PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express - Game Notes vs. Oklahoma City RedHawks

Published on June 17, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


GAME 71 | 17 JUNE 2012 | 7:05 P.M. CDT | THE DELL DIAMOND | ROUND ROCK, TEXAS

ROUND ROCK EXPRESS (30-40) vs. OKLAHOMA CITY REDHAWKS (41-28)

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

EXPRESS: RHP Roy Oswalt (0-1, 7.50 ERA) | REDHAWKS: RHP Paul Clemens (8-4, 6.31 ERA)

TONIGHT, TONIGHT

Round Rock continues a nine-day, eight-game home stand with the finale of a four-game series against division-rival Oklahoma City (Houston Astros). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT at The Dell Diamond. The Express lost last night's game 8-5 and are 3-7 in their last 10 games. Round Rock is 16-15 at home. The RedHawks have not won or lost consecutive games over their last eight contests and are 15-18 on the road. Round Rock is fourth in the PCL's American Southern Division, 11-and-a-half games back of Oklahoma City and six-and-a-half games behind third-place New Orleans. Oklahoma City has a one-and-a-half-games lead over Albuquerque.

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 second of four series between the two teams. The RedHawks won three of four at Oklahoma City in late April. The teams do not meet again until the season's final three weeks. The RedHawks return to The Dell Diamond for a four-game series Aug. 18-21, and the Express revisit Bricktown Ballpark for the season's final series Aug. 31-Sept. 3. ... SERIES HISTORY: Oklahoma City leads the all-time series 63-55, including a 52-43 advantage prior to the affiliation switch in 2011. The RedHawks are 32-26 at The Dell Diamond, while the Express are 29-31 at Bricktown Ballpark. Round Rock won season series in 2005 (10-6), 2006 (10-6) and 2011 (10-6), while Oklahoma City won season series in 2007 (8-7), 2008 (11-5) and 2010 (13-3). The teams split 16 games in 2009. The Express have three sweeps (2005 at Oklahoma City, 2006 at home, 2011 at Oklahoma City), while the RedHawks have two sweeps (2009 and 2010, both at Oklahoma City). ... 2012 SERIES: The RedHawks lead the season series 5-2. Oklahoma City won three of four April 26-29 at Bricktown Ballpark. Round Rock is hitting .277 (69-for-249) with eight homers and 5.0 runs per game. Julio Borbon is 10-for-28 (.357) with a home run, five RBI, four runs scored and three walks in seven games. Dusty Brown is 6-for-11 (.545) with one RBI, a double and four walks in four games. Luis Hernandez is 12-for-33 (.364) with two homers, six RBI and five runs scored in seven games. Brad Nelson is 9-for-26 (.346) with a home run, four RBI, a double, seven runs scored and six walks in seven games. Express pitchers have a 7.20 ERA (48 ER/60.0 IP) with 38 strikeouts against 23 walks. Martin Perez owns both Round Rock win; he allowed three runs on five hits over 13.0 innings in two starts. Oklahoma City is hitting .329 (81-for-246) with nine homers, 15 doubles, two triples and 7.4 runs per game. The RedHawks 6-for-6 with the bases loaded (5-for-5 at Bricktown Ballpark, 1-for-1 at The Dell Diamond). Scott Moore is 11-for-27 (.407) with 11 RBI and six doubles in seven games. J.B. Shuck, who played for the Express in 2010, is 10-for-21 (.476) with three RBI, a double, a triple and six runs scored in five games. Brad Snyder, brother of Express reliever Ben Snyder, is 10-for-26 (.385) with two homers and four RBI in seven games.

SERIES"ˆINFORMATION

GAME"ˆ68 | THURSDAY, JUNE 14

Redhawks 10, at Express 6

WP: Flores (4-0). LP: Ramirez (6-7). SV: Del Rosario (1).

GAME"ˆ69 | FRIDAY, JUNE 15

at Express 2, Redhawks 0

WP: Perez (4-5). LP: Bass (1-1). SV: Hamburger (2).

GAME"ˆ70 | SATURDAY, JUNE 16

Redhawks 8, at Express 5

WP: Galarraga (1-0). LP: Jackson (2-8). SV: None.

GAME"ˆ71 | SUNDAY, JUNE 17 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Roy Oswalt (0-1, 7.50 ERA)

RedHawks: RHP Paul Clemens (8-4, 6.31 ERA)

START ME UP

RHP ROY OSWALT (0-1, 7.50 ERA, 5 K)

2012: Signed minor league contract May 29 with Rangers ... predetermined two-inning start June 2 vs. Albuquerque was first outing of the season at any level ... lost June 7 start at Omaha, a predetermined 60-pitch outing ... assigned to Frisco for June 12 start vs. Midland, a predetermined 80-pitch start ... reassigned to Round Rock (June 14).

LAST START: No-decision in June 12 start with Double-A Frisco vs. Midland ... allowed three runs on five hits over 3.1 innings with one walk and three strikeouts ... also uncorked one wild pitch ... all three runs scored in third inning ... left game trailing 3-1 ... lone bequeathed runner did not score ... Frisco captured lead with three-run fourth and won game 5-4 in 14 innings ... 85 pitches, 55 strikes.

LAST ROUND ROCK START: Lost June 7 start at Omaha, a 7-2 Storm Chasers win ... allowed five runs on six hits over 4.0 innings with one walk and four strikeouts ... all five runs scored in third inning, including Wil Myers one-out grand slam ... utilized one double play ... 56 pitches, 38 strikes.

NOTABLE: Roy Edward Oswalt... Married, wife's name is Nicole; has three daughters, Arlee Faith (9/6/04), Ainslee Grace (9/18/07) and Aubree (10/22/10)... Attended Holmes {Miss.] Community College ... Opened a restaurant called Home Plate Fish and Steakhouse in his hometown of Weir, Miss., in November 2009 ... Established Fund 44, a charitable fund that provides annual gifts to children's charities, including the Ronald McDonald House in Jackson, Miss., the Garth Brooks Children's Charity and the Gulf Coast Ike Relief Fund and Aid Sudan ... signed by Ralph Bratton, Brian Granger and James Farrar.

I'M ON FIRE

Julio Borbon continued his torrid pace last night, going 3-for-5 with a two-run homer. He is 47-for-105 (.448) over his last 24 games, a stretch that included a career-best, 21-game hitting streak, with 15 multiple-hit outings "" nine in his last 12 games. Borbon also has eight games with at least three hits over his last 24 games, 17 RBI and 20 runs scored. Borbon's 21-game streak was one game shy of Yangervis Solarte's franchise-record 22-game streak from earlier this season. Coincidentally, Borbon's streak started the night Solarte's ended. Borbon was 0-for-4 Thursday, drawing a full-count walk in his final plate appearance. He was 4-for-4 the following night, and hit safely in each of his first two at bats last night. The streak-ending walk was his first in 112 plate appearances "" three games before the streak began. Borbon maintains a 13-game road hitting streak. He has hit safely in 32 of his last 35 games (.408, 64-for-157) with 21 multiple-hit outings, nine three-hit games, six homers, 24 RBI, 10 doubles, three triples, 27 runs scored and nine stolen bases. His average skyrocketed from .186 to .328 in that time.

WALK THIS WAY

Prior to Thursday night's game, five Express players had gone at least 40 plate appearances without a walk and three of them at least 100 plate appearances. Two of those streaks ended in the eighth inning that night. