PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express - Game Notes vs. Albuquerque Isotopes

Published on July 24, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


GAME 103 | 24 JULY 2012 | 7:05 P.M. CDT | THE DELL DIAMOND | ROUND ROCK, TEXAS

ROUND ROCK EXPRESS (42-60) vs. ALBUQUERQUE ISOTOPES (60-42)

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

EXPRESS: RHP Neftali Feliz (0-1, 5.40 ERA; rehab) / RHP Justin Grimm (0-0, 3.86 ERA)

ISOTOPES: LHP Derrick Loop (9-2, 4.53 ERA)

TONIGHT, TONIGHT

Round Rock continues an eight-game home stand, opening a four-game series against the Albuquerque Isotopes (Los Angeles Dodgers). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT at The Dell Diamond. Round Rock is 3-8 since the All-Star break, most recently dropping three of four at home against Omaha including last night's 4-1 loss. The Express are 22-28 at home and have lost eight of their last night at The Dell Diamond. Albuquerque is 8-3 since the All-Star break and come to town with a four-game winning streak after sweeping a home series against Iowa that culminated with last night's 3-1 win. The Isotopes are 22-24 and split a four-game series at The Dell Diamond in early June. Round Rock trails division-leading Albuquerque by 18 games in the PCL's American Southern division. Albuquerque leads Oklahoma City by two games and New Orleans by six-and-a-half games.

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 last of four series between the two teams. Albuquerque leads the season series 7-5, winning five of eight meetings at Isotopes Park and splitting a four-game series at The Dell Diamond in early June. The Isotopes won six of the last seven meetings, including four of five at Albuquerque in early July immediately prior to the All-Star break. ... SERIES NOTES: Albuquerque leads the all-time series 66-58, but Round Rock has won nine of the last 16 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 42-22 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: Round Rock is hitting .296 (124-for-419) with nine homers, 24 doubles, two triples and 4.8 runs per game. Julio Borbon is 9-for-30 (.300) in seven games with three RBI, two doubles and six runs scored. Luis Martinez is 8-for-25 (.25) in eight games with one homer, four RBI, a double and four runs scored. Brad Nelson, the lone Express player to appear in all 12 games, is 14-for-50 (.280) with six RBI, four doubles and four runs scored, but he also has 12 strikeouts. Yangervis Solarte is 14-for-40 (.350) with one RBI, two doubles, four runs scored, four walks and no strikeouts in 10 games. Ryan Spilborghs is 16-for-43 (.372) in 10 games with three doubles, a triple, two walks, seven runs scored and two stolen bases. Express pitchers have a 5.23 ERA (60 ER/103.1 IP) with 62 strikeouts against 39 walks. Albuquerque is hitting .307 (127-for-414) with 10 homers, 23 doubles, four triples and 5.9 runs per game. The Isotopes scored eight-plus runs in five of the last eight meetings, all at Albuquerque. Isotopes pitchers have a 4.08 ERA (48 ER/106.0 IP) with 79 strikeouts against 30 walks.

SERIES"ˆINFORMATION

GAME"ˆ103 | TUESDAY, JULY 24 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Neftali Feliz (0-1, 5.40 ERA; rehab) / RHP Justin Grimm (0-0, 3.86 ERA)

Isotopes: LHP Derrick Loop (9-2, 4.53 ERA)

GAME"ˆ104 | WEDNESDAY, JULY 25 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Ben Snyder (2-4, 3.88 ERA)

Isotopes: RHP Fernando Nieve (5-6, 5.81 ERA)

GAME"ˆ105 | THURSDAY, JULY 26 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Zach Jackson (3-12, 4.98 ERA)

Isotopes: RHP Will Savage (10-3, 5.57 ERA)

GAME"ˆ106 | FRIDAY, JULY 27 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Greg Reynolds (7-6, 5.34 ERA)

Isotopes: RHP Stephen Fife (8-5, 4.31 ERA)

START ME UP

NOTE: Texas Rangers RHP Neftali Feliz (0-1, 5.40 ERA) will make a rehab start; he is scheduled to throw three innings or 60 pitches.

