PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express - Game Notes vs. Memphis Redbirds

Published on July 15, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


GAME 95 | 15 JULY 2012 | 7:05 P.M. CDT | THE DELL DIAMOND | ROUND ROCK, TEXAS

ROUND ROCK EXPRESS (39-55) vs. MEMPHIS REDBIRDS (35-59)

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

EXPRESS: RHP Neftali Feliz (rehab) / RHP Greg Reynolds (7-6, 5.01 ERA)

REDBIRDS: RHP Brandon Dickson (4-8, 3.58 ERA)

TONIGHT, TONIGHT

Round Rock concludes a four-game home series against the Memphis Redbirds. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT at The Dell Diamond. The Express dropped four straight and nine of their last 10, including last night's 5-3 loss. Round Rock is 21-25 at The Dell Diamond, losing five straight and seven of their last eight at home. Memphis has won three straight games for only the second time this season (three games, May 15-18). The Redbirds are 18-29 on the road, winning three straight road games for the first time this season. Round Rock is fourth in the PCL's American Southern Division, 15 games back of Albuquerque and 10 games behind third-place New Orleans. Memphis is fourth in the American Northern Division, 23 games behind division-leading Omaha.

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 third of four series between the two teams this season. The teams meet again for a four-game series July 28-31 at AutoZone Park in Memphis, Tenn. ... SERIES NOTES: Memphis leads the all-time series 68-54, including a 33-30 edge at The Dell Diamond. The Express won season series in 2005 (9-7), 2007 (9-7) and 2011 (10-6) with the Redbirds winning season series in 2006 (9-7), 2008 (9-6), 2009 (12-4) and 2010 (12-4). There have been three series sweeps, all by Memphis and all at AutoZone Park (one in 2009, two in 2010). ... 2012 SERIES: Memphis leads the season series 6-5. The home team is 5-6. The Express won three of four at The Dell Diamond in early May, and the teams split a four-game series May 30-June 1 at AutoZone Park. Round Rock is hitting .249 (90-for-362) with nine homers, 21 doubles, two triples and 4.3 runs per game. Joey Butler is 7-for-36 (.194) but four of his seven hits were for extra bases (two homers, two doubles); he has five RBI, 10 walks and six runs in 11 games. Matt Kata is 11-for-42 (.262) with two homers, 10 RBI and two runs scored in nine games. Brad Nelson is 14-for-35 (.400) with three homers, six RBI, three doubles, eight walks and nine runs scored in 10 games. Round Rock boasts a 3.20 ERA (35 ER/98.1 IP) with 63 strikeouts against 53 walks and six home runs surrendered. Greg Reynolds claimed two of the five wins; he owns a 0.69 ERA (1 ER/13.0 IP) in two starts against the Redbirds. Memphis is hitting .223 (77-for-345) with six homers, 16 doubles and 3.4 runs per game. Redbirds pitchers have a 3.80 ERA (41 ER/97.0 IP) with 72 strikeouts against 45 walks.

SERIES"ˆINFORMATION

GAME"ˆ92 | THURSDAY, JULY 12

Redbirds 3, Express 0

WP: Gast (7-2). LP: Jackson (3-11). SV: Sanchez (7).

GAME"ˆ93 | FRIDAY, JULY 13

Redbirds 5, Express 0

WP: Lyons (1-4). LP: Bell (2-2). SV: None.

GAME"ˆ94 | SATURDAY, JULY 14

Redbirds 5, Express 3

WP: Freeman (1-2). LP: Cotts (0-1). SV: Sanchez (8).

GAME"ˆ95 | SUNDAY, JULY 15 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Neftali Feliz (rehab) / RHP Greg Reynolds (7-6, 5.01 ERA)

Redbirds: RHP Brandon Dickson (4-8, 3.58 ERA)

START ME UP

NOTE: RHP Neftali Feliz will make a three-inning rehab start.

