PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express - Game Notes vs. Iowa Cubs (Chicago Cubs)

Published on June 20, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


GAME 73 | 20 JUNE 2012 | 7:05 P.M. CDT | THE DELL DIAMOND | ROUND ROCK, TEXAS

ROUND ROCK EXPRESS (32-40) vs. IOWA CUBS (30-42)

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

EXPRESS: RHP Neil Ramirez (6-7, 8.02 ERA) | CUBS: LHP Brooks Raley (2-2, 5.93 ERA)

TONIGHT, TONIGHT

Round Rock continues a nine-day, eight-game home stand with the second of four games against the Iowa Cubs (Chicago Cubs). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT at The Dell Diamond. The Express have won five of their last seven games after last night's 6-3 victory. Round Rock is 5-5 over its last 10 games and 18-15 at The Dell Diamond. The Cubs have lost seven of their last eight and are 5-14 since June 1. Iowa is 14-19 on the road, dropping seven straight games. 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 15 games - the league's largest first-place margin by six games.

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 third of four series between Round Rock and Iowa. The teams split a four-game series to start the season April 5-8 at Des Moines and split a four-game series the following week (April 13-16) at The Dell Diamond. The Express will follow the Cubs back to Des Moines for a four-game series June 23-26. ... SERIES HISTORY: The Express lead the all-time series 61-60, including a 34-27 mark at The Dell Diamond. 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 nine meetings this season were one-run affairs with each team winning three times. All but one game "" Round Rock's 7-2 win April 7 at Des Moines "" were decided by 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 .258 (81-for-314) with 10 homers, 18 doubles, a triple, seven stolen bases and 5.4 runs per game. Mike Bianucci is 13-for-30 (.433) in eight games with five homers, 11 RBI and eight runs scored. Matt Kata is 5-for-15 (.333) in five games with a home run and five RBI. Iowa native Brad Nelson is 8-for-28 (.286) with five RBI, three doubles and eight walks in eight games. Express pitchers have a 4.43 ERA (41 ER/83.1 IP) with 57 strikeouts against 29 walks. Iowa is hitting .315 (104-for-330) with 10 homers, 17 doubles, two triples, 11 stolen bases and 4.8 runs per game. Brett Jackson is 13-for-38 (.342) with two homers, six RBI, four doubles, eight runs scored and eight walks in nine games; he also has 15 strikeouts.

SERIES"ˆINFORMATION

GAME"ˆ72 | TUESDAY, JUNE 19

at Express 6, Cubs 3

WP: Reynolds (6-5). LP: Lopez (1-2). SV: Cotts (1).

GAME"ˆ73 | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Neil Ramirez (6-7, 8.02 ERA)

Cubs: LHP Brooks Raley (2-2, 5.93 ERA)

GAME"ˆ74 | THURSDAY, JUNE 21 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Martin Perez (4-5, 4.90 ERA)

Cubs: RHP Frankie De La Cruz (1-1, 2.58 ERA)

GAME"ˆ75 | FRIDAY, JUNE 22 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: TBA

Cubs: LHP Chris Rusin (5-5, 4.56 ERA)

START ME UP

RHP NEIL RAMIREZ (6-7, 8.02 ERA, 55 K)

2012: Appeared in two games at Rangers spring training ... allowed seven runs on nine hits over four innings, posting a 15.75 ERA ... walked three and struck out two ... no-decision in season's first start April 7 at Iowa, a 7-2 Express win ... earned wins April 17 vs. Omaha, April 22 at New Orleans, May 3 vs. New Orleans, May 8 at Salt Lake, May 24 vs. Sacramento and June 3 vs. Albuquerque ... losses April 12 at Omaha, April 28 at Oklahoma City, May 13 at Tacoma, May 19 vs. Fresno, May 29 at Memphis, June 9 at Omaha and June 14 vs. Oklahoma City ... allowed career-high eight runs (seven earned) over 3.1 innings in May 13 loss at Tacoma ... surrendered six-plus runs in seven of last 10 starts ... 3.47 ERA (14 ER/36.1 IP) in six wins ... 13.35 ERA (46 ER/31.0 IP) in seven losses ... surrendered at least one home run in 10 consecutive starts (11 homers) after not allowing a home run in first four starts ... 9.33 ERA (28 ER/27.0 IP) through first two innings ... worked at least 6.0 innings in six of 14 starts, including season-long, 7.0-inning outing in May 3 win vs. New Orleans ... opponents hitting .227 (5-for-22) with runners in scoring position and two outs ... opponents hitting .438 (21-for-48) with runners in scoring position and fewer than two outs ... opponents are 3-for-5 with bases loaded (two grand slams, 12 RBI) ... five of 11 home runs surrendered were solos ... 4-2, 5.11 ERA (21 ER/37.0 IP) in six home starts with 24 strikeouts and nine walks.