RHP JUSTIN GRIMM (0-0, 3.86 ERA, 7 K)

2012: Assigned to Frisco (AA) to begin the season ... 8-3, 1.80 ERA (16 ER/80.0 IP) in 14 starts with RoughRiders ... 68 strikeouts, 14 walks ... eight-plus strikeouts three times, including 10 whiffs over 5.1 innings in season's first start (April 5 at Springfield) ... did not allow a run in four of last five starts with Frisco ... promoted to Rangers following June 10 start ... made MLB debut June 16 at Houston ... earned win, allowing three runs on six hits over 6.0 innings with seven strikeouts and no walks ... lost June 25 start vs. Detroit; surrendered six runs on eight hits and a walk over 1.0 inning ... worked 3.0 innings in relief July 3 at Chicago-AL and allowed three runs on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts ... optioned to Frisco after that outing ... made predetermined 3.0-inning start July 9 with Frisco vs. Arkansas; did not allow a run on two hits and no walks with one strikeout ... transferred to Round Rock when Express returned from All-Star break July 12 ... no-decision in first start with Express, allowing one run on two hits over 4.0 innings July 14 vs. Memphis at The Dell Diamond.

LAST START: No-decision in July 19 start at Nashville, a 4-3 Express loss ... allowed three runs on five hits and no walks over 5.1 innings with five strikeouts ... also uncorked one wild pitch ... held Sounds scoreless on one hit through first five innings ... Edwin Maysonet's leadoff double started a three-run sixth ... left game tied 2-2 ... lone bequeathed runner scored ... taken off the hook in the eighth on Ryan Spilborghs game-tying RBI single ... 80 pitches, 54 strikes.

CAREER: Split 2011, his first pro season, between Class-A Hickory and Class A-Advanced Myrtle Beach ... combined to go 7-3 with a 3.39 ERA (53 ER/140.2) and 127 strikeouts over 25 starts ... began 2012 with Frisco (AA) where he went 8-3 with a 1.80 ERA in 80.0 innings ... made MLB debut June 16, 2012.

2011: Split season between Hickory and Myrtle Beach ... tabbed the 18th-best prospect in the Carolina League by Baseball America ... combined to go 7-3 with a 3.39 ERA (53 ER/140.2) and 127 strikeouts over 25 starts ... opened season with Hickory, completing at least 6.0 inning in four of first seven starts ... registered a career-best 11 strikeouts May 1 vs. Kannapolis ... averaged 9.7 strikeouts per 9.0 innings with the Crawdads ... promoted to Myrtle Beach May 27 ... posted sixth-lowest ERA (3.39) in Carolina League from May 22 until the end of the season ... logged nine quality starts and completed at least 6.0 innings in 11 of his 16 starts ... 2-0, 0.95 ERA (2 ER/19.0 IP) over his final three starts, including a victory in Sept. 7 at Kinston in the opener of the Carolina League Division Series.

NOTABLE: Drafted out of the University of Georgia, where he was the Bulldogs' number one starter as a junior ... entered the 2010 draft rated as the 59th-best right-hander and 109th-best prospect overall by Baseball America ... selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 13th round of the 2007 June draft but did not sign ... 2012 Texas League Mid-Season All-Star ... made MLB debut June 16, 2012 and earned the win allowing three runs in six innings with seven strikeouts.

IT'S GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME

Texas Rangers first baseman Mitch Moreland began a rehab assignment with the Express last night. He was 1-for-3 with a single out of the leadoff spot and played six innings at first base. He is expected to leadoff as the designated hitter tonight. Moreland was placed on the disabled list June 20 with a strained left hamstring.

BEEN DOWN SO LONG

Round Rock scored four or fewer runs in 13 of its last 14 games at The Dell Diamond. The lone exception was Sunday night's 11-inning, 8-7 victory over Omaha in which the Express plated five runs in the ninth inning alone to send the game to extra innings. It was the only time the Express scored at least eight runs at home since May 22 (11-5 vs. Sacramento). Round Rock is hitting .236 (151-for-640) in 19 games this month, averaging 3.8 runs per game. Express batters have 15 homers in July, but 10 have been solo shots; of Round Rock's 72 runs this month, 20 scored on homers (27.8 percent).

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH

The Express are 3-8 since the All-Star break and 5-14 since July 1. ... Round Rock is 7-18 in series openers (5-8 at home, 2-10 on the road). ... Round Rock has not won three straight games since a four-game run May 31-June 3. The Express are 15-29 in that span, enduring a seven-game losing streak and a pair of five-game skids in that time. ... The Express are 9-47 when allowing at least five runs and 32-20 when scoring at least five runs. ... Of Round Rock's 96 home runs, 61 were on the road (1.17 per game). Meanwhile, Express batters average 0.69 homers per game at home (34 homers, 49 games). ... Round Rock is fourth in the PCL with a .978 fielding percentage and leads the league with 124 double plays turned. Express pitchers induced at least one double play in 23 of the last 30 games (39 double plays). ... Round Rock is 9-13 in one-run games. Seven of the 22 games were against Iowa. ... The Express are 3-49 when trailing after seven innings and 2-51 when trailing after eight innings. Conversely, the Express are 38-6 when leading after seven innings and 37-3 when leading after eight innings. ... Round Rock is 6-17 since Clint Musslewhite's departure, going 3-11 at home in that time.

