PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express - Game Notes vs. Nashville Sounds (Milwaukee Brewers)

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


GAME 134 | 24 AUGUST 2012 | 7:05 P.M. CDT | THE DELL DIAMOND

ROUND ROCK EXPRESS (63-70) vs. NASHVILLE SOUNDS (61-72)

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

EXPRESS: RHP Justin Grimm (2-2, 4.37 ERA) | SOUNDS: RHP Hiram Burgos (0-2, 4.30 ERA)

TONIGHT, TONIGHT

Round Rock continues the season's final home series with the antepenultimate of five games against the Nashville Sounds (Milwaukee Brewers). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT at The Dell Diamond. The Express have won four straight and 10 of their last 13 games after last night's 5-1 victory. Round Rock is 7-3 over the last 10 games and 20-9 since July 26 - the Pacific Coast League's best marks in those timeframes. The Express are 33-35 at The Dell Diamond. The Sounds are 5-5 over their last 10 games and have not won or lost more than two straight games since a three-game winning streak July 30-Aug. 1. Nashville is 27-42 on the road, splitting each of their last four road series since winning four of five July 4-8 at Memphis. Round Rock is fourth in the PCL's American Southern Division, 13 games behind division-leader Albuquerque. Nashville is second in the American Northern Division; the Sounds sit 17 games behind Omaha, which already has clinched its third straight division title.

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 last of four series between the two teams. The teams split a four-game series May 25-28 at Nashville, and the Sounds won two of three June 27-29 at The Dell Diamond. The teams split another four-game series July 16-19 at Nashville. ... SERIES NOTES: The Express lead the all-time series 63-62. Round Rock holds a 35-26 edge at The Dell Diamond, winning 12 of 14 over the past two seasons and 18 of 22 since the beginning of the 2010 season. The Express claimed the season series in 2005 (9-7), 2006 (11-5) and 2011 (11-5). Nashville won the season series in 2007 (12-4), 2008 (9-7) and 2009 (10-6). The teams split the 2010 with the home team winning six times at each location. There have been three sweeps in the series, all by the home team - Nashville in 2007 and Round Rock twice last season. ... 2012 SERIES: The Express lead the season series 7-6; the road team won six times, including four Express wins at Nashville. Round Rock posted a 19-3 victory May 27 at Nashville, establishing franchise records for runs and hits (24). The Express won both extra-inning meetings. Round Rock is hitting .281 (131-for-466) with 16 homers, 23 doubles, 47 walks and 5.3 runs per game. Julio Borbon is 15-for-49 (.306) with one homer, two RBI, three doubles, three runs scored and six stolen bases in 12 games. Joey Butler is 14-for-40 (.350) in 12 games with a homer, five RBI, two doubles and 10 runs scored. Matt Kata is 15-for-48 (.313) in 11 games with two homers, six RBI and six runs scored. Brad Nelson, who played for Nashville earlier in his career, is 15-for-51 (.294) with five homers, 13 RBI and 11 scored in 13 games. Ryan Spilborghs is 22-for-47 (.468) in 13 games with three homers, 14 RBI, six doubles, 11 runs scored, seven walks and two stolen bases. Express pitchers boast a 3.66 ERA (48 ER/118.0 IP) with 83 strikeouts against 37 walks. Nashville is hitting .262 (115-for-439) with 13 homers, 20 doubles, three triples and 4.1 runs per game. Sounds pitchers have 96 strikeouts against 47 walks with a 4.74 ERA (63 ER/119.2 IP).

SERIES"ˆINFORMATION

GAME"ˆ132 | WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22

Express 7, Sounds 6 (11 innings)

WP: Snyder (3-5). LP: Kintzler (0-1). SV: None.

GAME"ˆ133 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 23

Express 5, Sounds 1

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

GAME"ˆ134 | FRIDAY, AUGUST 24 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Justin Grimm (2-2, 4.37 ERA)

Sounds: RHP Hiram Burgos (0-2, 4.30 ERA)

GAME"ˆ135 | SATURDAY, AUGUST 25 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Martin Perez (7-6, 4.11 ERA)

Sounds: RHP Claudio Vargas (6-1, 3.58 ERA)

GAME"ˆ136 | SUNDAY, AUGUST 26 | 6:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Zach Jackson (6-12, 4.69 ERA; starts tonight)

Sounds: RHP Wily Peralta (6-10, 4.75 ERA; starts tonight)

DON'T FEAR THE REAPER

RHP JUSTIN GRIMM (2-2, 4.37 ERA, 27 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.

