PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express - Game Notes at Salt Lake Bees

Published on May 9, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


GAME 34 | 9 MAY 2012 | 7:35 P.M. CDT | SPRING MOBILE BALLPARK | SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

ROUND ROCK EXPRESS (17-16) at SALT LAKE BEES (15-18)

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

EXPRESS: RHP Greg Reynolds (2-3, 3.99 ERA) | BEES: RHP Garrett Richards (3-1, 3.89 ERA)

TONIGHT'S"ˆGAME

Round Rock continues an eight-game road trip tonight the second of four games against the Salt Lake Bees (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim). First pitch is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. CDT at Spring Mobile Ballpark in Salt Lake City. The Express have won three straight and seven of their last nine after an 11-9 victory in last night's series opener. The Bees have lost five straight and 12 of their last 13 games. Round Rock is 7-10 on the road, while Salt Lake is 6-7 at Spring Mobile Ballpark.

BROADCAST"ˆINFORMATION

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.

EXPRESS-BEES SERIES

This is the lone series between the two squads this season. Round Rock won three of four at The Dell Diamond last season. ... SERIES NOTES: Round Rock is 18-11 all-time against Salt Lake, winning season series in 2005 (3-1), 2009 (3-1), 2010 (3-1) and 2011 (3-1). The Express are 7-6 at Spring Mobile Ballpark, splitting the 2006 series, dropping three of four in 2008 and winning three of four in their last visit (2010). There has never been a series sweep between the two franchises with two of the seven series ending in 2-2 splits. ... Last year, the Express won the first (3-2), third (2-0) and fourth (3-1) games of the series at The Dell Diamond. The Bees won the second game 6-2. All three winning pitchers for the Express return this season "" Mark Hamburger (game one), Martin Perez (game three) and Zach Jackson (game four). Joey Butler was 4-for-10 in three games against the Bees last season, while Matt Kata was 4-for-12 with two RBI in four games. ... Kata has appeared in 17 games against Salt Lake since 2005 with a .391 average (27-for-69), one home run, 10 RBI, three doubles, seven runs scored and two stolen bases. Kata faced Salt Lake in 2003 while a member of the Tucson Sidewinders, but statistics are not available. ... Brad Nelson has played 29 career games against Salt Lake, posting a .278 average (30-for-108) with three homers, 14 RBI, 10 doubles, a triple and 16 runs scored. ... Ryan Spilborghs has played 22 career games against Salt Lake, going 31-for-88 (.352) with two homers, 14 RBI, nine doubles, two triples and eight runs scored. ... Sean Green has made six career relief appearances against Salt Lake, going 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA (1 ER/9.0 IP) and nine strikeouts. ... Zach Jackson is 2-1 in four starts and three relief appearances against Salt Lake with a 4.50 ERA (16 ER/32.0 IP), 21 walks and 19 strikeouts. ... Greg Reynolds has five career starts against Salt Lake, going 1-1 with a 4.03 ERA (13 ER/29.0 IP) and 25 strikeouts against six walks.

SERIES"ˆINFORMATION

GAME"ˆ33 | TUESDAY, MAY 8

Express 11, Bees 9

WP: Ramirez (4-2). LP: Shoemaker (2-2). SV: Scheppers (6).

GAME"ˆ34 | WEDNESDAY, MAY 9 | 7:35 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Greg Reynolds (2-3, 3.99 ERA)

Bees: RHP Garrett Richards (3-1, 3.89 ERA)

GAME"ˆ35 | THURSDAY, MAY 10 | 7:35 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Zach Jackson (1-2, 4.11 ERA)

Bees: RHP Eric Hurley (2-3, 9.00 ERA)

GAME"ˆ36 | FRIDAY, MAY 11 | 7:35 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Michael Kirkman (2-1, 6.95 ERA)

Bees: LHP Brad Mills (2-2, 2.51 ERA)

EXPRESS STARTER

RHP GREG REYNOLDS (2-3, 3.99 ERA)

