25) after the eighth inning

ZACH PHILLIPS

* Leads staff with 33 appearances

* Allowed seven earned runs in 21.0 innings (3.00 ERA) over last 16 outings

* Has not allowed a home run since May 12 at Tucson - 25.1 innings over 19 appearances

* Has not allowed multiple runs in any of last 12 outings

* Surrendered one earned run in 9.2 innings of work in the ninth inning (0.93 ERA)

* 2.38 ERA (6 ER / 22.2 IP) and .258 opponents' average in 18 home outings

* 6.55 ERA (16 ER / 22.0 IP) and .307 opponents' average in 15 road appearances

NEIL RAMIREZ

* Express are 9-7 in his starts, going 1-6 in last seven starts

* Averages 5.14 runs of support

* Opponents hitting .200 (6-for-30) with runners in scoring position and two outs

GUILDER RODRIGUEZ

* Began season with Double-A Frisco

* Assigned to Round Rock prior to July 9 game

* Recorded first Triple-A hit this season July 10 vs. Memphis (single)

PEDRO STROP

* 1.88 ERA (3 ER / 14.1 IP) in 10 road outings - 6.28 ERA (10 ER / 14.1 IP) in 13 home appearances

* Allowed two earned run in 10.0 innings over last nine outings (1.80 ERA)

* Seven strikeouts in last nine appearances after 22 strikeouts in previous 10 appearances

* Stranded seven of 11 inherited runners

* Four extra-base hits allowed in 111 opponent at bats

TAYLOR TEAGARDEN

* Reached safely in 15 of last 17 games with Round Rock

* Six of nine home runs were solo shots

* Hitting .380 (27-for-71) when batting in bottom third of order, 2-for-25 (.080) when higher than seventh in the order

* 2-for-14 since being optioned to Round Rock in early July

BRETT TOMKO

* Credited with win in each of last four decisions

* Express are 6-1 in his last seven outings (four starts)

* At least one home run allowed in nine of 11 appearances, including each of last six outings

CHAD TRACY

* Tied for eighth in league with 19 home runs

* Third in PCL with 72 RBI

* Hit safely in nine of last 11 games, going 13-for-45 (.289) in that time

* Stretch comes on the heels of a 14-game span in which he hit .125 (6-for-48) and was hitless 11 times

* Six home runs with two outs and runners on base

* Leads the team in hits with runners in scoring position (38)

* Also leads team with 34 two-out hits and 29 two-out RBI

* Leads team with 22 multiple-RBI games - six more than any other player (Chris Davis)

NEXT SERIES

Round Rock returns to The Dell Diamond for a four-game series against Tim Grubbs' New Orleans Zephyrs. The series runs Monday through Thursday with a 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch each night. This is the third of four series between the teams and the first in Round Rock. The Express won three of four at New Orleans in mid-April, and the teams split a four-game series at Zephyr Field in late June.

GAME ‚¬Ë†96 | MONDAY, JULY 18 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Zach Jackson (6-3, 5.59 ERA)

Zephyrs: RHP Adalberto Mendez (1-6, 6.92 ERA)

GAME ‚¬Ë†97 | TUESDAY, JULY 19 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Eric Hurley (starts tonight)

Zephyrs: Elih Villanueva (starts tonight)

GAME ‚¬Ë†98 | WEDNESDAY, JULY 20 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Neil Ramirez (starts tomorrow)

Zephyrs: RHP Tom Koehler (starts tomorrow)

GAME ‚¬Ë†99 | THURSDAY, JULY ‚¬Ë†21 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: TBA

Zephyrs: LHP Sean West (starts Saturday)

Check out the Round Rock Express Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 14, 2011


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