PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express - Game Notes at Oklahoma City RedHawks

Published on April 21, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK EXPRESS (10-4) at OKLAHOMA CITY REDHAWKS (4-9)

GAME 15 | 21 APRIL ‚¬Ë†2011 | 7:05 P.M. CDT | BRICKTOWN BALLPARK | OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA.

TONIGHT'S GAMES

Round Rock continues an eight-game road trip with the third game of a four-game series at Oklahoma City (Houston Astros). First pitch between the Express and RedHawks is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT at Bricktown Ballpark. Round Rock has won each of the series' first two games.

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 OWN LEAGUE'S BEST RECORD

At 10-4, Round Rock owns the Pacific Coast League's best record - one-half game better than 9-4 Reno (Arizona Diamondbacks). The Express lead the Albuquerque Isotopes (Los Angeles Dodgers) by one-and-a-half games in the PCL American Southern Division. Round Rock is 9-1 in its last 10 games, two games better than any other team in the league during that span.

EXPRESS-REDHAWKS SERIES

Round Rock leads the series two games to none after a 5-3 victory Wednesday night in which LHP Zach Jackson carried a no-hitter into the eighth. The Express won Tuesday's opener 6-2 behind 16 combined strikeouts from three pitchers. The two clubs switched affiliations following last season. The Rangers affiliate has won 15 of 18 against the Astros affiliate since the start of last season.

GAME ‚¬Ë†13 | TUESDAY, APRIL ‚¬Ë†19

Express 6, RedHawks 2

WP: Ramirez (2-0). LP: Perez (0-2). SV: None.

GAME ‚¬Ë†14 | WEDNESDAY, APRIL ‚¬Ë†20

Express 5, RedHawks 3

WP: Jackson (2-0). LP: Rowland-Smith (0-1). SV: Eppley (3).

GAME ‚¬Ë†15 | THURSDAY, APRIL ‚¬Ë†21 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP ‚¬Ë†Derek Hankins (2-0, 4.50 ERA)

RedHawks: RHP Fernando Nieve (1-1. 7.45 ERA)

GAME ‚¬Ë†16 | FRIDAY, APRIL ‚¬Ë†22 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: TBA

RedHawks: RHP Jordan Lyles (0-1, 5.63 ERA)

STARTING PITCHERS

EXPRESS: RHP Derek Hankins (2-0, 4.50 ERA)

Last Outing: Earned victory in relief April 16 at New Orleans ‚¬Â¦ Allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks with five strikeouts over 5.0 innings in 9-6 Express victory ‚¬Â¦ RHP Tanner Scheppers started the game in a predetermined short stint and left game after 2.0 innings.

2011: Makes third appearance, second start tonight ‚¬Â¦ Started and earned win April 11 against Omaha, holding Storm Chasers to two runs on two hits - both solo homers - and no walks with two strikeouts over 5.0 innings in 5-2 Express victory.

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.

Notable: Pittsburgh Pirates 10th-round draft selection out of the University of Memphis ‚¬Â¦ Began career as a starter before transitioning to reliever during the 2009 season ‚¬Â¦ Signed minor league contract Dec. 23, 2010, with Texas Rangers ‚¬Â¦ Has switched back to starter role with Rangers.

REDHAWKS: RHP Fernando Nieve (1-1, 7.45 ERA)

Last Outing: Started and earned victory April 15 against Albuquerque ‚¬Â¦ Allowed three runs on six hits and one walk with eight strikeouts over 5.1 innings in 7-4 Oklahoma City win.

2011: Makes third start tonight ‚¬Â¦ 14 strikeouts against two walks over 9.2 innings ‚¬Â¦ Opponents hitting .341 (15-for-44) ‚¬Â¦ Averages 19.6 pitches per inning.

2010: Split second season in New York Mets organization between the parent club and Triple-A Buffalo ‚¬Â¦ Started season with Mets, making 39 relief appearances and one start ‚¬Â¦ 2-4 with a 6.00 ERA over 42.0 innings with New York ‚¬Â¦ Assigned to Buffalo in late July and made eight starts for the Bisons, going 2-1 with a 5.63 ERA over 40.0 innings.