2012: Non-roster invite to Rangers spring training ... made two starts and two relief appearances, going 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA (5 ER/12.0 IP) ... logged eight strikeouts against one walk and held batters to a .205 average (9-for-44) ... started Express exhibition game vs. Rangers at The Dell Diamond (April 2) ... no-decision in April 8 series finale at Iowa, a 6-5 Express loss; left game in line for win (5-2) ... suffered loss in April 13 start vs. Iowa, a 6-5 Cubs win ... saddled with tough-luck loss in April 18 start vs. Omaha, a 4-0 Storm Chasers win; allowed four runs, only one of which was earned, on five hits and a walk over seven innings ... earned season's first victory in April 23 start at New Orleans, an 8-1 Express win; posted longest outing of season by an Express pitcher (eight innings) and did not allow a run until a two-out solo homer in the eighth ... suffered least effective start of season in April 29 loss at Oklahoma City, a 9-4 RedHawks win; allowed eight runs on 10 hits over 5.1 innings ... second on squad with five double plays induced ... one earned run allowed in three of last four starts ... holding opponents to a .087 average (2-for-23) with runners on base and two outs (one home run); .083 (1-for-12) with RISP"ˆand two outs ... opponents hitting .447 (17-for-38) when leading off an inning.

LAST"ˆSTART: Rebounded for victory in May 4 start vs. Memphis at The Dell Diamond, an 8-1 Express win ... allowed one run on five hits and a walk over six innings despite not recording a strikeout ... hit one batter ... utilized one double play ... yielded four singles and one double ... lone run allowed came on Mike Adams' third-inning single ... left game leading 4-1 ... used 71 pitches, 47 strikes.

2011 vs. SALT LAKE: With Colorado Springs, posted a 1-1 record with a 4.74 ERA"ˆ(13 ER/24.2 IP) in four starts with five walks and 22 strikeouts ... allowed a .324 average (33-for-1-2) and two home runs ... no-decision in June 26 start at Spring Mobile Ballpark; allowed eight runs, seven earned, on 10 hits, including one home run, over five innings with no walks and four strikeouts ... tossed seven shutout innings July 7 at Colorado Springs for the win; surrendered seven hits and walked one batter with seven strikeouts, a season high at that point ... suffered loss in Aug. 21 start at Colorado Springs; surrendered five runs on 10 hits, including one home run, over six innings with one walk and a season-high eight strikeouts ... no-decision in Aug. 31 start at Spring Mobile Ballpark, his final start of the season with Colorado Springs; held Bees to one run on six hits and three walks over 6.1 innings with three strikeouts.

CAREER vs. SALT LAKE: 1-1 with a 4.03 ERA"ˆ(13 ER/29.0 IP) in five starts with 25 strikeouts against six walks ... tossed 4.1 scoreless innings Aug. 17, 2008, at Spring Mobile Ballpark in a no-decision; allowed four hits and a walk with three strikeouts.

NOTABLE: Gregory Adam Reynolds ... drafted second overall by Colorado in 2006 ... went 13-10, 4.11 ERA"ˆover a three-year career for the Stanford Cardinal ... highest-draft pick in school history ... led team in wins, ERA, strikeouts, innings and starts in final season ... rated by Baseball America as the fourth-best pitcher and fifth-best draft prospect overall prior to 2006 draft ... tossed complete games in three consecutive starts ahead of the draft, besting Cal's Brandon Morrow (fifth overall, Seattle) and Washington's Tim Lincecum (10th overall, San Francisco) in that span ... aided in Stanford's win at Austin Regional, tossing complete-game victory in the Cardinal's 7-2 win June 2 over North Carolina State ... earned NCAA All-Regional honors for that effort ... was named All-Pac 10 honorable mention in 2006 ... took loss in championship game of 2005 NCAA"ˆWaco Regional, striking out 10 batters over 11.0-plus innings of 4-3 loss ... Prepped at Terra Nova [Calif] High School ... 2003 Gatorade California Baseball Player and Bay Area Athlete of the Year after going 4-3 with a 0.91 ERA ... recruited by several D-I schools as a quarterback ... drafted by Philadelphia out of high school (41st round) but did not sign.

FAMILIAR FACES

Three members of the Salt Lake Bees played for the Round Rock Express last season: outfielder Doug Deeds, catcher Robinzon Diaz and pitcher Eric Hurley. Deeds hit .249 (51-for-205) in 55 games with seven homers, 32 RBI, 13 doubles and three triples. Deeds was on the disabled list during the Round Rock-Salt Lake series. Diaz played 38 games for the Express and hit .303 (43-for-142) with four homers, 14 RBI, three doubles and 21 runs scored. Diaz played two games against the Bees, going hitless in six at bats. Hurley was 8-3 with a 5.55 ERA (52 ER/84.1 IP) in 16 starts with 46 strikeouts against 36 walks. Hurley made one start against Salt Lake last season but did not factor in the decision of a 3-2 Express win; he allowed two runs on eight hits over six innings with three walks and four strikeouts.