EVERYDAY PEOPLE

JULIO BORBON: Hitless in last 19 at bats ... 1-for-22 (.045) over last five games ... hitting .314 (71-for-226) since May 12 ... two RBI (July 7 at Albuquerque; July 18 at Nashville) since two-run homer June 16 vs. Oklahoma City ... two extra-base hits since that homer (double, June 28 vs. Nashville; double July 12 vs. Memphis) ... hitting .338 (88-for-260) through the first six innings; hitting .152 (16-for-105) after the sixth inning.

JOEY BUTLER: Snapped a 12-game hitting streak last night, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts ... first three-strikeout game since June 29 vs. Nashville; third this season ... hit .417 (20-for-48) during streak with five multiple-hit efforts (each of last four games), one homer, six RBI, five doubles and 10 runs scored ... hitting .556 (20-for-36) when putting ball in play over last 13 games ... hit safely in 11 of last 13 at bats when not striking out ... 11-for-22 (.500) over last five games ... six RBI in last 13 games after producing only seven RBI and no multiple-RBI outings over 32 games from May 30 through July 4 ... at least one strikeout in 20 of last 25 games (32 strikeouts) with at least two strikeouts in five of last eight games ... tied for PCL lead with 59 walks ... two walks over last nine games ... two homers in last 41 games, 152 at bats ... one homer at The Dell Diamond (July 1 vs. New Orleans) since May 17 (33 games) ... eight of 13 home runs were solo shots ... hitting .224 (32-for-143) when batting fifth or higher in the order, .338 (69-for-204) when batting sixth or lower.

LUIS HERNANDEZ: Hitless in last 10 at bats since third-inning leadoff homer July 21 vs. Omaha ... 4-for-39 (.103) over last 10-plus games ... no multiple-hit efforts since four-hit game June 29 vs. Nashville (17 games) but produced 12 RBI in that time ... two homers over last 38 games, 141 at bats (both solos) ... five of six home runs were solo shots ... six of last nine hits produced at least one RBI ... 12 RBI in 18 July games after producing eight RBI in 26 June games ... 11 walks over last 23 games after not walking in previous 28 games ... at least one walk in six straight games (eight strikeouts) with two in each of last two games ... 5-for-29 (.172) with runners in scoring position and two outs but hit safely in two of last three such at bats ... 14-for-72 (.194) when leading off an inning with two homers, five walks, nine strikeouts ... leads all PCL shortstops with a .980 fielding percentage (eight errors).

MATT KATA: 7-for-43 (.163) over last 11 games ... one multiple-hit effort (two hits, July 7 at Albuquerque) over last 26 games ... hitting .409 (27-for-66) with runners in scoring position (38 RBI), going 11-for-23 (.478) with runners in scoring position and two outs (20 RBI) ... 48-for-224 (.214) without runners in scoring position ... 5-for-10 with bases loaded (one homer, 12 RBI) ... three walks in last 50 games, 203 plate appearances ... one homer (July 8 at Albuquerque) since May 31 grand slam at Memphis (39 games) ... hitting .366 (30-for-82) when batting first or seventh in lineup; hitting .212 (44-for-208) elsewhere in the lineup.

LUIS MARTINEZ: Hit safely in eight of last nine games (.364, 12-for-34) with four RBI, four runs scored, four multiple-hit games and two multiple-RBI outings ... hit safely in 17 of last 20 games (.319, 22-for-69) with five multiple-hit efforts ... four RBI since May 29 at Memphis, all coming in consecutive games at Albuquerque (July 4, 7) ... three extra-base hits since June 9 (two doubles, homer) ... 19-for-44 (.432) in the third and fourth innings ... 4-for-29 (.138) with runners in scoring position and two outs ... 0-for-6 with bases loaded (one walk, one hit-by-pitch, one sacrifice fly).

TOMMY MENDONCA: 1-for-26 (.039) over last seven-plus games ... one walk in last 34 games, 132 plate appearances ... at least one strikeout in 20 of last 23 games (33 strikeouts) ... 10 strikeouts in five games since July 14 activation from disabled list ... at least three strikeout 11 times (three games with four strikeouts) ... has not gone more than two straight games without a strikeout ... three of last six hits were homers ... each of last four extra-base hits were homers (double May 20 vs. Fresno).