Notable: Born in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela ‚¬Â¦ Began career in Astros organization in 1999 ‚¬Â¦ Pitched for Round Rock from 2005 to 2008 ‚¬Â¦ 7-12 in 58 career appearances - 25 starts - with the Express ‚¬Â¦ MLB debut April 4, 2006, with a scoreless inning of relief against Florida ‚¬Â¦ Signed minor league contract with Pittsburgh Pirates after last season but was released in mid-March ‚¬Â¦ Signed with Astros two days later.

HURLEY RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL

RHP Eric Hurley, who was hit in the head by a comebacker Monday night at New Orleans, has a moderate concussion and a small skull fracture. He has been released from East Jefferson General Hospital in New Orleans and should be cleared to return to Dallas by the end of the week. Hurley is being monitored, and it is uncertain when he will be cleared to resume baseball activities.

TEAM NOTES

* Round Rock's 10-4 start is its best 14-game start since joining the PCL in 2005.

* The Express have won nine of their last 10 games, including five straight for the first time since May 1-5, 2009. Round Rock last won six straight June 28-July 5, 2008, as part of an eight-game streak.

* Round Rock is 9-1 with a 2.78 staff ERA since dropping three of four to Iowa in the season's first series.

* Express pitchers lead the PCL with seven saves and 122 strikeouts.

* Round Rock leads the league with a .941 stolen base percentage (16-of-17).

* The Express lead the PCL with a .989 fielding percentage. Round Rock has committed six errors in 14 games - two by catchers, one by infielders, one by outfielders and two by pitchers. Memphis is second in the league (.983), committing eight errors in 57 fewer chances than Round Rock.

* Round Rock is 5-for-15 (.333) with the bases loaded while holding opponents to a 1-for-7 mark (.143) in the same situation.

* Express pitchers have a .194 opponents' batting average (30-for-155) with two outs.

* Round Rock's bullpen boasts a 64-to-22 strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.91). However, the Express bullpen has allowed nine of 14 inherited runners to score (64.3 percent).

* The Express have scored in the first inning eight times in 14 games.

PLAYER NOTES

* IF Brian Barden has reached safely in nine of 10 games played, hitting safely in eight games with five multiple-hit outings.

* OF Joey Butler has struck out 10 times in his last 19 at bats.

* C Kevin Cash snapped an 0-for-10 slump with a ninth-inning double last night. It was his first hit since a game-winning, three-run triple April 14 against Omaha.

* OF Endy Chavez has hit safely in 11 of 12 games played and has reached safely in all 12 games.

* IF Luis Cruz has not gone hitless in consecutive games, hitting safely in nine of 13 games this season.

* OF Doug Deeds snapped a seven-game hitting streak in Tuesday's series opener at Oklahoma City.

* OF Esteban German has hit safely in five straight games, four of which have been multiple-hit outings. He has hit safely in 11 of 13 games played with seven multiple-hit games. German is 12-for-21 (.571) with five walks on the current road trip for a .653 on base percentage.

* 1B Chad Tracy is riding an eight-game hitting streak, Round Rock's longest active streak. He is 13-for-34 (.382) during the streak with 11 RBI. The streak comes on the heels of starting the season 2-for-20 (.100).

* RHP Yhency Brazoban has recorded at least two strikeouts in each of his three appearances, tallying eight strikeouts over 5.1 innings.

* RHP Neil Ramirez ranks third in Minor League baseball with 23 strikeouts this season. He has 14 strikeouts in 11.0 innings over two outings for the Express. Ramirez has allowed five hits with the Express - all singles.

* RHP Yoshi Tateyama has nine strikeouts over 6.0 innings in his last four appearances, notching at least two strikeouts in each of those four outings.

* RHP Ryan Tucker has eight strikeouts against one walk in 8.0 innings over his last four appearances.

NEXT SERIES

Round Rock returns home for a four-game series against Oklahoma City. The series opens Saturday with a 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch and continues Sunday at 1:05 p.m., Monday at 7:05 p.m. and Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.

Check out the Round Rock Express Statistics

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



Pacific Coast League Stories from April 21, 2011


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