ROUND ROCK: No-decision in first two starts with Express ... also did not factor in decision in July 24 piggy-back outing (Neftali Feliz) against Albuquerque ... held opponent to three or fewer earned runs in six of eight outings ... 1.29 ERA (1 ER/7.0 IP) in first inning ... opponents were 0-for-13 with runners on base and two outs, going 0-for-10 with two outs and runners in scoring position, over first five outings ... opponents were 6-for-9 with runners on base and two outs in sixth outing, going 4-for-6 with two outs and RISP ... allows a .279 average (12-for-43) to leadoff batters with five doubles, five walks, three strikeouts (.354 on-base percentage) ... four strikeouts over 17.1 innings in last three starts after recording 15 strikeouts in 13.0 innings over previous two starts ... worked five-plus innings in six of eight outings ... worked at least into the seventh inning in three of last four starts ... team is 3-4 in his starts ... 2-1 with one no-decision (0-1) following a team win ... 0-1 with two no-decisions (1-1) following a team loss ... 0-2, 4.61 ERA (14 ER/27.1 IP) in four starts, one relief appearance at The Dell Diamond with 11 walks, 13 strikeouts ... both home runs allowed were at home.

LAST OUTING: Lost Aug. 19 start vs. Oklahoma City at The Dell Diamond (5-2) ... allowed four runs (three earned) over 6.1 innings on seven hits, one walk with three strikeouts ... also hit one batter ... utilized two double plays ... squandered 2-0 lead in the fourth, yielding two runs ... surrendered two runs in the seventh inning before exiting game ... left game trailing 4-2 ... lone bequeathed runner was stranded (Snyder) ... 103 pitches, 69 strikes.

2012 vs. NASHVILLE: No-decision in July 19 start at Nashville, a 4-3 Sounds win ... held Sounds to three runs on five hits, no walks with five strikeouts over 5.1 innings ... retired game's first eight batters before Edwin Maysonet third-inning, two-out single ... lone hit allowed through five innings ... only other base-runner was Taylor Green, who reached on a wild pitch after striking out with two outs in the fourth ... surrendered Edwin Maysonet leadoff double in sixth inning; sparked three-run inning that erased 2-0 Express lead ... taken off hook on Ryan Spilborghs' eighth-inning, two-out RBI single ... Sounds won game on Green's ninth-inning leadoff homer.

CAREER vs. NASHVILLE: No meetings prior to 2012.

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.

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.

GOOD VIBRATIONS

Round Rock is 20-9 since July 26, the PCL's best record in that time. That stretch began with a five-game winning streak, the team's longest winning streak until a six-game streak the following week. The Express lost consecutive games only three times in that span, including one three-game skid. It was Round Rock's first three-game slump since July 19-21. The Express have won four straight games since.

PCL RECORDS SINCE JULY 26

Round Rock 20-9 .690

Sacramento 19-9 .679

New Orleans 18-10 .643

Salt Lake 17-11 .607

Colorado Springs 16-12 .571

Omaha 15-13 .536

Tacoma 15-14 .517

Albuquerque 15-14 .517

Las Vegas 14-14 .500

Fresno 14-15 .483

Nashville 14-15 .483

Reno 12-16 .429

Oklahoma City 10-18 .357

Tucson 10-18 .357

Iowa 9-19 .321

Memphis 8-21 .276

AUGUST AND EVERYTHING AFTER

Leonys Martin is hitting .405 (30-for-74) with six homers, 18 RBI, six doubles and 21 runs scored in August. In that timeframe, he ranks fourth in the PCL in batting average, second in runs, fifth in hits, tied for second in extra-base hits (13), second in total bases (56), tied for fourth in homers, tied for 10th in RBI, second in slugging percentage (.703) and second in OPS (1.214). Meanwhile, Luis Hernandez leads the PCL with 36 hits this month; he also is tied for sixth in extra-base hits (11), tied for fifth in total bases (51), tied for fourth in doubles (8) and tied for fourth in RBI (19). Julio Borbon leads the PCL with four triples in August; he also is tied for eighth in hits (28), tied for seventh in total bases (46).