RHP GREG REYNOLDS (7-6, 5.01 ERA, 45 K)

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 season's first start April 8 at Iowa, a 6-5 Express loss; left game in line for win (5-2) ... earned wins April 23 at New Orleans, May 4 vs. Memphis, May 15 at Tacoma, June 1 at Memphis, June 13 at Albuquerque, June 19 vs. Iowa and June 24 at Iowa ... suffered losses April 13 vs. Iowa, April 18 vs. Omaha, April 29 at Oklahoma City, May 26 at Nashville, June 8 at Omaha and June 30 vs. New Orleans ... no decisions April 8 at Iowa, May 9 at Salt Lake, May 21 vs. Sacramento and July 5 at Albuquerque ... won three of last four decisions, four of last six ... averages 5.59 runs of support and 6.0 innings per start, both staff-bests ... 1-5 with two no-decisions (one win, one loss) in starts following Express loss ... Express are 8-9 in his starts ... staff-best 18 double plays induced ... at least one double play induced in 12 of 17 starts, including six of last seven starts (two in each of last three starts) ... nine of 15 homers surrendered were solos, including six to leadoff an inning ... worked at least into the sixth inning in all but three starts (June 8 at Omaha; June 30 vs. New Orleans; July 5 at Albuquerque), completing at least six innings 11 times and at least seven innings four times ... allows a .429 average (42-for-98) when leading off an inning with six home runs and five walks against six strikeouts (.472 on-base percentage) ... holds opponents to a .241 average (28-for-116) with runners in scoring position, including a .167 mark (7-for-42) with runners in scoring position and two outs ... surrendered seven first-inning runs over last two starts after surrendering five first-inning runs in season's first 15 starts ... three or fewer earned runs in 11 of 17 starts, including four of last seven and eight of last 12 ... 2-3, 5.00 ERA (20 ER/36.0 IP) in six starts at The Dell Diamond with 14 strikeouts, 10 walks.

LAST START: No-decision in July 5 start at Albuquerque, a 10-9 Express loss ... allowed five runs on nine hits (one homer) over 5.0 innings with three walks and three strikeouts ... utilized two double plays ... surrendered two runs in each of first two innings, including Trent Oeltjen's second-inning, two-run homer ... other run scored in fifth inning ... left game leading 7-5 after Round Rock's five-run sixth inning ... 81 pitches, 48 strikes.

2012 vs. MEMPHIS: 2-0, 0.69 ERA (1 ER/13.0 IP) in two starts with five walks, four strikeouts ... won May 4 start at The Dell Diamond (8-1) ... allowed one run on five hits, one walk and one hit batter over six innings with no strikeouts ... won June 1 start at Memphis (3-0) ... scattered six singles over 7.0 innings with four walks and four strikeouts.

CAREER vs. MEMPHIS: 3-0, 3.22 ERA (8 ER/22.1 IP) in three starts and one relief appearance ... earned victory in lone start with Colorado Springs in 2011; allowed five runs on six hits over 7.1 innings with one walk and seven strikeouts ... also made one relief appearance with Colorado Springs in 2008; yielded one run on three hits over two innings with two walks and two 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.

NEVER-ENDING MATH EQUATION

Round Rock scored seven-plus runs twice in its last 27 games - July 5 at Albuquerque (9-2), snapping a streak of 21-game stretch, and July 8 at Albuquerque (10-12). Furthermore, the Express eclipsed six runs only once in their last 24 home games - a 7-3 victory June 3 vs. Albuquerque. Round Rock has not scored more than four runs at The Dell Diamond since June 21, a 6-2 victory over Iowa. That is a stretch of 11 consecutive home games scoring four or fewer runs. The Express were 2-9 in that span, averaged 1.9 runs per game and were shutout four times. Brad Nelson's sixth-inning homer last night snapped a stretch of 26.2 consecutive scoreless innings for Round Rock at home. The Express scored in four of their last 45 innings at The Dell Diamond. Last night's game also marked the first time Round Rock scored in multiple innings at home since a 4-0 win July 1 vs. New Orleans. The Express have not scored multiple runs in multiple innings at The Dell Diamond since a 6-2 win June 21 vs. Iowa (11 games).