LAST START: Lost June 14 start vs. Oklahoma City, a 10-6 RedHawks win ... allowed seven runs (six earned) on nine hits (one homer) over 5.2 innings with two walks and three strikeouts ... also hit one batter and uncorked season-high three wild pitches ... utilized two double plays ... surrendered second-inning Brandon Barnes three-run homer ... left game trailing 6-1 ... lone bequeathed runner scored ... 101 pitches, 63 strikes.

2012 vs. IOWA: No-decision in April 7 start at Iowa, a 7-2 Express win ... held Cubs to one run on two hits and a walk over four innings with six strikeouts ... left game tied 1-1.

CAREER vs. IOWA: 1-0, 3.29 ERA (5 ER/13.2 IP) in three starts with 15 strikeouts, seven walks ... earned victory in May 5, 2011, start at Des Moines; held Cubs to two runs on four hits and two walks over 5.1 innings with five strikeouts in 9-2 Express win ... no-decision in June 11, 2011, start at Des Moines, a 3-2 Express loss in seven innings; allowed two runs on five hits and four walks with four strikeouts over 4.1 innings ... has not surrendered a home run to Iowa.

NOTABLE: Neil Andrew Ramirez ... hobbies include fishing, reading, and golf ... attended Kempsville [Va.] High School ... named 2006 first-team all-district by the Virginia High School Baseball Coaches Association after going 4-3 with a 1.05 ERA and 67 strikeouts against 15 walks during his junior season ... also saw time at first base, shortstop and left field ... played with the Maryland Orioles in the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League, where he ranked as the No. 1 prospect as a high school player ... selected to play in the 2006 Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic ... earned a silver medal with Team USA in the 2006 World Junior Championship, along with fellow 2007 Rangers draftees Blake Beavan and Michael Main ... went 1-0 with a 2.89 ERA"ˆ(3 ER/9.1 IP) and 10 strikeouts against eight walks in the tournament (two starts) ... went 6-2, 1.46 (11 ER/52.2 IP) with 74 strikeouts during his senior season ... did not allow a run in 15.1 postseason innings ... named the 2007 Gatorade Virginia Baseball Player of the Year ... ranked as the No. 71 prospect in the 2007 draft by Baseball America ... originally signed a letter of intent to attend Georgia Tech.

UP ON CRIPPLE CREEK

Greg Miclat was placed on the seven-day disabled list Wednesday, joining teammates Tommy Mendonca and Elio Sarmiento on the DL. This is Miclat's second disabled list stint this season. Infielder Guilder Rodriguez was assigned to Round Rock from Double-A Frisco, taking Miclat's spot on the Express 25-man roster. Rodriguez hit .228 (37-for-162) in 50 games with Frisco, delivering two doubles, 10 RBI and 10 stolen bases. He hit .308 (16-for-52) in April but was 21-for-110 (.191) thereafter. Rodriguez played 41 games with the Express last season and hit .270 (37-for-137).

THIS WHEEL'S ON FIRE

Julio Borbon has reached safely in 26 straight games, the PCL's fifth-longest on-base streak this season, hitting safely in 24 of those 26 games. He was hitless (0-for-3, walk) last night for only the fourth time in his last 37 games. Borbon is 49-for-112 (.438) since May 12, a stretch that included a career-best, 21-game hitting streak. He is hitting .402 (66-for-164) over his last 37 games with 22 multiple-hit outings, nine three-hit games, six homers, 24 RBI, 10 doubles, three triples, 28 runs scored and 10 stolen bases. His averaged skyrocketed from .186 to 327 in that time. Borbon, who maintains a 13-game road hitting streak, has been most productive in the middle (4-6) innings with a .446 average (33-for-74), three homers, 17 RBI and six doubles.

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 (.241, 28-for-116). Seven of his eight homers and 28 of his 38 RBI were in road games. Nelson has not gone hitless in consecutive games regardless of location since a three-game spell April 19-21. He has hit safely in 43 of 50 games since, enjoying hitting streaks of 11, nine and eight games. Nelson hit safely in eight of his 10 nine games, going 13-for-40 (.325) with a home run, eight RBI and four doubles; he walked in each of the two hitless games. Nelson is 11-for-34 (.324) with runners in scoring position and two outs, and 3-for-6 with the bases loaded.