HELLO OLD FRIEND(S)

Brad Nelson was a member of the sounds from 2005 to 2008, hitting .264 (230-for-895) in 262 games. Zach Jackson was 16-21 with a 4.93 ERA (183 ER/334.0 IP) in 69 appearances (52 starts) over three seasons (2006-2008) with Nashville. He was the Sounds opening-day starter in 2007 and 2008. Matt Kata never played for the Sounds, but he was an All-SEC performer at Nashville's Vanderbilt University (1997-1999). Nashville infielder Edwin Maysonet played for the Express during the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons. He hit .257 (230-for-895) in 262 games with nine homers, 84 RBI, 49 doubles and 109 runs. He ranks sixth in Express Triple-A history in games, seventh in at bats and seventh in walks (95). Sounds catcher Humberto Quintero played for the Express during the 2005 through 2009 seasons. He hit .292 (230-for-788) with 20 homers, 109 RBI, 49 doubles and 61 runs scored in 223 games. Maysonet and Quintero are tied for 10th on Round Rock's Triple-A career hits list. Quinitero's batting average ranks third among players with at least 700 at bats with the Express entering this season, while Maysonet's average ranks sixth among those with at least 800 at bats.

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH

The Express... have won four straight, 10 of 13 ... clubbed eight homers over the last three games ... hit at least one homer in four of last five games, 10 of last 13 ... are 20-9 since July 26 ... are hitting .329 (194-for-589) over the last 16 games with 10-plus hits in nine of the last 13 games ... won four of last seven series, gaining a split in the other three ... are 14-0 when scoring at least seven runs since the All-Star break ... are 21-11 since scoring five ninth-inning runs to force extra-innings in an 11-inning, 8-7 victory July 22 vs. Omaha (team's first victory when trailing after eight innings) ... are 23-18 since the All-Star break ... are 13-20 in series openers (9-9 at home, 4-11 on the road), winning six of last eight ... are 15-55 when allowing at least five runs, 48-23 when scoring at least five runs ... are 17-16 in one-run games, going 10-4 since the All-Star break ... are 4-57 when trailing after seven innings, 3-59 when trailing after eight innings ... are 55-7 when leading after seven innings, 50-4 when leading after eight innings ... are 27-27 since Clint Musslewhite's departure, going 14-18 at home in that time.

EVERYDAY PEOPLE

JULIO BORBON: Snapped a nine-game hitting streak last night, going 0-for-3 ... hit .462 (18-for-39) during streak ... reached safely in 10 straight games ... 10 homers, eclipsing career minor-league total entering season ... two homers in last five games ... multiple-hits in six of last nine games ... third in PCL with 148 hits ... 18-for-40 (.450) since snapping 0-for-15 skid with sixth-inning single Aug. 14 at Reno ... 44-for-125 (.352) with 15 multiple-hit efforts over last 29 games on heels of an 0-for-19 skid.

JOEY BUTLER: 11-game hitting streak (.319, 15-for-47) ... hit safely in 17 of last 19 games (23-for-73) since going hitless in consecutive games Aug. 1-2 ... 72 walks, tying Esteban German's single-season franchise record established last season ... third in PCL in walks (sixth in Triple-A) ... fifth in PCL with 86 runs (also fifth in Triple-A) ... hitting .386 (130-for-337) when not striking out ... 13 of 17 home runs on the road ... 10 of 17 home runs were solo shots (three leadoff).

ROBINZON DIAZ: Hit safely in all four games with Express, including three multiple-hit outings ... produced a run (scored or RBI) in all four games.

ALBERTO GONZALEZ: Left game last night after being hit by pitch ... hit safely in five of seven games with Express, including three multiple-hit efforts ... homer Wednesday night was first since June 25, 2011, while with San Diego Padres vs. Atlanta at Petco Park ... first minor-league homer since Aug. 28, 2008, with Triple-A Syracuse (Nationals).