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH

Round Rock has lost four straight, nine of the last 10 and 11 of the last 13 games. ... The Express have lost five straight home games. ... Round Rock has not won consecutive home games since June 16-17; the Express have not won consecutive home games against the same team since June 2-3 (Albuquerque). ... The Express are 7-16 in series openers (5-7 at home). ... Of Round Rock's 90 home runs, 60 were on the road (1.25 per game). Meanwhile, Express batters average 0.65 homers per game at home (30 homers, 46 games). ... Round Rock leads the PCL with 119 double plays turned, 16 more than any other team (Las Vegas). Express pitchers induced at least one double play in 20 of the last 22 games (34 double plays). ... Round Rock is 7-12 in one-run games. Seven of the 19 games were against Iowa. ... The Express are 1-45 when trailing after seven innings, dropping 33 straight in that situation. Round Rock's lone win was May 2 thanks to a six-run eighth to rally past New Orleans 10-5. Conversely, the Express are 37-6 when leading after seven innings and 39-1 when out-scoring the opponent. ... Round Rock is 2-8 since Clint Musslewhite's departure.

EVERYDAY PEOPLE

JULIO BORBON: Snapped a six-game hitting streak (.391, 9-for-23) last night, going 0-for-4 ... hit safely in 10 of his last 12 games (.333, 16-for-48) with six multiple-hit games and seven runs scored ... stretch comes on the heels of a 2-for-41 slump ... hitting .342 (67-for-196) since May 12 ... one RBI (July 7 at Albuquerque) 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).

DUSTY BROWN: Hitless in last seven at bats ... 1-for-19 over last five-plus games ... lone hit in that span was grand slam July 5 at Albuquerque ... each of last two hits were homers (June 28 vs. Nashville) ... one multiple-hit effort (June 23 at Iowa) since May 9 ... at least one strikeout in nine straight games (11 strikeouts, one walk) ... 3-for-31 (.097) with runners in scoring position; both hits came with two outs ... hitless in each of last seven leadoff at bats ... one grand slam, three walks and two sacrifice flies in nine bases-loaded plate appearances (nine RBI).

JOEY BUTLER: Riding a seven-game hitting streak (.296, 8-for-27) ... one multiple-hit effort (two hits, July 8 at Albuquerque) since three-hit night June 21 vs. Iowa ... three multiple-hit games since June 10 ... five RBI in last seven 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 15 of last 19 games (22 strikeouts) ... leads PCL with 58 walks, six more than any other player ... two homers in last 35 games, 127 at bats ... one homer at The Dell Diamond (July 1 vs. New Orleans) since May 17 (30 games) ... eight of 13 home runs were solo shots ... hitting .214 (28-for-131) when batting fifth or higher in the order, .319 (61-for-191) when batting sixth or lower.

LUIS HERNANDEZ: Hitless in last eight at bats ... no multiple-hit efforts since four-hit game June 29 vs. Nashville (11 games) ... one homer over last 30 games, 111 at bats (July 2 vs. New Orleans) ... seven RBI in first 10 July games after producing eight RBI in 26 June games ... eight walks over last 15 games after not walking in previous 28 games ... four of five home runs were solo shots ... 3-for-25 (.120) with runners in scoring position and two outs ... 12-for-63 (.190) when leading off an inning with one homer, five walks, six strikeouts ... leads all PCL shortstops with a .980 fielding percentage (eight errors, 398 total chances) ... four of eight errors were in last 14 games.

