PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express - Game Notes Vs. Memphis Redbirds

Published on July 26, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK EXPRESS (60-43) vs. MEMPHIS REDBIRDS (51-51)

GAME 104 | 26 JULY ‚¬Ë†2011 | 7:05 P.M. CDT | THE DELL DIAMOND | ROUND ROCK, TEXAS

TONIGHT'S GAME

Round Rock returns home for a four-game series against the Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT at The Dell Diamond. The Express are 6-4 in their last 10 games after splitting a four-game series at Omaha; Round Rock won each of the last two games. The Redbirds are 3-7 in their last 10 games; Memphis was swept in a four-game series at Oklahoma City most recently. Round Rock is 31-21 at The Dell Diamond, while the Redbirds are 21-30 on the road.

PROMOTIONS

* Liberty Mutual Half-Price Group Night - groups of 20 or more

* KRAFT Singles Tuesday Night Tickets - buy-one-get-one-free tickets with KRAFT Singles package wrapper

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, while former Major Leaguer Jerry Grote provides color analysis.

EXPRESS-STORM CHASERS SERIES

This is the fourth and final series between Round Rock and Memphis; the Express lead the series 7-5. 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 leading into the All-Star break. The teams played a five-game series at Memphis immediately following the All-Star break; the Express won four of those five games. SERIES NOTES: Memphis has not won consecutive games against Round Rock this season. ‚¬Â¦ Only one of the 12 meetings was decided by more than three runs. The teams have played five one-run games - two of which were extra-inning games. ‚¬Â¦ Neither team has scored more than six runs in nine of the 12 meetings with both teams scoring more than six runs only once. ‚¬Â¦ Round Rock batters have 12 homers against Memphis pitchers, including two each from Joey Butler, Matt Kata, Brad Nelson and Chad Tracy. ‚¬Â¦ Kata is hitting .250 against Memphis, but five of his eight hits have been for extra bases and he has 11 RBI in nine games. ‚¬Â¦ Butler, Nelson and Esteban German lead the Express with 13 hits against Redbirds pitching. ‚¬Â¦ Round Rock is 10-for-11 in stolen bases against Memphis. German is 5-for-5. ‚¬Â¦ Eric Hurley is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA (2 ER / 12.0 IP) in two starts against the Redbirds. ‚¬Â¦ Pedro Strop has four saves in four opportunities against Memphis. ‚¬Â¦ Redbirds catcher Bryan Anderson has tortured Express pitching to the tune of a .419 average (13-for-31) with two doubles, while outfielder Nick Stavinoha has four homers and 11 RBI in 12 games against Round Rock.

GAME ‚¬Ë†104 | TUESDAY, JULY 26 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Martin Perez (1-1, 4.32 ERA)

Redbirds: RHP Brian Broderick (3-3, 5.89 ERA)

GAME ‚¬Ë†105 | WEDNESDAY, JULY 27 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Zach Jackson (7-4, 5.95 ERA)

Redbirds: RHP Blaine Boyer (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

GAME ‚¬Ë†106 | THURSDAY, JULY 28 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Brett Tomko (5-3, 6.56 ERA)

Redbirds: RHP Brandon Dickson (4-9, 4.28 ERA)

GAME ‚¬Ë†107 | FRIDAY, JULY ‚¬Ë†29 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Eric Hurley (5-0, 3.94 ERA)

Redbirds: RHP Adam Ottavino (3-7, 4.22 ERA)

EXPRESS STARTER

LHP Martin Perez (1-1, 4.32 ERA)

Last Outing: Suffered loss in July 21 start vs. New Orleans, a 7-3 Zephyrs win ‚¬Â¦ Allowed six runs - three earned - on 11 hits over 3.1 innings ‚¬Â¦ Walked two with one strikeout ‚¬Â¦ Allowed nine singles, one double, one triple ‚¬Â¦ Used 81 pitches, 45 strikes.