SOLARTE BREAKS EXPRESS HITTING STREAK RECORD

Yangervis Solarte pushed his hitting streak to 19 games last night, going 2-for-6. That surpassed Mark Saccomanno's 2008 streak for the longest in Express Triple-A history (since 2005). Solarte's streak is the PCL's longest this season, passing the 18-game run by Las Vegas' Travis Snyder last month. He is hitting .397 (31-for-78) during the streak with five homers, 12 RBI, five doubles, 14 runs scored and six walks against five strikeouts. Solarte has nine multiple-hit outings during the streak. Perhaps most impressive is that he has hit safely in 12 consecutive road games. Solarte also has reached safely in 22 straight games, tied for the longest streak in the PCL this season; Omaha's David Lough ended a 22-game run last night, and Reno's Randy Ruiz currently also has a 22-game streak. He has gone hitless in consecutive games this season only twice with no three-game skids.

STARTERS PICKING UP STEAM

Express starters boast a 2.66 ERA (11 ER/37.2 IP) over the last six games with six of the runs coming last night. Round Rock's starter has worked at least six innings five times with a pair of seven-inning efforts. The starters are 5-0 in that time; ironically, the lone no-decision was by Zach Jackson, who held Memphis scoreless over 6.1 innings May 5 "" the only starter to not allow a run during the last six games. Furthermore, Express starters are 6-0 with a 3.18 ERA (17 ER/48.0 IP) in eight May games after going 6-11 with a 5.53 ERA (77 ER/125.1 IP) in 25 April games.

BULLPEN BACK ON TRACK

Round Rock's bullpen was saddled with its first loss since April 11 at Omaha in Saturday night's extra-inning loss against Memphis. In the 22 games between losses, Express relievers posted a 2.81 ERA (26 ER/83.1 IP) and allowed no more than one earned run in 17 of the 22 games. However, the bullpen has returned to its normal form since, allowing no earned runs in 8.2 innings. Round Rock relievers boast a 3.53 ERA (47 ER/119.2 IP) this season.

SCHEPPERS ALSO BACK TO FORM

Tanner Scheppers suffered his first blown save since April 11 in Saturday night's loss, surrendering a two-out single that scored an inherited runner to tie the game. He had converted each of his previous four save opportunities over a nine-appearance span. However, he returned to form last night, working around a two-out single for a scoreless ninth and his sixth save. Scheppers owns a 0.82 ERA (1 ER/11.0 IP) over his last 11 appearances. He currently has an 8.0-inning scoreless streak over his last eight outings, surrendering only four singles and a double in that time with 10 strikeouts and no walks; he has faced six batters over the minimum in that time. Scheppers saw a streak of 13 consecutive batters retired end with Matt Adams' single in the May 5 game vs. Memphis; eight of those batters retired were by strikeout. However, he still has retired 16 of his last 18 batters faced, and 10 of his last 21 outs recorded were via strikeout.

PITCHER'S BEST FRIEND

Round Rock has turned 38 double plays, second in the league behind only Tucson (41). The Express are fourth in the PCL with a .980 fielding percentage and were error-free in eight of their last 13 games with six total errors in the other five games. That comes on the heels of a nine-game stretch in which Round Rock committed 15 errors with at least one defensive miscue in seven of the nine games.

DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE

Round Rock has at least one double in every game since the season opener "" a 32-game run. The Express clubbed at least two doubles in 22 of those games, collecting three or more 11 times, four or more seven times and five doubles twice. The Express tallied three doubles in the first inning alone May 4 vs. Memphis en route to a five-double night. Round Rock is tied for fourth in the PCL with 72 doubles.

"HOME" RUNS SCARCE

In stark contrast to last season, The Dell Diamond has not been a launching pad for the Express. Round Rock is averaging 0.75 homers per game through 16 home dates this season while averaging 1.47 homers in 17 road games, including a season-high five in last night's series opener at Salt Lake. The Express have enjoyed only two multiple-homer games at The Dell Diamond "" two April 14 vs. Iowa and three May 3 vs. New Orleans. Last season, the Express 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 8.75 runs per game at The Dell Diamond this season as opposed to the 11.90 average in 2011. Round Rock is averaging 4.53 runs per game at home and 6.00 runs per game on the road.