LUIS HERNANDEZ: Snapped 16-game hitting streak Tuesday night, going 0-for-4 ... hit .446 (33-for-74) during streak ... tied for fifth-longest streak in Express history (tied for third-longest this season) ... eight doubles, 11 multiple-hit outings during streak ... 18 RBI over last 19 games with five multiple-RBI efforts ... hit safely in 17 of last 18 games (34-for-82), 22 of last 25 games (43-for-113).

KOYIE HILL: Hitless in last eight at bats ... at least one strikeout in each of seven games with Round Rock (10 strikeouts) ... homered in Express debut (Aug. 15 at Reno).

MATT KATA: Hitting .348 (16-for-46) over last 12 games with 10 RBI ... 10 multiple-hit efforts over last 21 games ... 6-for-34 (.176) over last 11 home games ... two games played shy of Mark Saccomanno's franchise Triple-A record (405 games) ... 113 multiple-hit games during Express career, one shy of Saccomanno's franchise record ... homer last night was ninth of season, third since May 31 grand slam at Memphis ... first homer at The Dell Diamond since May 7 vs. Memphis.

LEONYS MARTIN: Snapped 12-game hitting streak last night, going 0-for-4 ... hit .444 (24-for-54) during streak with five multiple-hit efforts in last seven games ... three-plus hits in four of last eight games ... homered in five of last eight games (five homers) ... hit safely in 22 of last 24 games with Express (.396, 40-for-101) ... at least one extra-base hit in seven of last nine games, eight of last 11 ... at least one RBI in seven of last nine games (14 RBI), multiple RBI in five of last eight games ... at least one run scored in eight of last nine games (15 runs), multiple runs in six of last eight games ... at least one strikeout in eight of last nine games, 11 of last 13.

BRAD NELSON: Tied for sixth in PCL with 22 homers (tied for 11th in Triple-A) ... ninth-best season total in Express history (Triple-A era) ... joins Brooks Conrad and Mark Saccomanno as the only players in franchise history with at least 22 homers in multiple seasons ... 14 of 22 homers were solos, including eight leadoff shots ... third in PCL with 231 total bases (fifth in Triple-A) ... tied for fifth in PCL with 52 extra-base hits (tied for ninth in Triple-A) ... tied for sixth in PCL with 76 RBI (tied for eighth in Triple-A) ... eighth in PCL with 62 walks (11th in Triple-A) ... four multiple-hit efforts in last eight games ... hit safely in 20 of 23 home games since All-Star break (.395, 32-for-81) ... stretch was preceded by an 0-for-24 slump at The Dell Diamond ... 48 of 76 RBI on the road ... hitting .312 (104-for-333) after All-Star break over last two seasons ... snapped streak of 10 straight games with at least one strikeout last night ... at least one strikeout in 15 of last 17 games (20 strikeouts).

BRANDON SNYDER: Hitless in last nine at bats ... hitting .067 (1-for-15) over last five games, .087 (2-for-23) since third-inning single Aug. 15 at Reno ... snapped 11-game on-base streak Tuesday night ... at least one strikeout 13 of 17 games (23 strikeouts) with multiple strikeouts eight times ... struck out in five of last eight at bats.

YANGERVIS SOLARTE: Hitting .179 (5-for-28) over last six-plus games ... hit into 28 double plays - six more than any other player in baseball regardless of level (three players with 22) ... hitting .315 (17-for-54) over last 13 games with five multiple-hit efforts ... eight of nine home runs were solo shots, seven of nine on the road ... second in PCL with 12.07 plate appearances per strikeout.

RYAN SPILBORGHS: Hit safely in 10 of last 12 games (.333, 15-for-45) ... two hits in three of last four games ... six of eight homers were on the road ... has not gone consecutive games without a strikeout since five-game stretch July 18-22 ... three extra-base hits since Aug. 3 (two homers, one double) ... five RBI in last two games, nine RBI in last seven games.

BROTHERS IN ARMS

FABIO CASTILLO: Season-high three strikeouts in last outing (Aug. 22 vs. Nashville) ... held opponent scoreless in seven of 11 outings ... three walks over last seven appearances (9.2 innings, 41 batters faced) ... one home run surrendered with Express (64 batters faced) ... opponents are 1-for-10 (.100) when leading off an inning with three walks, three strikeouts.