MATT KATA: Hitless in last 10 at bats ... hitting .433 (26-for-60) with runners in scoring position (36 RBI), going 11-for-23 (.478) with runners in scoring position and two outs (20 RBI) ... 43-for-199 (.216) without runners in scoring position ... 5-for-9 with the bases loaded (one homer, 12 RBI) ... 4-for-6 with the bases loaded since delivering a game-winning, three-run double May 24 vs. Sacramento ... one multiple-hit effort (two hits, July 7 at Albuquerque) since June 23 ... three walks in last 43 games, 176 plate appearances ... one homer (July 8 at Albuquerque) since May 31 grand slam at Memphis (33 games).

TOMMY MENDONCA: Activated from disabled list prior to last night's game ... saw first action since June 16 vs. Oklahoma City ... walked in first plate appearance, first since May 2 vs. New Orleans (29 games, 112 plate appearances) ... at least one strikeout in 16 of his last 19 games (24 strikeouts) ... has not gone more than two straight games without a strikeout ... hitless in last nine at bats.

GREG MICLAT: Hit safely in six of last eight games (.435, 10-for-19) with four multiple-hit efforts ... nine of 19 hits were for extra bases (eight doubles, one homer) ... 6-for-20 (.300) with runners in scoring position ... 2-for-12 (.167) when leading off an inning with one homer, no walks and five strikeouts.

BRAD NELSON: Hit safely in seven of last eight games (.393, 11-for-28) with three multiple-hit games ... multiple-homer outing last night was first since July 18, 2011, vs. New Orleans (also both solo shots) ... first homers since June 24 at Iowa (16 games, 59 at bats) ... hitting .350 (49-for-140) on the road since going 0-for-4 April 21 at New Orleans ... hits roughly 100 points better on the road (.322, 56-for-174) than at home (.231, 38-for-163) ... 6-for-7 since snapping 0-for-24 slump at The Dell Diamond in Thursday's second at bat ... nine of 13 homers, 36 of 51 RBI were in road games ... at least one strikeout in nine of last 14 games (13 strikeouts) ... at least one walk in each of last four games (five walks) and six of last eight games (seven walks) ... eight of 13 homers were solos, including four leadoff shots ... 4-for-7 with bases loaded (homer, 10 RBI).

GUILDER RODRIGUEZ: Hitless in first 12 at bats with Express after being promoted from Double-A Frisco ... 6-for-14 since, including three-hit game July 3 vs. New Orleans ... scored in three of last five games ... four of six hits were with bases empty ... 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position ... 0-for-2 with bases loaded.

ELIO SARMIENTO: Ninth-inning leadoff homer July 8 at Albuquerque snapped an 0-for-23 slump ... first hit since double May 11 at Salt Lake ... first homer since Aug. 11, 2011, with Double-A Frisco ... at least one strikeout in 10 of 12 games played, including each of last nine games (14 strikeouts).

YANGERVIS SOLARTE: No consecutive hitless games since June 9-10 ... hit safely in eight of last 10 games (.317, 13-for-41) with four multiple-hit efforts, including a three-hit night July 8 at Albuquerque ... Hitting .338 (27-for-80) over last 23 games with eight multiple-hit games (two three-hit outings) and seven RBI ... five of six home runs, 30 of 37 RBI came after the third inning ... no homers since May 14, a span of 50 games and 192 at bats ... five of six home runs were solo shots ... 7-for-48 (.146) with runners in scoring position and fewer than two outs ... second in PCL with 14.19 plate appearances per strikeout ... two strikeouts over last 17 games, 68 plate appearances (July 3 vs. New Orleans; July 12 vs. Memphis) ... hitting .369 (24-for-65) in bottom third of order, .268 (75-for-280) when batting sixth or higher.

RYAN SPILBORGHS: Hitless in last 11 at bats ... hit safely in eight of last 12 games (.300, 15-for-50) ... 11-for-68 (.162) over previous 17 games ... no homers since May 26, a span of 39 games and 152 at bats ... three RBI in last 24 games ... at least one strikeout in 13 of last 15 games (17 strikeouts) ... 5-for-36 (.139) with runners in scoring position and two outs ... hitless in each of his last 19 at bats with runners in scoring position and two outs ... 241 career PCL games, hitting .333 (306-for-919) with 24 homers, 122 RBI and 70 doubles.