GREG MICLAT: Hit safely in 10 of last 14 games (.341, 14-for-41) with four multiple-hit efforts ... at least one strikeout in eight of last 10 games (10 strikeouts) ... at least one walk in five of last six games (seven walks) ... 10 of 23 hits were for extra bases (nine doubles, one homer) ... 3-for-19 (.158) when leading off an inning with one homer, two walks, eight strikeouts ... 0-for-3 with bases loaded; two walks and one sacrifice fly.

BRAD NELSON: Hit safely in nine of 11 games since All-Star break (.400, 14-for-35) with six homers, 10 RBI, two doubles, eight runs scored and 12 walks ... responsible for 12 of team's 35 runs since All-Star break (34.3 percent) ... six homers in last nine games, 29 at bats (four solos, two two-run) ... snapped six-game streak with at least one walk last night (eight walks) ... at least one walk in 10 of last 12 games (13 walks) ... hit safely in 13 of last 16 games (.345, 19-for-55) with four multiple-hit games ... hit safely in 10 of last 18 at bats at home after enduring an 0-for-24 slump at The Dell Diamond ... hitting .342 (53-for-155) on the road since going 0-for-4 April 21 at New Orleans ... hits roughly 80 points better on the road (.317, 60-for-189) than at home (.240, 42-for-175) ... 10 of 17 homers, 39 of 59 RBI were in road games ... 10 of 17 homers were solos, including five leadoff shots ... at least one strikeout in 15 of last 22 games (24 strikeouts) ... 4-for-8 with bases loaded (homer, 10 RBI).

GUILDER RODRIGUEZ: Snapped 0-for-11 skid with Sunday night's fourth-inning single ... hitless in first 12 at bats with Express after being promoted from Double-A Frisco ... 7-for-23 (.304) since, including three-hit game July 3 vs. New Orleans ... five of seven hits with bases empty ... 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position ... 1-for-6 when leading off an inning.

ELIO SARMIENTO: Hitless in last 10 at bats ... 1-for-19 (.053) since All-Star break; lone hit was a home run (July 18 at Nashville) ... no multiple-hit efforts since two-hit night May 4 vs. Memphis (14 games) ... at least one strikeout in 15 of 18 games played, including 14 of last 15 games ... doubled in lone first-inning at bat.

YANGERVIS SOLARTE: 7-for-40 (.175) since All-Star break with one multiple-hit effort ... no consecutive hitless games since June 9-10 ... hitting .296 (32-for-108) over last 30 games with nine multiple-hit games (two three-hit outings) and eight RBI ... no extra-base hits since double July 5 at Albuquerque ... five of six home runs, 30 of 37 RBI came after the third inning ... no homers since May 14, a span of 57 games and 220 at bats ... five of six home runs were solo shots ... 10-for-53 (.189) with runners in scoring position and fewer than two outs ... second in PCL with 13.32 plate appearances per strikeout ... one strikeout in five of last 10 games (40 at bats) ... has not struck out in more than two straight games since five-game stretch May 21-26 ... hitting .356 (26-for-73) in bottom third of order, .260 (78-for-300) when batting sixth or higher ... four RBI since last multiple-RBI effort June 21 vs. Iowa (26 games).

RYAN SPILBORGHS: Three RBI Sunday night vs. Omaha were most in a game since three-RBI effort May 14 at Tacoma ... 10-for-39 (.256) since All-Star break ... one homer in last 47 games and 179 at bats ... three of five homers were solos, including two leadoff shots ... nine RBI in last 12 games after producing one RBI in previous 20 games ... snapped streak of five consecutive games without a strikeout last night; longest such streak since joining Express May 5 ... 7-for-41 (.171) with runners in scoring position and two outs ... hit safely in three of last four at bats with two outs and runners in scoring position after going 21-consecutive such at bats without a hit ... 249 career PCL games, hitting .333 (315-for-946) with 25 homers, 129 RBI and 72 doubles.

BROTHERS IN ARMS

NEAL COTTS: No runs allowed in last three outings (4.2 innings) ... stranded eight of 11 inherited runners, including six of last seven ... season-high four strikeouts in last outing (July 22 vs. Omaha) ... opponents are 2-for-17 (.118) with runners on base and two outs ... opponents are 0-for-4 with bases loaded ... allows a .600 on-base percentage (6-for-12, three walks) to leadoff batters ... 2.89 ERA (3 ER/9.1 IP) at home; 7.56 ERA (7 ER/8.1 IP) on the road.

