PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express - Game Notes Vs. Nashville Sounds

Published on May 6, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


GAME PREVIEW

ROUND ROCK EXPRESS (17-10) vs. NASHVILLE SOUNDS (9-17)

GAME 28 | 6 MAY ‚¬Ë†2011 | 7:05 P.M. CDT | THE DELL DIAMOND | ROUND ROCK, TEXAS

TONIGHT'S GAMES

Round Rock returns home for a brief, four-game series home stand against the Nashville Sounds (Milwaukee Brewers). First pitch for tonight's series opener is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT at The Dell Diamond. The Express won three of four at Iowa in their most recent series, finishing 4-3 on a road trip that included a rain-shortened, three-game series at Memphis. The Sounds are 1-9 in their last 10 games after getting swept in a four-game series at Oklahoma City in their most recent series.

PROMOTIONS

Friday Fireworks, presented by Bud Light

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 provides play-by-play alongside color analyst Jerry Grote.

TELEVISION BROADCAST INFORMATION

Tonight's game also airs live on YNN Sports Austin, available on Time Warner Cable channel 408 / HD 1509. YNN Sports has a coverage area that includes the Austin, Waco, Temple-Killeen and San Marcos markets.

EXPRESS-SOUNDS SERIES

Nashville won nine of 16 games last season against Oklahoma City, which was the Rangers Triple-A affiliate in 2010. This is the first of 16 meetings between the Express and Sounds this season.

GAME ‚¬Ë†28 | FRIDAY, MAY 6 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Zach Jackson (2-0, 5.01 ERA)

Sounds: RHP Frankie De La Cruz (0-1, 2.42 ERA)

GAME ‚¬Ë†29 | SATURDAY, MAY 7 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Derek Hankins (4-1, 4.94 ERA)

Sounds: RHP Josh Butler (1-2, 4.76 ERA)

GAME ‚¬Ë†30 | SUNDAY, MAY 8 | 1:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Seth McClung (1-0, 2.91 ERA)

Sounds: LHP Chase Wright (0-2, 5.40 ERA)

GAME ‚¬Ë†31 | MONDAY, MAY 9 | 12:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Tommy Hunter (MLB rehab)

Sounds: RHP Amaury Rivas (3-2, 2.83 ERA))

STARTING PITCHERS

EXPRESS: LHP Zach Jackson (2-0, 5.01 ERA)

Last Outing: No-decision in April 30 start a Memphis, a 10-7 Express loss ‚¬Â¦ Allowed four runs on six hits and one walk with four strikeouts over 6.1 innings ‚¬Â¦ Season-high three hit batters.

2011: Makes sixth start tonight ‚¬Â¦ Express are 4-1 in his starts, including a 3-0 mark at The Dell Diamond ‚¬Â¦ Worked at least into the sixth inning in all five starts ‚¬Â¦ 21 strikeouts against nine walks over 32.1 innings with a .271 opponents batting average.

2010: Spent entire season with Triple-A Las Vegas in the Toronto Blue Jays organization ‚¬Â¦ 2-3 with a 5.64 ERA in 35 games, five starts; 49 strikeouts over 81.1 innings

2010 vs. Nashville: Two relief appearances with Las Vegas but did not record a decision ‚¬Â¦ Allowed four runs on six hits and four walks with one strikeout over 3.0 innings for a 12.00 ERA.

Notable: Drafted by Chicago White Sox in 50th round of 2001 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of high school but did not sign ‚¬Â¦ LaTrobe, Pa., native began collegiate career at Louisville before transferring to Texas A&M ‚¬Â¦ Toronto Blue Jays first-round pick in 2004 after one season at Texas A&M ‚¬Â¦ MLB debut June 4, 2006, with Blue Jays vs. Washington Nationals ‚¬Â¦ Also spent time in Milwaukee Brewers and Cleveland Indians organizations ‚¬Â¦ Was part of the July 7, 2008, trade that sent C.C. Sabathia from Milwaukee from Cleveland ‚¬Â¦ Signed minor league contract with Rangers in January.

SOUNDS: RHP Frankie De La Cruz (0-1, 2.42 ERA)

Last Outing: Started but did not factor in decision April 30 against Albuquerque, a 7-6 Sounds victory ‚¬Â¦ Allowed two runs on two hits and five walks with two strikeouts over 1.2 innings.

2011: Makes fifth start, sixth appearance tonight ‚¬Â¦ Leads PCL starters with a .160 opponents' batting average and ranks seventh in fewest base-runners per nine innings (10.04) ‚¬Â¦ Tied for sixth in the PCL with 29 strikeouts and fifth fifth among league starters with 9.97 strikeouts per nine innings ‚¬Â¦ Eighth in the league with a 2.42 ERA.