BROTHERS IN ARMS

NEAL COTTS: Stranded five of seven inherited runners ... allowed eight runs over last two appearances after allowing only two runs in first nine Express outings ... opponents are 2-for-12 (.167) with runners on base and two outs ... opponents are 0-for-4 with bases loaded.

WILLIE EYRE: At least one run allowed in four of eight outings ... both inherited runners scored ... opponents are 2-for-13 (.154) when leading off an inning (no walks, three strikeouts) ... opponents are 4-for-7 (.571) with runners in scoring position and two outs.

AARON HEILMAN: Converted seven of last eight save chances ... Jerry Sands two-run homer July 5 at Albuquerque snapped 10.1-inning scoreless streak over seven-plus outings ... first run allowed since coughing up three runs June 9 at Omaha ... first home runs surrendered since May 23 vs. Sacramento ... two runs allowed in each of last two outings (18.00 ERA, 4 ER/2.0 IP) ... 1.40 ERA (3 ER/19.1 IP) over previous 15 outings ... opponents are 8-for-41 (.195) over last 10 appearances ... allowed more than one hit once in those 10 outings (two hits, July 7 at Albuquerque) ... 31 strikeouts in his last 31.0 innings ... stranded 10 of 14 inherited runners ... opponents hitting .366 (15-for-41) with runners in scoring position.

BEN SNYDER: 1-0, 3.00 ERA (6 ER/18.0 IP) in 14 outings at The Dell Diamond ... 1-3 with a 4.22 ERA (15 ER/32.0 IP) in 15 road games ... holds opponents to a .200 average (9-for-45) when leading off an inning with nine strikeouts against three walks ... opponents are 3-for-5 with bases loaded.

YOSHINORI TATEYAMA: Has not allowed an earned run in 15 of 16 outings with Express ... has not allowed an earned run with the Express since April 21 at New Orleans, a span of 16.1 innings over 12 appearances ... currently has a 9.1-inning scoreless streak over seven appearances ... allowed four runs (one earned), all of which scored in the eighth inning ... opponents are 1-for-14 (.071) with runners in scoring position and 6-for-42 (.143) when behind in the count.

JOHAN YAN: Allowed at least one run in nine of 14 outings ... four hits allowed over last six outings (6.0 innings, 24 at bats) ... entered game with bases loaded three times and stranded six of the nine runners ... stranded seven of 13 inherited runners on the season ... opponents are 5-for-22 (.227) with runners in scoring position.

WHO'S NEXT

Round Rock returns to the road for a four-game series against the Nashville Sounds (Milwaukee Brewers). The series runs Monday through Thursday with a 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch each night. This is the third of four series between the Express and Sounds. Nashville leads the season series 4-3, splitting a four-game series at Herschel Greer Stadium in late May and winning two of three at The Dell Diamond in late June. The Sounds return to The Dell Diamond for a five-game series Aug. 22-26, Round Rock's final home series.

SERIES"ˆINFORMATION

GAME"ˆ96 | MONDAY, JULY 16 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Ben Snyder (2-3, 3.78 ERA)

Sounds: RHP Mark Rogers (4-6, 5.18 ERA)

GAME"ˆ97 | TUESDAY, JULY 17 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Zack Jackson (3-11, 4.99 ERA)

Sounds: RHP Brian Baker (2-3, 5.33 ERA)

GAME"ˆ98 | WEDNESDAY, JULY 18 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: TBA

Sounds: RHP Seth McClung (2-11, 5.60 ERA)

GAME"ˆ99 | THURSDAY, JULY 19 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Justin Grimm (0-0, 2.25 ERA)

Sounds: RHP Claudio Vargas (3-1, 4.89 ERA)

Check out the Round Rock Express Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 15, 2012


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