WILLIE EYRE: Walked two batters in last outing (July 23 vs. Omaha) ... first walks issued since walking three batters in first game with Express (July 20 vs. Iowa) ... snapped streaks of 15.0 innings, 58 batters faced ... one run allowed over five outings since All-Star break (5.0 innings, 1.80 ERA) ... two of four inherited runners scored ... opponents are 2-for-16 (.125) when leading off an inning (one walk, four strikeouts) ... opponents are 4-for-8 (.500) with runners in scoring position and two outs.

DEREK HANKINS: Allowed at least one home run in six of last eight appearances (seven homers) ... 2-2, 3.34 ERA (12 ER/32.1 IP) in 19 relief appearances ... 2-4, 7.43 ERA (22 ER/26.2 IP) in seven starts ... 2-3, 10.06 ERA (19 ER/17.0 IP) in last six outings (four starts) ... leadoff batters hitting .304 (17-for-56) with two homers ... opponents are 1-for-26 (.038) with runners in scoring position and two outs but 17-for-46 (.370) with runners in scoring position and fewer than two outs.

AARON HEILMAN: No runs allowed in last three appearances (4.1 innings) ... season-high five strikeouts in last outing (July 22 vs. Omaha) ... matched strikeout total from nine games combined ... converted seven of last eight save chances ... stranded 10 of 14 inherited runners ... held opponent scoreless in 11 of last 13 outings ... opponents hitting .357 (15-for-42) with runners in scoring position ... opponents are hitless in three bases-loaded at bats (two strikeouts).

JOE ORTIZ: Held opponent scoreless in eight of 12 outings, including seven of last 10 ... all runs allowed scored on solo homers (four) ... no walks in 14.1 innings with Express (58 batters faced) ... one strikeout in nine of 12 outings ... opponents are 1-for-7 with two outs and runners in scoring position.

BEN SNYDER: 1-1, 2.25 ERA (4 ER/16.0 IP) in last five outings (two starts) ... 1-0, 3.00 ERA (7 ER/21.0 IP) in 15 appearances at The Dell Diamond (all relief) ... holds opponents to a .208 average (11-for-53) when leading off an inning with no homers and nine strikeouts against three walks ... opponents are 9-for-29 (.310) with runners in scoring position and two outs.

YOSHINORI TATEYAMA: Has not allowed an earned run in 19 of 20 outings with Express ... has not allowed an earned run with the Express since April 21 at New Orleans, a span of 22.0 innings over 16 appearances ... currently has a 15.0-inning scoreless streak over 11 appearances with Round Rock (three unearned runs May 8 at Salt Lake) ... allowed four runs (one earned), all of which scored in the eighth inning ... opponents are 2-for-17 (.118) with runners in scoring position and 7-for-53 (.132) when behind in the count ... 11 strikeouts in 9.0 innings over last seven outings ... multiple strikeouts in seven of last 13 appearances ... at least one strikeout in seven consecutive appearances, 10 of last 11 ... two of six inherited runners scored, both in last outing (July 23 vs. Omaha).

JOHAN YAN: Allowed at least one run in 10 of 17 outings ... entered game with bases loaded three times and stranded six of nine runners ... stranded eight of 14 inherited runners ... opponents are 13-for-37 (.351) with runners on base.

WHO'S NEXT

Round Rock returns to the road for a four-day, five-game series against the Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals). The additional game is a makeup of the July 15 rainout at The Dell Diamond. This is the final series between the two squads. Memphis leads the season series 6-5, winning four of seven meetings at The Dell Diamond. The teams split a four-game series at AutoZone Park in late May.

SERIES"ˆINFORMATION

GAME"ˆ107 | SATURDAY, JULY 24 | 6:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Chad Bell (3-3, 4.46 ERA)

Redbirds: TBA

GAME"ˆ108 | SUNDAY, JULY 25 | 4:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Neftali Feliz (0-1, 5.40 ERA; starts tonight)

Redbirds: TBA

GAME"ˆ109 | SUNDAY, JULY 25 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Justin Grimm (0-0, 3.86 ERA; pitches tonight)

Redbirds: TBA

GAME"ˆ110 | MONDAY, JULY 26 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Ben Snyder (2-4, 3.88 ERA)

Redbirds: TBA

GAME"ˆ111 | TUESDAY, JULY 27 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Zach Jackson (3-12, 4.98 ERA)

Redbirds: TBA

Check out the Round Rock Express Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 24, 2012


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