2011: Widely considered top prospect in Rangers organization entering the season ‚¬Â¦ Began season with Double-A Frisco ‚¬Â¦ Made 17 starts and one relief appearance with RoughRiders ‚¬Â¦ Posted a 4-2 record with a 3.16 ERA ‚¬Â¦ Logged 88.1 innings with 83 strikeouts, 36 walks and a .245 opponents' average ‚¬Â¦ Surrendered six home runs, two of which came in a June 17 start at Corpus Christi ‚¬Â¦ Recorded nine-plus strikeouts three times, including 10 whiffs over 7.2 innings May 16 vs. Midland ‚¬Â¦ Tossed rain-shortened, five-inning perfect game April 19 at Arkansas ‚¬Â¦ 1-0 with eight no-decisions through May 21 before winning three straight starts ‚¬Â¦ 0-2 with two no-decisions and one non-factoring relief outing since ‚¬Â¦ Allowed more than three earned runs three times in 16 starts - yielding four twice and five once ‚¬Â¦ Worked at least 5.0 innings 13 times and at least 6.0 innings eight times ‚¬Â¦ Enjoyed a stretch of six consecutive starts with at least 6.0 innings from May 10 through June 6 ‚¬Â¦ Toiled past the sixth inning twice, including seven shutout innings May 26 in win against Northwest Arkansas ‚¬Â¦ First-inning ERA was 3.38 (6 ER / 16.0 IP) ‚¬Â¦ Held opponents to a .194 average (7-for-36) with runners in scoring position and two outs and a .228 mark (18-for-79) when leading off an inning ‚¬Â¦ Surrendered one hit - a three-run double - and one sacrifice fly in seven bases-loaded situations with three strikeouts and no walks.

2011 vs. Memphis: Earned victory in first career Triple-A start July 16 at Memphis, a 3-2 Express win ‚¬Â¦ Allowed one run on six hits (five singles, one double) and no walks over 5.0 innings with four strikeouts.

2010: Spent entire season with Double-A Frisco, going 5-8 with a 5.96 ERA and a .290 opponents' average ‚¬Â¦ Started 23 games with one relief appearance ‚¬Â¦ Logged 99.2 innings with 50 walks and 101 strikeouts ‚¬Â¦ Led Frisco staff in strikeouts.

Notable: Signed by Rangers as a non-drafted free agent in 2007 ‚¬Â¦ Began professional career with short-season Spokane in 2008 ‚¬Â¦ Split 2009 between Class-A Hickory and Frisco.

FAMILIAR FACE MAJEWSKI RETURNS TO EXPRESS

The Texas Rangers signed outfielder Val Majewski to a minor league contract Monday; he has been assigned to the Express and will be active for tonight's game. Majewski, who played for the Express in 2008 as a member of the Houston Astros organization, hit .317 with 11 home runs and 48 RBI in 71 games with York of the Independent Atlantic League this season and was a midseason all-star. A third-round draft pick of the Baltimore Orioles in 2002, Majewski appeared in nine games for the Orioles in 2004 and remained in the O's system through the 2007 season. He since has played in the Astros (2008), Angels (2009) and Athletics (2010) organizations.

YESTERDAY'S GAMES

Ryan Tucker struck out five over 5.0 innings in his best outing to date as the Express defeated the Omaha Storm Chasers 9-2 at Werner Park in Papillion, Neb. Tucker earned his first win since April 25; in his third start of the season, he held Omaha to one run on six hits, a walk and one hit batter. Round Rock tallied 17 hits, three each from Brad Nelson and Matt Kata. Nelson and Taylor Teagarden both had solo homers. The Express scored a pair of runs on three hits and a costly Omaha error in the second, and the E-Train never relinquished the lead. Nelson delivered a one-out RBI single in the third that proved to be the game-deciding hit.

OMAHA SERIES RECAP

Round Rock split a four-game series at Omaha that concluded with Monday's 9-2 win. The Storm Chasers won each of the series' first two games - 10-4 and 6-5 (11 innings). That sent the Express to a four-game losing streak, their first skid of more than two games this season. However, Round Rock responded with a 3-1 victory in the third game and salvaged a split with Monday's win. The Express tallied 57 hits in the series but stranded 43 runners despite a .353 average (18-for-51) with runners in scoring position. Joey Butler led the Express with eight hits on the series, while Esteban German and Nick Green had seven each. Green, Brad Nelson and Taylor Teagarden all homered but each was a solo shot.

