PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express - Game Notes vs. New Orleans Zephyrs

Published on August 29, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


GAME 139 | 29 AUGUST 2012 | 7:05 P.M. CDT | THE DELL DIAMOND | ROUND ROCK, TEXAS

ROUND ROCK EXPRESS (66-72) vs. NEW ORLEANS ZEPHYRS (73-65)

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

EXPRESS: LHP Chad Bell (4-4, 4.41 ERA) | ZEPHYRS: LHP Brad Hand (11-6, 3.65 ERA)

TONIGHT, TONIGHT

Round Rock and New Orleans (Miami Marlins) continue a bizarre four-game series tonight with third of four games at The Dell Diamond. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT. The Zephyrs are the designated home team for the series, which was moved to Round Rock due to Hurricane Isaac. The Express swept Tuesday's series-opening doubleheader, winning the opener 5-4 and the nightcap 3-1. Round Rock seven of nine and 23 of 34 since July 26, both league-best marks. The Zephyrs have lost four straight. Tonight's is their 11th consecutive road game; although, they will be the home team. Round Rock is fourth in the PCL's American Southern Division, 11 games behind division-leader Albuquerque. New Orleans sits four games behind the Isotopes and one-half game behind Oklahoma City.

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 Round Rock and New Orleans this season. Round Rock won three of four at Zephyr Field in mid-April and three of four at The Dell Diamond the following week. The Zephyrs returned the favor June 30-July 1, winning three of four at The Dell Diamond. ... SERIES NOTES: Round Rock leads the all-time series 64-62, including a 34-32 edge in games played at The Dell Diamond. The Express won season series in 2005 (10-6), 2006 (9-7) and 2011 (10-6) with the Zephyrs taking the season series in 2007 (10-6), 2008 (9-7), 2009 (9-7) and 2010 (10-6). There have been only two series sweeps - Round Rock at home in 2006 and New Orleans at home in 2008 (three-game series). The Zephyrs lost seven of their last 12 games at The Dell Diamond. ... 2012 SERIES: The Express lead the season series 9-5, winning six of 10 games The Dell Diamond. Round Rock is hitting .299 (140-for-468) in the series with 19 homers, 22 doubles, one triple, seven stolen bases in seven attempts and 5.3 runs per game. Eleven different Express players have homered against the Zephyrs; Joey Butler and Yangervis Solarte homered four times each, while Leonys Martin and Brad Nelson each homered twice. Julio Borbon is 16-for-50 (.320) with one homer, four RBI, four walks, three stolen bases and nine runs scored in 12 games. Butler is 15-for-44 (.341) with 10 RBI, three doubles, 11 walks and 11 runs scored in 13 games. Martin is 10-for-27 (.370) in seven games with five RBI, three doubles, three runs scored and three stolen bases. Solarte is 22-for-51 (.431) in 14 games with seven RBI, three doubles, six walks and 11 runs scored. Express pitchers boast a 3.87 ERA (52 ER/121.0 IP) with 93 strikeouts against 35 walks. Two of Round Rock's four shutouts this season were against the Zephyrs. New Orleans is hitting .255 (115-for-451) with 12 homers, 19 doubles, four stolen bases and 4.0 runs per game. Zephyrs pitchers have 84 strikeouts against 47 walks with a 5.11 ERA (67 ER/118.0 IP).

SERIES"ˆINFORMATION

GAME"ˆ137 | TUESDAY, AUGUST 28

Express 5, Zephyrs 4 (7 innings)

WP: Reynolds (11-8). LP: Poveda (4-3). SV: Scheppers (10).

GAME"ˆ138 | TUESDAY, AUGUST 28

Express 3, Zephyrs 1 (7 innings)

WP: Cotts (2-1). LP: Martin (6-9). SV: Tateyama (6).

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

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

Zephyrs: LHP Brad Hand (11-6, 3.65 ERA)

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

Express: RHP Justin Grimm (2-3, 4.59 ERA)

Zephyrs: RHP Elih Villanueva (9-8, 3.92 ERA)

START ME UP

LHP CHAD BELL (4-4, 4.41 ERA, 47 K)

2012: Began season with Class A-Advanced Myrtle Beach, going 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA (2 ER/11.1 IP) and 12 strikeouts against four walks in four relief outings ... assigned to Double-A Frisco prior to April 25 game ... moved into the RoughRiders rotation May 19 ... 2-2 with a 2.84 ERA (16 ER/50.2 IP) and 40 strikeouts against 13 walks in seven starts and six relief appearances with Frisco ... Texas League Mid-Season All-Star ... assigned to Round Rock prior to June 22 game.