NEAL COTTS: 0-1, 2.70 ERA (5 ER/16.2 IP) in 12 games at The Dell Diamond ... 1-0, 8.25 ERA (11 ER/12.0 IP) in 10 road outings ... stranded 11 of 19 inherited runners (57.9 percent) ... at least one strikeout in nine straight outings (21 strikeouts, 13.1 innings).

WILLIE EYRE: 1.42 ERA (1 ER/6.1 IP) over last four outings with eight strikeouts, one walk ... no runs allowed in five straight road outings ... 3.00 ERA (4 ER/12.0 IP) in eight road appearances ... 0-1, 5.82 ERA (11 ER/17.0 IP) in 13 games at The Dell Diamond ... holds opponents to a .077 average (2-for-26) when leading off an inning with one homer, two walks, eight strikeouts (.200 on-base percentage) ... opponents hitting .538 (7-for-13) with runners in scoring position and two outs.

DEREK HANKINS: Won three of last four decisions in one start (1-0), seven relief appearances (2-1) ... two homers surrendered over last eight outings (one start) ... 2-1, 3.38 ERA (4 ER/10.2 IP) over last seven relief appearances ... at least one strikeout in six of last seven games (10 strikeouts, 14.2 innings) ... opponents hitting .314 (22-for-70) when leading off an inning with two homers, three walks, nine strikeouts ... holds opponents to a .118 average (4-for-34) with two outs and runners in scoring position ... stranded 11 of 12 inherited runners (91.7 percent).

JOE ORTIZ: Held opponent scoreless in four straight outings (5.0 innings), seven of last eight games (1.59 ERA, 2 ER/11.1 IP) ... all seven runs allowed were via homers ... two-run homer surrendered Aug. 6 vs. Las Vegas was lone non-solo homer allowed ... opponents hitting .208 (20-for-96) otherwise ... at least one strikeout in 16 of 21 outings ... stranded 12 of 15 inherited runners (80.0 percent).

BEN SNYDER: No runs allowed in last five outings, all relief (7.1 innings) ... opponents are 5-for-26 (.192) during that stretch ... 19-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio over last 10 outings (three starts) ... stranded 13 of 25 inherited runners (52.0 percent).

YOSHINORI TATEYAMA: No runs allowed in 16 games at The Dell Diamond, going 2-0 with four saves, 23 strikeouts, five walks (21.1 innings) ... no earned runs allowed in 27 of 30 outings with Express (unearned runs allowed once) ... opponents hitting .122 (9-for-74) when behind in the count ... 27 strikeouts over last 17 outings (20.0 innings) ... stranded nine of 13 inherited runners (69.2 percent).

JOHAN YAN: Recorded first career Triple-A save Aug. 16 at Reno ... held opponent scoreless in seven of last nine outings (3.09 ERA; 4 ER/11.2 IP) ... stranded 12 of 20 inherited runners (60.0 percent) ... entered game with bases loaded four times and stranded seven of 12 runners (58.3 percent) ... all three homers surrendered were leadoff shots ... 23.14 ERA (5 ER/2.1 IP) in the ninth inning.

WHO'S NEXT

Round Rock embarks on a season-ending, eight-game road trip, beginning with a four-game series against the New Orleans Zephyrs (Miami Marlins). The Express lead the season series 7-5, winning three of four at New Orleans in mid-April. Round Rock won three of four at home April 30-May 3, but the Zephyrs won three of four at The Dell Diamond one month later.

SERIES"ˆINFORMATION

GAME"ˆ137 | MONDAY, AUGUST 27 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Greg Reynolds (10-8, 4.94 ERA)

Zephyrs: RHP J.D. Martin (6-8, 6.15 ERA)

GAME"ˆ138 | TUESDAY, AUGUST 28 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Chad Bell (4-4, 4.41 ERA)

Zephyrs: RHP Alex Sanabia (6-7, 4.06 ERA)

GAME"ˆ139 | WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Justin Grimm (2-2, 4.37 ERA; starts tonight)

Zephyrs: LHP Brad Hand (10-6, 3.78 ERA; starts tonight)

GAME"ˆ140 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 30 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Martin Perez (7-6, 4.11 ERA; starts tomorrow)

Zephyrs: RHP Elih Villanueva (9-7, 3.82 ERA; starts tomorrow)

Check out the Round Rock Express Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 24, 2012


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