DIVISION STANDINGS UPDATE

Round Rock (60-43, .583) pushed its American Southern Division lead back to six games yesterday. While the Express won 9-2 at Omaha, Albuquerque (54-49, .524) lost 9-5 at home to New Orleans. The teams have had the opposite result each of the last six games with the Isotopes gaining two games in that time. Nonetheless, Round Rock is 23-12 since June 18, during which time Albuquerque is 15-20. The Express have at least shared the division lead following 81 of 103 games this season and have led the division outright since June 25. Round Rock's largest division lead was eight games at the start of play July 20. New Orleans (50-53, .485) trails Round Rock by 10 games, while Oklahoma City (46-57, .447) is 14 games back.

ROUND ROCK AMONG TOP PCL TEAMS

At 60-43 (.583), Round Rock owns the PCL's third-best record behind Reno (61-41, .598) and Sacramento (61-42, .592). Reno lost four of five games at Sacramento most recently. The Express are four-and-a-half games ahead of Omaha (55-47, .539) in the overall American Conference standings.

ROUND ROCK vs. AMERICAN NORTHERN DIVISION

The Express are 34-18 against the American North Division so far this season. Round Rock has not lost a series to a cross-division foe since dropping three of four at Nashville in mid-June. Since then, the Express have won three series (Omaha, Nashville, at Memphis) and split two series (Memphis, at Omaha) for a 15-6 record in that time. The Express have clinched the season series against Omaha (9-3) and Nashville (9-3) with four games remaining in each series. Round Rock has concluded its season series against Iowa, winning nine of 16 games. The Express lead the Memphis series 7-5. After this series, Round Rock travels to Nashville for a four-game series. The Express play their final series against an American Northern Division foe Aug. 29-Sept. 1 at Omaha.

JONES APPROACHING MILESTONE

Express manager Bobby Jones enters tonight's game with 1,489 career managerial wins - all of which have come in the Texas Rangers organization. His tally includes stints with Class-A Charlotte (1988-1990), Double-A Tulsa (1991-1992, 1996-2000), Triple-A Oklahoma City (1993-1994, 2002-2010) and Round Rock. Jones' most successful season at the Triple-A level was 2004 when he led Oklahoma City to 81 wins and the PCL American Southern Division title. He owns 12 division titles and guided the 1998 Tulsa squad to a Texas League championship.

HURLEY COMEBACK STORY REMARKABLE

Eric Hurley lost his first start of the season April 8 vs. Iowa and missed his next scheduled start due to a viral infection. He sustained a skull fracture on the fourth pitch of his second start April 18 at New Orleans and spent the next two months on the disabled list. Hurley is 5-0 in seven starts since his return to the mound June 20 against Omaha. Furthermore, the Express have won each of his last eight starts, including the game in which he sustained the skull fracture. Hurley has pitched at least into the sixth inning in five consecutive starts, going seven innings in each of the last two.

TRACY TRACKING RECORDS

Chad Tracy is fourth in the PCL with 80 RBI, a tally that ranks seventh on Round Rock's single-season list (Triple-A era). Mike Coolbaugh (2005) was the only Express player to reach triple digits in RBI; he had 101 in 2005 - Round Rock's first as a PCL member. Tracy is tied for 11th among all minor leaguers in RBI, and he is tied for 26th among all minor leaguers with 20 home runs.

NO REST FOR THE WEARY

The Express continue a 29-game, 28-day stretch tonight. 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. The Express are 8-5 in that time.

HOME SWEET HOME

After struggling at The Dell Diamond early in the season, the Express have been strong at home over the past month. Round Rock is 31-21 at home, winning 14 of 19 home games since June 18. The Express have won five home series, lost three and split five. Round Rock has swept three home series (Omaha once, Nashville twice) and has not been swept at home.

EXPRESS STRONG ON THE ROAD, AS WELL

Round Rock (29-22, .560) owns the best road record in the American Conference and the PCL's second-best road record behind only Sacramento (32-15, .681). The Express and Omaha (25-25, .500) are the only American Conference teams at or above .500 on the road; in fact, each of the other six American Conference teams is at least eight games under .500 on the road. Round Rock has won five road series, lost four and split four. Two of the four road series losses were three-game sets (1-2 in each); the Express swept a four-game series at Oklahoma City in mid-April and have not been swept on the road.

BIG-FLY GUYS

The Express enter today's game with 138 home runs on the season - second in the league behind only Reno (141). Round Rock was the first PCL team to 100 home runs this season and has 10 more homers than any other American Conference team (Albuquerque). The Express clubbed 55 homers over the last 35 games after being shutout in consecutive games.

EXPRESS ON RECORD HOMER PACE

Round Rock already has eclipsed the franchise's season home-run totals from 2007 (134), 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 192 on the season. Since the Express joined the PCL in 2005, only one team has eclipsed 190 homers in a season - Albuquerque hit 197 in 2008. Tacoma led the PCL with 185 home runs last season despite finishing 15th out of 16 teams in the league in team batting average (.264).

OFFENSE STRUGGLES WITHOUT HOMERS

The Express have homered in 68 of 103 games this season, going 45-23 in those games. However, Round Rock is just 15-20 when failing to hit at least one home run. The Express average 3.71 runs per game (130 total) when failing to homer. Round Rock has not scored more than six runs in a game without a home run since an 8-4 win June 3 at Oklahoma City. Meanwhile, Round Rock averages 6.21 runs per game (422 total) when hitting at least one home run. The Express have homered in 31 of their last 45 games and scored a total of 39 runs in the other 14 games, getting shutout three times and scoring one run three times.

MORE HOME-RUN NUMBERS

Only twice this season has Round Rock 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¦ The Express have won 18 of their last 23 games when hitting at least one home run. ‚¬Â¦ Round Rock has homered at least twice 41 times, going 31-10 in those games. The Express have won 13 of their last 15 games when hitting multiple homers. ‚¬Â¦ Round Rock has homered multiple times in 14 road games, going 11-3 in those games. ‚¬Â¦ The Express are 17-2 when hitting at least three home runs and 7-0 when hitting at least four home runs. ‚¬Â¦ Round Rock has four four-homer games (June 18 vs. Omaha, June 19 vs. Omaha, July 2 vs. Nashville and July 28 vs. New Orleans), 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.

BIG-INNING THEORY

Round Rock is 20-6 this season when scoring at least four runs in an inning and 40-37 when failing to do such. However, the difference in record is even more pronounced based upon what the opponent does. The Express are 55-24 when not allowing an inning of at least four runs but 5-19 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 four of Round Rock's six losses with an inning of at least four runs.

COMEBACK KIDS

The Express have 32 comeback wins this season (trailing at any point in the game). Round Rock has won 12 times when trailing after five innings, eight times when trailing after six innings, eight times when trailing after seven innings and four times when trailing entering the ninth inning.

FIVE IS THE KEY

Round Rock is 49-14 this season when scoring at least five runs, going 11-29 when scoring fewer than five runs. Meanwhile, Round Rock is 37-13 when allowing fewer than five runs and 23-30 when allowing five or more. The Express have lost four straight and seven of nine when allowing at least five runs.

ROUND ROCK ECLIPSES 2010 WIN TOTAL

The Express have surpassed last season's win total; the 2010 Express - then the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros - posted their 57th and final victory Sept. 4 in the season's antepenultimate game. Round Rock has finished above .500 only twice since joining Triple-A in 2005. The Express won the American Southern Division title in 2006 with an 85-59 record and finished 74-70 in 2005. Round Rock did not reach 65 wins in any of the last four seasons, winning 61 games in 2007, 64 games in 2008 and 63 games in 2009.

EXPRESS LEAD PCL IN ATTENDANCE

Round Rock leads the PCL in attendance, averaging 8,521 fans per game. Sacramento is second with an 8,045 per-game average, while Albuquerque (7,862) 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 surpassed last year's season wins total (57).

* The Express have 32 triples, tied for the third-best total in franchise history (Triple-A era). However, no Express batter has tripled since July 10.

* Round Rock has lost more than two consecutive games only once, dropping four straight. The Express are 13-2 following consecutive losses.

* The Express have stranded 61 runners over the last six games.

* Round Rock has lost six straight when allowing more than six runs.

* The Express are 19-11 in one-run games and 31-20 in games decided by two runs or fewer.