ROUND ROCK: Won last outing Aug. 23 vs. Nashville ... first win since July 18 at Nashville ... allowed one run over last two outings (11.0 innings) ... 10 strikeouts, two walks over last two starts ... first career Triple-A appearance June 26 at Iowa (start) ... won each of first two Triple-A starts - June 26 at Iowa, July 1 vs. New Orleans ... allowed one run on nine hits over 11.2 innings in those two starts ... lost starts July 6 at Albuquerque, July 13 vs. Memphis, July 23 vs. Omaha, Aug. 2 vs. Tucson ... averages 4.17 runs of support per start ... Express scored two runs total in four losses (two shutouts; scored in ninth inning in one of other two games) ... surrendered three or fewer earned runs in six of 12 starts ... Express are 7-5 in his starts ... 2-2 with two no-decisions (1-1) in starts following Express win ... 2-2 with one no-decision (1-0) in starts following Express loss ... 3.00 ERA (4 ER/12.0 IP) in first inning ... no fourth-inning runs allowed (12.0 innings) ... 12 of 34 earned runs allowed scored in third inning (9.00 ERA) ... holds opponents to a .203 average (13-for-64) when leading off an inning with three homers, eight walks, nine strikeouts ... leadoff batters were 4-for-7 with two homers, one walk in Aug. 2 start vs. Tucson ... opponents hitting .356 (21-for-59) with runners in scoring position, .344 (11-for-32) with two outs and RISP ... four of five homers surrendered were solos (three leadoff) ... three-plus walks in seven of 12 starts, four of last six ... four-plus walks five times ... 2-3, 3.27 ERA (15 ER/41.1 IP) in seven starts at The Dell Diamond with four homers allowed, 15 walks, 31 strikeouts.

LAST OUTING: Won Aug. 23 start vs. Nashville at The Dell Diamond (5-1) ... first win at home since July 1 vs. New Orleans ... worked 5.0 shutout innings on five hits, two walks with five strikeouts ... left game leading 3-0 ... 85 pitches, 51 strikes.

2012"ˆvs. NEW ORLEANS: Won July 1 start at The Dell Diamond (4-0) ... scattered four hits, two walks over 6.0 shutout innings with two strikeouts ... utilized one double play ... left game leading 2-0.

CAREER"ˆvs. NEW ORLEANS: No meetings prior to 2012.

NOTABLE: Chadwick Bell ... Rangers 14th-round draft pick in 2009 out of Walters State [Tenn.] Community College ... 8-1, 2.08 (15 ER/65.0 IP) with five complete games, one shutout, 78 strikeouts in 12 starts as a sophomore at Walters State ... garnered Tennessee Community College Athletic Association Pitcher of the Year honors and was first-team all-TCCAA ... NJCAA third-team All-America in 2009 ... committed to University of Tennessee but signed with Rangers rather than attending Tennessee ... 4-1, 1.51 (9 ER/53.2 IP) with 51 strikeouts for Cotuit of Cape Cod League in summer of 2009 ... tossed a no-hitter July 12 ... drafted in the 37th round by Cleveland in the 2008 June Draft ... TBCA Todd Helton Player of the Year as a senior at South Doyle High School in Knoxville, Tenn. ... selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 25th round of the 2007 draft.

GOOD VIBRATIONS

Round Rock is 23-11 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 won seven of nine games since.

PCL RECORDS SINCE JULY 26

Round Rock 23-11 .676

Sacramento 20-13 .606

Salt Lake 20-13 .606

New Orleans 19-14 .576

Colorado Springs 19-15 .559

Tacoma 19-15 .559

Omaha 18-15 .545

Nashville 17-16 .515

Fresno 17-17 .500

Las Vegas 16-17 .485

Albuquerque 16-18 .471

Reno 14-19 .424

Tucson 14-20 .412

Oklahoma City 13-20 .394

Iowa 11-22 .333

Memphis 11-23 .324

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH

The Express... have won seven of nine, 13 of 18 ... clubbed 14 homers over last eight games ... hit at least one homer in eight of last 10 games, 14 of last 18 ... are 23-11 since July 26 ... are hitting .324 (243-for-750) over last 21 games with 10-plus hits in 13 of last 18 games ... won five of last eight series, gaining a split in other three ... are 14-0 when scoring at least seven runs since the All-Star break ... are 24-13 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 26-20 since All-Star break ... are 14-20 in series openers (10-9 at home, 4-11 on the road), winning seven of last nine ... are 16-57 when allowing at least five runs, 50-24 when scoring at least five runs ... are 19-16 in one-run games, 12-4 since the All-Star break ... are 4-58 when trailing after seven innings, 3-60 when trailing after eight innings ... are 57-7 when leading after seven innings, 51-4 when leading after eight innings ... are 30-29 since Clint Musslewhite's departure, 17-20 at home in that time.