UNDER PRESSURE

Matt Kata is hitting .467 (21-for-45) 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. Kata owns 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 .390 (16-for-41) after the seventh inning with 10 RBI. He hit safely in 15 of his last 18 games (.384, 28-for-73) with two homers, 16 RBI, three doubles, a triple, nine multiple-hit outings and four multiple-RBI games.

COMING BACK TO LIFE

Mark Hamburger owns a 1.74 ERA (2 ER/10.1 IP) in five outings since the end of May, blanking the opponent in four of the five appearances. He has not allowed a home run since surrendering two May 22 in a four-inning save vs. Sacramento (18.0 innings, 77 batters faced). Hamburger worked 3.0 scoreless innings June 12 at Albuquerque, his longest scoreless outing this season. He recorded at least one strikeout in all but two of his 21 outings, and he has stranded all five inherited runners.

HELP!

Zach Jackson tied the Express franchise record with 13 wins last season despite a 5.51 ERA. Round Rock supported Jackson to the tune of 6.17 runs per game in his 23 starts in 2011. This season, Jackson's ERA is lower (5.33) but his record is just 2-8. That largely is because the Express have averaged just 3.62 runs per game in Jackson's 13 starts, scoring three or fewer runs eight times and fewer than three runs five times. Round Rock scored a total of 22 runs in his eight losses. Jackson yielded three or fewer earned runs in six of nine starts since tossing six shutout innings in a win April 24 at New Orleans. However, he is 1-6 in those nine starts. Jackson surrendered one unearned run over six innings in his June 5 start vs. Albuquerque; the Express were shutout 2-0.

WALK THIS WAY

Three Express players have gone at least 80 plate appearances without a walk: Luis Hernandez (May 19 "" 27 games, 123 plate appearances), Matt Kata (May 13 "" 21 games, 86 plate appearances) and Tommy Mendonca (May 2 "" 29 games, 112 plate appearances). Meanwhile, Joey Butler leads the PCL with 48 walks, five more than any other player. He drew three walks for the second time this season June 14 as the Express matched a season high with nine free passes. Round Rock did not draw a walk in Sunday's series finale vs. Oklahoma City, the team's first game without a walk since May 20 vs. Fresno.

FORK IN THE ROAD

Round Rock is 15-24 since blowing a 9-5 lead in the ninth inning May 9 at Salt Lake. The Express were 17-16 prior to that loss, the only point at which they were over .500 this season. Round Rock has been outscored by 40 runs over the last 39 games, surrendering double-digit runs nine times. A closer look into the numbers shows the Express are hitting .192 (37-for-193) with runners in scoring position in the 24 losses and .364 (63-for-173) in the 15 wins. Conversely, opponents are hitting .352 (96-for-273) with runners in scoring position in the 24 Express losses and .134 (17-for-127) in Round Rock's 15 victories.

FIVE TO ONE

The Express are 25-4 when holding the opposition to fewer than five runs but 7-36 when allowing at least five runs. Round Rock surrendered at least five runs eight times in the last 14 games and lost all eight games. Meanwhile, the Express are 7-20 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 0.70 homers per game through 33 home dates this season (23 homers). The Express have not homered in 10 of their last 16 home games. 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. Meanwhile, the Express have six multiple-homer games 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 9.27 runs per game at The Dell Diamond this season as opposed to the 11.90 average in 2011.