ONE-RUN GAMES NOW RARE

Round Rock's 5-4 win May 3 vs. New Orleans was its first one-run game since a 2-1 victory April 20 against Omaha. The Express are 5-6 in one-run games, winning three straight; seven of the one-run games were against Iowa. Round Rock played eight one-run games in the season's first 12 contests, capped by a franchise-record seven consecutive one-run affairs April 10-16; however, the Express have played only two in 20 games since that seven-game stretch.

BASES-LOADED WOES CONTINUE

Tommy Mendonca's bases-loaded single in the seventh inning May 1 snapped an 0-for-11 slump in bases-loaded situations for the Express. However, Round Rock have continued to struggle with the bases loaded, going 7-for-25 (.280) with the bases loaded, drawing almost as many walks (six) as hits in that situation. Only two of the seven hits went for extra bases. Luis Hernandez's three-run double in last night's series opener at Salt Lake was Round Rock's first extra-base hit with the bases loaded since a Yangervis Solarte three-run double April 8 at Iowa. Meanwhile, opposing batters are 12-for-26 (.462) with the bases loaded, including a pair of grand slams. Opponents are 8-for-13 (.615) with the bases loaded since April 21, including a 5-for-5 series by Oklahoma City (April 26-29).

PLAYER"ˆNOTES

Mike Bianucci has hit safely in seven of his last eight games (.323, 10-for-31) with two homers, two RBI, a double and seven runs scored. He has four extra-base hits (one double, three homers) since April 11, a 20-game span; two of the three homers were solo shots. He has 10 multiple-hit games, all two-hit efforts. ... Julio Borbon is riding a nine-game hitting streak, going 14-for-39 (.359) in that time with five two-hit outings, one home run, seven RBI, one double, two triples and six runs scored. That comes on the heels of a 12-game stretch without a multiple-hit effort. Borbon was 4-for-39 (.103) in his previous 11 outings before his current nine-game streak. He has nine RBI over his last 11 games, plating at least one run in seven of the 11 contests. His two-run homer May 3 vs. New Orleans was his first extra-base hit since an April 14 double, ending a 16-game stretch, and he has one extra-base hit in four of five games since. ... Dusty Brown has hit safely in seven of his last eight games, going 12-for-24 (.500) in that time with three home runs, eight RBI, three doubles, six runs scored and seven walks against two strikeouts. He produced at least one RBI in six of the eight games (eight total runs) during that stretch with four multiple-hit outings. Brown is 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position but has drawn four walks and produced seven RBI in that situation; both hits came with two outs, including one home run. ... Joey Butler stopped a two-game hitless stretch last night, going 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBI, a double and a walk. It marked only the fourth time in his Triple-A career he has been held hitless in consecutive games. Butler has reached safely in 29 of 32 games played. He is hitting .398 (35-for-88) when putting the ball in play but has hit into a team-high six double plays. Butler is hitting .341 (29- for-85) after the third inning. ... Luis Hernandez is 5-for-31 (.161) since capping a seven-game hitting streak April 29. He has three extra-base hits (one double, two homers) over an 18-game stretch since April 15. Hernandez has walked once (intentional) over his last 13 games. His four RBI last night eclipsed his total (three) from the previous nine games. ... Matt Kata has not gone hitless in consecutive games this season. He is 8-for-27 (.296) over his last six games with three multiple-hit outings, two homers, seven RBI and five runs scored. He has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 starts and reached safely in 18 of 20 games started. Kata is 8-for-23 (.348) with runners in scoring position, producing 13 RBI. ... Luis Martinez is hitting .323 (10-for-31) over his last eight games with four multiple-hit outings, six doubles, a triple, a home run, five RBI and five runs scored. However, he also has nine strikeouts against three walks in that time. ... Tommy Mendonca has struck out in eight of his last 11 at bats. He punched out three times in his last game (May 5 vs. Memphis); it was his 11th multiple-strikeout game this season and sixth game with at least three strikeouts. Mendonca is 4-for-11 (.364) with RISP and two outs, but 2-for-14 (.143) with RISP and fewer than two outs. ... Brad Nelson has hit safely in 13 of his last 14 games, going 22-for-59 (.373). However, he has three RBI in his last 11 games. Nelson has three extra-base hits (two doubles, homer) over his last four games after going seven consecutive games without an extra-base hit (12 singles in that time). ... Yangervis Solarte is hitting .190 (8-for-42) through the first three innings and .369 (31-for-84) after the third inning. He has hit safely in 12 consecutive road games (.345, 19-for-55), tied for the PCL's second-longest such streak this season. ... Ryan Spilborghs has hit safely in each of his first four games with the Express, going 7-for-16 (.438) with three multiple-hit games, two doubles, three RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases. He was acquired by the Rangers in a May 4 trade with Cleveland. ... Sean Green allowed eight runs over his last three outings after surrendering two runs total in his first eight appearances. Opposing batters are 1-for-10 (.100) with RISP and two outs but 7-for-16 (.438) when leading off an inning and 13-for-28 (.464) with the bases empty. ... Mark Hamburger has allowed one run over 9.2 innings as a reliever (0.93 ERA) after yielding 17 ER over 10.1 innings (14.81 ERA) in three starts. He is holding opponents to a .206 average (7-for-34) with two walks and 10 strikeouts as a reliever. He did not record a strikeout Sunday for the first time in 12 appearances this season. ... Opposing batters are 0-for-10 with RISP and two outs against Derek Hankins. He has not allowed multiple runs in any of his last eight outings since surrendering two in his first appearance of the season. ... Tanner Scheppers has allowed a run in only two of 14 outings (four runs total). He has not walked a batter since April 16, a nine-outing, 9.0-inning stretch, with 11 strikeouts in that time. Scheppers has at least one strikeout in six of his last seven appearances. He is tied for fourth in the PCL with six saves. ... Ben Snyder has not allowed a run over his last three outings (3.1 innings), allowing only one hit in 11 at bats, since surrendering four runs in 1.1 innings April 28 at Oklahoma City. He has held the opposition scoreless in seven of his last eight appearances. Snyder has allowed four of five inherited runners to score over his last two outings. ... Yoshinori Tateyama has not allowed an earned run in eight of nine outings, allowing four runs (one earned) in the other two appearances. Opponents are 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. The home run Tateyama surrendered last night was his first of the season, first at Triple-A since April 18, 2011, and second in 32.2 career innings with Round Rock. ... Tyler Tufts has pitched three scoreless innings over his last two outings after allowing a season-high three runs April 26 at Oklahoma City.