* Opponents have scored first in 56 of 102 games this season. The Express are 26-30 in those games, going 10-12 when responding with at least one run in their next at bat.

* Round Rock has produced at least 15 hits 19 times, including three times in the last six games.

* The Express have produced at least 10 hits in six of their last seven games, including four straight.

* Round Rock is hitting .327 (124-for-379) over the last 10 games.

* The Express have 16 last-at-bat wins, including eight walk-off victories and three walk-off homers.

* Round Rock is 8-3 in extra-inning games, including a 5-3 mark on the road.

* The Express are 45-14 when holding the opponent to fewer than six runs.

* Round Rock is 33-13 when scoring first and 24-12 when scoring in the first inning.

* The Express are 21-14 when allowing a first-inning run.

* Round Rock is 40-9 when out-hitting the opponent.

* The Express are 46-7 when leading after six innings, 44-6 when leading after seven innings and 44-4 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 264-182 in innings four through six, including a 104-58 advantage in the sixth.

PLAYER NOTES

JOEY BUTLER

* Riding four-game hitting streak after hitting .471 (8-for-17) in the Omaha series

* Hit safely in 15 of last 17 games (.328, 21-for-64)

* Four multiple-hit outings in last eight games

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

* Has not gone hitless in consecutive games since June 16-17 immediately following 16-game hitting streak

* Seven hitting streaks of at least five games, two of 10-plus games

* Recorded at least one hit in 14 of 15 games with at least five at bats (July 14 at Memphis)

* Hit safely in 65 of 76 games with at least one at bat

* Hitting .338 (45-for-133) at The Dell Diamond with hits in 33 of 37 games

* Five of seven home runs were hit in the sixth inning

* 54 of 92 hits (58.7 percent) have come with bases empty

* 25 multiple-hit games

KEVIN CASH

* Hit safely in eight of last nine games (.444, 16-for-36) with seven multiple-hit games

* Hitless in nine consecutive at bats prior to last nine games

* Two hits in each of last four games

* Reached safely in 11 straight games

* Hitting .324 (11-for-34) with runners in scoring position and two outs, producing 13 RBI

* .714 on base percentage with bases loaded, going 2-for-4 with three walks and nine RBI

CODY EPPLEY

* Eight walks against six strikeouts over last seven appearances

* At least one walk in 14 of last 15 outings, including seven walks in last four

* Converted eight of nine save opportunities

* Six of eight saves were on the road

* Stranded 10 of 17 inherited runners, allowing each of last three to score

* Issued eight leadoff walks against six strikeouts

* Opponents hitting .192 (5-for-26) with runners in scoring position and two outs

ESTEBAN GERMAN

* Hit safely in four straight and five of last six games after season's first three-game skid

* Tied for fourth in PCL with 27 stolen bases

* Fourth on Express single-season stolen base list (Triple-A era)

* Successful on last nine stolen base attempts

* 11 walks against seven strikeouts in last 18 games

* Leads with 28 multiple-hit games

* Leads Express with 12 games of three-plus hits, including a pair of four-hit games

* Second on team with 21 two-out RBI

* Hitting .212 (7-for-33) after eighth inning

NICK GREEN

* Hit .208 (64-for-308) with 10 home runs and 46 RBI in 87 games with Norfolk Tides of the International League

* Acquired July 19 from Baltimore Orioles for Zach Phillips in waiver trade

* Singled in first Express at bat July 21

* Hit safely in each of five four games with Express with three multiple-hit outings

* Clubbed first home run with Express (solo) July 23 at Omaha

MARK HAMBURGER

* Allowed eight earned runs in 8.0 innings over last six outings after a seven-outing, 12.1-inning scoreless streak

* Yielded only one run in 16.2 innings over nine outings prior to last five appearances

* Allowed three-plus earned runs five times - 2.10 ERA (7 ER / 30.0 IP) in other 17 appearances

* 4-1, 3.20 ERA (9 ER / 25.1 IP) since June 6

DEREK HANKINS

* One win since May 12 (at Memphis, July 15)

* Tied for third in PCL with 18 home runs allowed

* At least one home run surrendered in 12 of 19 appearances

ERIC HURLEY

* Express are 8-1 in his starts

* Won five of last six starts

* Opponents are 5-for-29 (.172) with runners on base and two outs

* Holds opponents to a .133 mark (2-for-15) with runners in scoring position and two outs