2010: Spent entire season with Tokyo Yakult Swallows of the Japan Professional Baseball league and the team's minor league affiliate ‚¬Â¦ Combined 2-3 record with 10 saves and a 3.38 ERA in 48 relief outings ‚¬Â¦ Logged nine relief appearances with Tokyo before being demoted to minors ‚¬Â¦ Played winter ball in the Dominican Republic.

Notable: Given name is Eulogio (ay-oo-low-HEE-oh) ‚¬Â¦ Signed as a non-drafted free agent by Detroit Tigers in 2001 ‚¬Â¦ Rated "best fastball" and "best curveball" in Tigers organization by Baseball America following 2006 season ‚¬Â¦ Led PCL with 13 wins for Albuquerque in 2008.

EXPRESS ATOP PCL STANDINGS

Round Rock (17-10) owns the best record in the Pacific Coast League, a half game ahead of Sacramento (17-11) and a full game ahead of Reno and Omaha (16-11). The Express also have the second-best record in Triple A behind only Columbus (21-6) of the International League.

QUINTANILLA JOINS EXPRESS ROSTER

Former University of Texas standout Omar Quintanilla has been assigned to the Round Rock Express roster and will be active for tonight's game. Quintanilla, 29, was signed by the Texas Rangers to a minor league contract Dec. 22, 2010, but has not yet played for the organization. He spent the 2010 season with the Colorado Sky Sox, the Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. Quintanilla hit .252 with one home run and 15 RBI in 34 games. With Quintanilla's activation, outfielder Joey Butler has been assigned to Double-A Frisco.

EXPRESS CONTINUE CLUB-BEST START

The Express are tied for the club's best 27-game start since Round Rock joined Triple-A in 2005. The 2006 team also posted a 17-10 mark through 27 games, starting 7-9 before winning four straight and 15 of 16. The 2006 team's 11-game winning streak was the club's best Triple-A streak. Round Rock has not been eight games over .500 since the 2006 squad extended its record to 18-10.

CHAVEZ WORKING ON ANOTHER STREAK

OF Endy Chavez has not struck out in 27 consecutive plate appearances, dating back to his penultimate plate appearance in the April 28 game at Memphis. Prior to that strikeout, he went 39 consecutive plate appearances without a punch-out. He leads the PCL with 21.80 plate appearances per strikeout, nearly seven plate appearances per strikeout ahead of second-place David Cooper of Las Vegas (14.83). Chavez has one strikeout in his last 66 plate appearance and five in 109 trips to the plate this season. He has not struck out twice in a game and struck out in consecutive games only once - the season's first two games.

ROAD WARRIORS

Round Rock is in the throws of a 31-game stretch with 23 road games. The Express are 11-4 on the road this season, the best road record in the PCL this season. Only three other PCL teams are above .500 on the road - Reno (9-6), Sacramento (9-3) and Salt Lake (7-5). The Express are 3-1 in road series, winning at New Orleans (3-1), Oklahoma City (4-0) and Iowa (3-1), and dropping two of three at Memphis.

IOWA SERIES RECAP

Round Rock won three of four games at Des Moines' Principal Park, winning the first, second and fourth games of the series. The Express out-scored the Cubs 24-8 in the series. Round Rock posted a 1.80 ERA (7 ER / 35.0 IP) in the Iowa series, allowing no more than three runs in any of the four games. The Express allowed the Cubs to score in only five of the series' 35 innings and did not allow more than two runs in any inning.

TEAM NOTES

* The Express are 3-4 in series openers, including a 1-2 mark at home.

* Round Rock has committed 14 errors in the previous nine games.

* The Express have not lost three straight games, losing consecutive games only three times.

* Round Rock grounded into seven double plays in the season's first 10 games, but the Express have grounded into 23 double plays over the last 17 games.

* The Express have homered in 13 of 27 games, hitting at least two home runs eight times. However, Round Rock has not posted a multiple-homer game since hitting two April 22 at Oklahoma City.

* Express pitchers have induced 26 double plays, including 11 over the last nine games and 17 over the last 14 games.

* Round Rock is fifth in the PCL in staff ERA (3.97), tied for third in saves (9) and second in fewest walks (94).

* The Express have scored in the first inning 11 times, going 7-4 in those games. Interestingly, Round Rock is 8-2 when allowing a first-inning run.

* Round Rock is 10-2 when scoring first and 13-2 when out-hitting the opponent.