EVERYDAY PEOPLE

Mike Bianucci is 8-for-14 (.571) over his last four games after going 5-for-33 (.152) in his previous eight games. He leads the team with 14 home runs, including two last night "" 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 did not strikeout in his last three games, his longest such streak. He has one walk over his last 15 games (63 plate appearances). Bianucci is 4-for-11 (.364) with the bases loaded (two doubles, two walks, 10 RBI) and 18-for-37 (.486) in the fourth inning (four homers, eight RBI). ... Dusty Brown hit safely in each of his last three games, all one-hit outings. He is 5-for-53 (.094) since an eighth-inning double May 11 at Salt Lake with 18 strikeouts in that time. However, he also has 14 walks in that time, including four games with two walks. Brown is 2-for-22 (.091) 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 3-for-28 (.107) with seven strikeouts against four walks over his last eight games. He has one multiple-hit outing (two hits June 9 at Omaha) over his last 11 games. Butler leads the PCL with 48 walks, five more than any other player. 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 15 games and 55 at bats. Butler has not homered at The Dell Diamond since May 17 vs. Fresno (16 games). He is 11-for-25 (.440) in the fifth inning with four homers and eight RBI; he also has 10 eighth-inning RBI. ... Luis Hernandez hit safely in six of his last eight games (.343, 12-for-35) with five multiple-hit outings (one three-hit game), four doubles, four RBI and five runs scored. He has not walked since May 19, a span of 27 games and 123 plate appearances. Three of his four home runs were solo shots. Hernandez leads all PCL shortstops with a .986 fielding percentage (four errors, 291 chances). ... Luis Martinez is riding a six-game hitting streak (.350, 7-for-20), his longest of the season; he has five walks, a double, a triple and six runs scored during that time. Martinez is 13-for-31 (.419) in the third and fourth innings but 18-for-92 (.196) the rest of the game, going 3-for-21 (.143) prior to the third inning. He is 2-for-21 (.095) 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 is second in the PCL with 13.64 plate appearances per strikeout. He has one strikeout in his last 15 games (63 plate appearances). Solarte is hitting .225 (20-for-89) through the first three innings but .306 (55-for-180) thereafter with five of his six home runs and 25 of his 31 RBI. Solarte is hitting .220 (13-for-59) over his last 16 games and has not homered since May 14, a span of 29 games and 116 at bats. Five of his six home runs were solo shots. He is 14-for-41 (.341) when leading off an inning with one home run and three walks (.386 on-base percentage). Solarte is 4-for-37 (.108) with runners in scoring position and fewer than two outs. ... Ryan Spilborghs has not homered since May 26, a span of 19 games and 73 at bats. He is 7-for-39 (.179) over his last 10 games; three of the seven hits came June 13 at Albuquerque. Spilborghs is 21-for-44 (.477) during the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. He is 5-for-25 (.200) with runners in scoring position and two outs. Spilborghs has played 222 career PCL games, hitting .342 (287-for-840) 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 one walk in his last nine outings (16.2 innings) with seven strikeouts and a .182 opponents' average (12-for-66). Opposing batters are 0-for-19 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 2.03 ERA (3 ER/13.1 IP) over his last 10 outings, going 1-0 with three saves. He recorded at least one strikeout in 19 of 20 appearances since failing to do so in each of the season's first two outings, including a season-high three strikeouts June 3 vs. Albuquerque. He has 27 strikeouts in his last 23.2 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 1.20 ERA (2 ER/15.0 IP) in 11 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 five walks in his last nine appearances. Opponents are hitting .348 (8-for-23) with runners in scoring position and two outs. Snyder stranded 10 of 17 inherited runners. ... Johan Yan surrendered at least one run in five of seven outings since joining the Express (May 25) and allowed an inherited runner to score in one of the other two outings. Opponents are 7-for-14 (.500) against him with runners on base.

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH

Round Rock is hitting .325 (25-for-77) with the bases loaded, going 15-for-39 (.385) since May 21. Meanwhile, opposing batters are 28-for-69 (.406) with the bases loaded, including six grand slams. Oklahoma City is 6-for-6 against Express pitching with the bases loaded. ... Round Rock is third in the PCL with 77 homers, 53 of which were on the road. ... Round Rock is 6-12 in series openers. ... Of Round Rock's 77 home runs, 41 were solo shots, including 22 to leadoff an inning. ... Round Rock leads the PCL with 83 double plays turned. ... The Express have at least one double in 67 of 72 games, including 31 of 32 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 1-31 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 30-5 when leading after seven innings and 32-0 when out-scoring the opponent.

WHO'S NEXT

Round Rock follows Iowa back to Des Moines for a four-game series at Principle Park. The series begins Saturday with a 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch and continues Sunday at 1:05 p.m., Monday at 12:05 p.m. and Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. The Express return home following the four-game series.

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

Express: TBA

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: RHP Neil Ramirez (6-7, 8.02 ERA; starts tonight)

Cubs: LHP Brooks Raley (2-2, 5.93 ERA; starts tonight)

GAME"ˆ79 | TUESDAY, JUNE 26 | 6:35 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Martin Perez (4-5, 4.90 ERA; starts tomorrow)

Cubs: RHP Frankie De La Cruz (1-1, 2.58 ERA; starts tomorrow)

Check out the Round Rock Express Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 20, 2012


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