* All six home runs allowed were solo shots

ZACH JACKSON

* Won five of last eight decisions

* Express are 12-5 in his starts, best of any pitcher on staff

* Averages staff-best 6.35 runs of support

* Opposing batters hit .278 on the road, .331 at The Dell Diamond

* Nine of 13 home runs allowed were at home

* All four home runs allowed on the road were solo shots

BEAU JONES

* 13 strikeouts over 8.2 innings in last six outings

* Multiple strikeouts 10 times in 26 appearances

* Allowed more than one earned run five times

* 1.97 ERA (7 ER / 32.0 IP) in other 21 outings

* Opponents are 3-for-16 (.188) with runners in scoring position and two outs

MATT KATA

* Hit safely in 12 of last 13 games (.447, 21-for-47)

* Five multiple-hit outings in last nine games, including a trio of three-hit outings

* Seven multiple-hit performances in last 17 games after going 18 straight games without a multiple-hit outing

* Hit safely in 24 of last 27 games (.346, 36-for-104)

* At least one RBI in 10 of last 13 games with four two-RBI games and a pair of three-RBI game

* Nine multiple-RBI outings in last 24 games with 27 RBI in that time

* Reached safely in 39 of last 42 games, including 13 straight

* Struck out looking three times in a seven-at-bat stretch during Omaha series after striking out looking only twice in season's first 256 at bats

* Hitting .325 (37-for-114) when second or eighth in the lineup - hitting .269 (42-for-156) elsewhere

* 20-for-61 (.328) with 15 RBI after the seventh inning

* Hitting .197 (12-for-61) when leading off an inning

* Produced 18 of 48 RBI with runners on base and two outs, hitting .435 (20-for-46) in that situation

MICHAEL KIRKMAN

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

* Third stint with Express this season

* 16 of 35 runs allowed were in two outings - April 7 vs. Iowa (10), July 5 at Albuquerque (6)

* 3.22 ERA (16 ER / 44.2 IP) in other 14 appearances

* Allowed 10 walks in 4.0 innings over last two outings

* Averaging 12.84 strikeouts per nine innings (29 K / 20.1 IP) as a reliever

LEONYS MARTIN

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

* Hit .348 with four homers and 10 stolen bases in 29 games with Double-A Frisco

* Assigned to Express prior to July 9 game

* Six multiple-hit games, including one three-hit game and one four-hit game

* Snapped 10-at-bat hitless skew with second inning single in Monday's series finale at Omaha

* Hit .071 (1-for-14) in final three games of Omaha series after four-hit game in opener

BRAD NELSON

* Hit safely in seven of last eight games (.324, 8-for-30) with three multiple-hit outings

* Five home runs in last 55 at bats after hitting two in previous 122 at bats

* Hitting .299 (32-for-107) as designated hitter, .255 (55-for-216) when playing in the field

* 8-for-46 (.174) with runners in scoring position and two outs

* Hitting .355 (11-for-31) after the eighth inning

DARREN O'DAY

* Appeared in five games with Express on a rehab assignment June 22-30

* Returned to the Express prior to July 14 game

* No runs allowed in nine of 10 appearances with the Express

* Only runs allowed were on Brett Carroll's two-run homer June 30 vs. Nashville

* Lone walk issued was against first batter faced in first outing with Express (June 22 at New Orleans)

* Opponents are 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position (0-for-5 with two outs)

MARTIN PEREZ

* Widely considered to prospect in Rangers organization

* Began season with Double-A Frisco

* 4-2 with a 3.16 ERA in 16 starts and one relief appearance with RoughRiders

* Tallied 83 strikeouts against 36 walks over 88.1 innings with a .245 opponents' average at Frisco

* Pitched in 2011 MLB Futures Game

* Assigned to Round Rock prior to July 14 game

* Earned victory in first career Triple-A start July 16 at Memphis

NEIL RAMIREZ

* Currently on the disabled list (shoulder stiffness)

* Express are 9-8 in his starts, going 1-7 in last eight starts

* Averages 4.94 runs of support

* Opponents hitting .194 (6-for-31) with runners in scoring position and two outs