TEAM"ˆNOTES

Round Rock is above .500 for the first time this season. ... The Express are 7-3 in their last 10 games, tied for the PCL's second-best record in that time. ... Round Rock has produced at least nine hits in 14 of its last 16 games with at least 10 hits 10 times in that span, including a season-high 17 hits last night at Salt Lake. ... Round Rock is 13-2 when holding the opposition to fewer than five runs but 4-14 when allowing at least five runs, dropping seven of their last nine in that situation. ... The Express are 3-6 in series openers but have won two straight. ... Of Round Rock's 37 home runs, 21 have been solo shots, including nine to leadoff an inning; 16 came with no outs. ... Round Rock is 1-12 when trailing after seven innings, posting their first such win May 2 with a six-run eighth to rally past New Orleans 10-5.

NEXT SERIES

Round Rock continues an eight-game road trip with a four-game series against the Tacoma Rainiers (Seattle Mariners). The series begins Saturday with a 9:05 p.m. CDT first pitch and continues Sunday at 3:35 p.m., Monday at 9:05 p.m. and Tuesday at 1:05 p.m.

GAME"ˆ37 | SATURDAY, MAY 12 | 9:05 p.m. CDT | TACOMA, WASH.

Express: LHP Martin Perez (3-2, 3.98 ERA)

Rainiers: RHP Erasmo Ramirez (0-0, 6.00 ERA)

GAME"ˆ38 | SUNDAY, MAY 13 | 3:35 p.m. CDT | TACOMA, WASH.

Express: RHP Neil Ramirez (4-2, 4.98 ERA)

Rainiers: RHP Jeff Marquez (2-3, 6.06 ERA)

GAME"ˆ39 | MONDAY, MAY 14 | 9:05 p.m. CDT | TACOMA, WASH.

Express: RHP Greg Reynolds (2-3, 3.99 ERA; starts tonight)

Rainiers: RHP Forrest Snow (0-3, 7.58 ERA; starts tonight)

GAME"ˆ40 | TUESDAY, MAY 15 | 1:05 p.m. CDT | TACOMA, WASH.

Express: LHP Zach Jackson (1-2, 4.11 ERA; starts tomorrow)

Rainiers: RHP Brian Sweeney (0-0, 5.74 ERA; starts tomorrow)

Check out the Round Rock Express Statistics

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



Pacific Coast League Stories from May 9, 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