EVERYDAY PEOPLE

MIKE BIANUCCI: Placed on disabled list following July 3 game ... activated prior to last night's second game ... last homered June 19, hitting two vs. Iowa ... hitting .357 (20-for-56) with two homers when leading off an inning.

JULIO BORBON: Needs five hits to tie Mark Saccomanno's 2008 franchise record (157) ... hit safely in 13 of last 14 games (.373, 22-for-59) ... reached safely in 14 straight games ... multiple-hits in six of last 13 games ... tied for third in PCL with 152 hits ... fourth player in franchise history to amass at least 150 hits in a season.

JOEY BUTLER: 15-game hitting streak (.344, 21-for-61) ... tied for seventh-longest in franchise history ... second 15-game streak, third of at least 10 games ... hit safely in 21 of last 23 games (28-for-87) since going hitless in consecutive games Aug. 1-2 ... second in PCL with 75 walks, a franchise record ... fourth in league with 88 runs ... hitting .390 (136-for-349) when not striking out ... 11 of 19 home runs were solo shots (four leadoff) ... seventh player in franchise history with at least 30 career homers.

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

ALBERTO GONZALEZ: Hit safely in six of nine games with Express, including three multiple-hit efforts ... homer Aug. 22 vs. Nashville 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).

KOYIE HILL: 3-for-22 (.136) over last six games ... at least one strikeout in nine of 11 games with Express, two strikeouts four times ... three multiple-hit outings.

MATT KATA: Franchise-record 408 career games with Express ... next multiple-hit game will break Mark Saccomanno's career Express record (114) ... needs nine hits to tie Saccomanno's career hits franchise record ... hitting .349 (22-for-63) over last 17 games with 13 RBI ... 11 multiple-hit efforts over last 26 games ... sixth player in franchise history with at least 30 career homers.

LEONYS MARTIN: Four-game hitting streak (.412, 7-for-17) ... hit safely in 26 of last 28 games with Express (.385, 47-for-122) ... at least one extra-base hit in nine of last 14 games, 10 of last 16 ... at least one RBI in nine of last 14 games (16 RBI), multiple RBI in five of last 13 games ... at least one run scored in five straight games (six runs), 13 of last 14 games (21 runs) ... multiple runs in seven of last 13 games.

BRAD NELSON: Clubbed 24th homer last night, matching 2011 total ... tied for sixth in Express history ... first player in franchise history with at least 23 homers in multiple seasons ... 48 career homers with Express, fifth in franchise history ... 16 of 24 homers were solos, including nine leadoff shots ... hit safely in 22 of 27 home games since All-Star break (.371, 36-for-97) ... stretch was preceded by an 0-for-24 slump at The Dell Diamond ... 48 of 79 RBI on the road ... hitting .309 (108-for-349) after All-Star break over last two seasons ... at least one strikeout in 14 of last 16 games, 19 of last 22 games (25 strikeouts).

BRANDON SNYDER: 2-for-4 in last night's opener - first multiple-hit outing since Aug. 15 at Reno ... snapped streak of seven straight games with at least one strikeout in last night's second game (12 strikeouts) ... multiple strikeouts in 10 of 22 games with Express.

YANGERVIS SOLARTE: Four-game hitting streak (.429, 6-for-14) ... clubbed 10th homer last night, first since Aug. 7 vs. Las Vegas ... seven multiple-hit efforts in last 17 games ... hitting .338 (23-for-68) in that time ... hit into 28 double plays, most in organized baseball regardless of level ... eight of 10 home runs were solo shots ... second in PCL with 12.43 plate appearances per strikeout.

RYAN SPILBORGHS: Six-game hitting streak (.500, 11-for-22) with four multiple-hit efforts, seven RBI, four doubles ... hit safely in 14 of last 16 games (.367, 22-for-60) ... multiple hits in five of last eight games ... no strikeouts in last two games - first consecutive games without a strikeout since five-game stretch July 18-22 ... 11 RBI in last 11 games.