* Leads staff with 85 strikeouts and 10.43 strikeouts per nine innings

* 1.06 ERA in the first inning (3 ER / 17.0 IP)

* Five of six home runs allowed were at The Dell Diamond

* Four of six homers surrendered were solo shots, including three leadoff homers

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)

* Hit safely in five of last six games, going 9-for-24 (.375) with three multiple-hit outings in that time

PEDRO STROP

* 1.96 ERA (4 ER / 18.1 IP) in 14 road outings - 5.74 ERA (10 ER / 15.2 IP) in 15 home appearances

* Allowed three earned runs in 15.1 innings over last 15 outings (1.76 ERA)

* At least one strikeout in seven straight appearances and 12 of 13

* Four walks over 2.0 innings in last two outings

* Stranded seven of 14 inherited runners, allowing four of last five to score

* One home run allowed over 79.2 innings at the Triple-A level since surrendering two homers May 3, 2009

* Opponents hitting .370 (17-for-46) with runners in scoring position

TAYLOR TEAGARDEN

* Hit safely in five of last six games (.360, 8-for-25)

* Homer in Monday's series finale at Omaha was first since June 1 (16 games, 61 at bats)

* Multiple hits in each of last two games after going 13 consecutive games without a multiple-hit outing

* Three-hit game Sunday was first since three-homer game May 8 vs. Nashville

* Reached safely in 22 of last 25 games with Round Rock

* Seven of 10 home runs were solo shots

* Hitting .340 (36-for-106) when batting in bottom third of order, 2-for-25 (.080) when higher in the order

BRETT TOMKO

* Credited with win in each of last five decisions

* Express are 7-2 in his last nine outings (six starts)

* At least one home run allowed in 10 of 13 appearances but snapped a seven-outing streak in last start

CHAD TRACY

* Riding seven-game hitting streak (.321, 9-for-28)

* At least one walk in six of last nine games

* Tied for 10th in league with 20 home runs

* Fourth in PCL with 80 RBI

* Seventh on Express single-season RBI list (Triple-A era)

* Tied for 11th among all minor leaguers in RBI

* One RBI in last six games

* Tied for 26th among all minor leaguers with 20 home runs

* 11 walks in last 16 games - five walks in previous 25 games

* Seven home runs, 34 RBI with runners on base and two outs

* Leads the team in hits with runners in scoring position (44)

* Also leads team with 37 two-out hits and 41 two-out RBI

* Second on team with 26 multiple-hit games

* Leads team with 25 multiple-RBI games

RYAN TUCKER

* Has not allowed more than one run in any of last nine relief appearances

* 1.98 ERA (3 ER / 13.2 IP) with 11 strikeouts against two walks in those outings

* Three of four home runs allowed were solo shots

* Opponents hitting .212 (7-for-33) with runners on base and two outs

* Earned first win since April 25 in last start (July 25 at Omaha)

NEXT SERIES

Round Rock travels to Nashville for a four-game series against the Sounds (Milwaukee Brewers). The series begins Saturday at 6:35 p.m. CDT and continues Sunday at 6:35 p.m., Monday at 7:05 p.m. and Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. This is the fourth and final series between the two teams. The Express lead the series 9-3, sweeping both series at The Dell Diamond but losing three of four at Herschel Greer Stadium in mid-June.

GAME ‚¬Ë†108 | SATURDAY, JULY 30 | 6:35 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Ryan Tucker (2-2, 4.75 ERA)

Sounds: RHP Josh Butler (6-5, 4.70 ERA)

GAME ‚¬Ë†109 | SUNDAY, JULY 31 | 6:35 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Martin Perez (starts tonight)

Sounds: LHP Sam Narron (starts tonight)

GAME ‚¬Ë†110 | MONDAY, AUG. 1 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Zach Jackson (starts tomorrow)

Sounds: RHP Amaury Rivas (starts tomorrow)

GAME ‚¬Ë†111 | TUESDAY, AUG. 2 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Brett Tomko (starts Thursday)

Sounds: RHP Frankie De La Cruz (starts Thursday)

Check out the Round Rock Express Statistics

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



Pacific Coast League Stories from July 26, 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