* The Express are 10-4 when not committing an error and 7-6 when committing at least one error.

* Round Rock is 5-1 in one-run games.

PLAYER NOTES

* IF Brian Barden is 6-for-13 (.462) in his last three games after a 4-for-6 outing in Thursday's series finale at Iowa. His four-hit game was Round Rock's first this season. Barden is 7-for-14 (.500) when leading off an inning. He is hitting .422 (19-for-45) when ahead or behind in the count but only .250 (10-for-40) when the count is even. Barden has not gone hitless in consecutive games, hitting safely in 17 of 22 played. He has hit safely and/or produced at least one RBI in 13 of the last 15 games.

* OF Endy Chavez has reached safely in all 23 games played and leads the team with 11 multiple-hit games. He has hit safely in 10 of the last 13 games with six multiple-hit outings. Chavez is 8-for-22 (.364) over the last five games.

* SS Luis Cruz was forced to leave Thursday's game at Iowa after being hit in the helmet; he is listed as day-to-day. He is 8-for-42 (.190) since hitting a game-winning home run April 22 at Oklahoma City. However, he has hit safely in six of his last seven games, including each of the last four. Cruz is 10-for-25 (.400) in the first and second innings on the season but only 15-for-81 (.185) after the second inning.

* OF Doug Deeds has reached safely in seven of his last 18 plate appearances. He has hit safely in each of his last four games, including a 2-for-5 outing in Thursday's series finale at Iowa.

* C Robinson Diaz was 0-for-5 in Thursday's game at Iowa, the first of his six games with the Express in which he did not hit safely. All nine of his hits with Round Rock were singles.

* OF Craig Gentry has hit safely in four of his last five games and six of his last eight. He has not gone hitless in consecutive games since failing to hit safely in four straight April 12-15.

* OF Esteban German has hit safely in 21 of 26 games this season with no consecutive hitless games. He has hit safely in four of five games but all were one-hit outings. German is hitting .333 (25-for-75) since April 16. He is second on the team with 10 multiple-hit games and leads the Express with four three-hit outings.

* IF/OF Matt Kata's three-hit day Tuesday was his first multiple-hit outing since a two-hit game April 10 - his first game of the season. He has produced an RBI in five games, four of which were two-RBI outings.

* 1B Brad Nelson has hit safely in six straight with multiple hits in four of those games. Coincidentally, he also has struck out at least once in each of his last six games. Nelson is hitting .370 (10-for-27) in that time, which comes on the heels of a 3-for-34 skid (.088). He has reached safely in eight straight games.

* 1B Chad Tracy has hit safely in six of his last seven games. He is hitting .353 (18-for-51) with runners on base but .143 (7-for-49) with the bases empty. Tracy is 13-for-33 (.394) with runners in scoring position. He leads the Express with 21 RBI and seven multiple-RBI games.

* RHP Derek Hankins is tied for the PCL lead with four wins.

* RHP Justin Miller is fourth among PCL relievers with a .162 opponents' batting average. That includes his numbers with Tacoma prior to joining the Express.

* RHP Neil Ramirez is sixth in the PCL in ERA (2.03), tied for third in wins (3), fifth in strikeouts (30), fourth in WHIP (0.94) and third in opponents' batting average (.167), second among league starters. He is fourth among PCL starters in strikeouts per nine innings (10.13) and leads all PCL starters with 8.78 base-runners per nine innings.

* RHP Yoshi Tateyama is second among PCL relievers in walks per nine innings (1.29). He has 17 strikeouts over 13.0 innings in his last eight appearances, notching at least two strikeouts in six of those eight outings.

NEXT SERIES

Round Rock continues a 31-game stretch with 23 road games, opening a four-game series against the Tucson Padres (San Diego). The series runs Tuesday through Friday with first pitch at 9:05 p.m. CDT each day.

GAME ‚¬Ë†32 | TUESDAY, MAY 10 | 9:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Neil Ramirez (3-1, 2.03 ERA)

Padres: RHP Simon Castro (2-2, 10.17 ERA)

GAME ‚¬Ë†33 | WEDNESDAY, MAY 11 | 9:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Zach Jackson (starts tonight)

Padres: LHP Wade LeBlanc (starts tonight)

GAME ‚¬Ë†34 | THURSDAY, MAY 12 | 9:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Derek Hankins (starts tomorrow)

Padres: RHP Jeremy Hefner (starts tomorrow)

GAME ‚¬Ë†35 | FRIDAY, MAY 13 | 9:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Seth McClung (starts Sunday)

Padres: RHP Will Inman (starts Sunday)

Check out the Round Rock Express Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 6, 2011


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