BROTHERS IN ARMS

FABIO CASTILLO: Won last outing (Aug. 25 vs. Nashville) ... season-high three strikeouts Aug. 22 vs. Nashville ... held opponent scoreless in eight of 12 outings ... four walks over last eight appearances (10.2 innings, 45 batters faced) ... one home run surrendered with Express (68 batters faced) ... opponents are 1-for-11 (.091) when leading off an inning with three walks, four strikeouts.

NEAL COTTS: Held opponent scoreless in six of last seven outings ... held opponent hitless in three of last six appearances ... stranded 13 of 21 inherited runners (61.9 percent), including each of last four ... 23 strikeouts over last 11 outings (14.1 innings).

WILLIE EYRE: 1.23 ERA (1 ER/7.1 IP) over last five outings with nine strikeouts, one walk ... holds opponents to a .074 average (2-for-27) when leading off an inning with one homer, two walks, nine strikeouts (.194 on-base percentage) ... opponents hitting .538 (7-for-13) with runners in scoring position and two outs.

DEREK HANKINS: Season-high seven strikeouts in last start (start, Aug. 28 vs. New Orleans) ... won three of last four decisions in two starts (1-0), seven relief appearances (2-1) ... two homers surrendered over last nine outings (two starts) ... 2-1, 3.38 ERA (4 ER/10.2 IP) over last seven relief appearances ... at least one strikeout in seven of last eight games (17 strikeouts, 18.2 innings) ... opponents hitting .306 (22-for-72) when leading off an inning with two homers, five walks, 11 strikeouts ... holds opponents to a .114 average (4-for-35) with two outs and runners in scoring position ... stranded 11 of 12 inherited runners (91.7 percent).

JOE ORTIZ: Claimed save in two of last three appearances ... held opponent scoreless in five straight outings (6.0 innings), eight of last nine games (1.46 ERA, 2 ER/12.1 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 .210 (21-for-100) otherwise ... at least one strikeout in 17 of 22 outings ... four strikeouts over last three outings (2.1 innings) ... stranded 12 of 15 inherited runners (80.0 percent).

TANNER SCHEPPERS: Began season with Express ... promoted to Rangers following June 5 outing ... returned to Express prior to Aug. 26 game ... 10 saves with Express, tied for sixth-best season total in franchise history ... stranded seven of 11 inherited runners (63.6 percent).

BEN SNYDER: Surrendered season-high six runs in last outing (Aug. 26 vs. Nashville) ... snapped 8.2-inning scoreless streak over six outings ... 20-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio over last 12 outings (three starts) ... stranded 13 of 25 inherited runners (52.0 percent).

YOSHINORI TATEYAMA: No runs allowed in 17 games at The Dell Diamond, going 2-0 with five saves, 25 strikeouts, five walks (22.1 innings) ... no earned runs allowed in 28 of 31 outings with Express (unearned runs allowed once) ... opponents hitting .117 (9-for-77) when behind in the count ... 29 strikeouts over last 18 outings (21.0 innings) ... stranded nine of 13 inherited runners (69.2 percent).

WHO'S NEXT

Round Rock concludes the season with a four-game road series against the Oklahoma RedHawks (Houston Astros). Oklahoma City leads the season series 7-5. The RedHawks won three of four at Bricktown Ballpark in late April, and the teams split both four-game series at The Dell Diamond (June 14-17, Aug. 18-21).

SERIES"ˆINFORMATION

GAME"ˆ141 | FRIDAY, AUGUST 31 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Martin Perez (7-6, 4.24 ERA)

RedHawks: LHP Rudy Owens (1-3, 4.76 ERA)

GAME"ˆ142 | SATURDAY, SEPT. 1 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Zach Jackson (7-12, 4.65 ERA)

RedHawks: RHP Jarred Cosart (1-2, 3.32 ERA)

GAME"ˆ143 | SUNDAY, SEPT. 2 | 6:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Greg Reynolds (11-8, 4.98 ERA)

RedHawks: RHP Jose Cisnero (3-1, 3.28 ERA)

GAME"ˆ144 | MONDAY, SEPT. 3 | 11:05 a.m. CDT

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

RedHawks: RHP Edgar Gonzalez (3-3, 4.96 ERA; starts tonight)

Check out the Round Rock Express Statistics

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



Pacific Coast League Stories from August 29, 2012


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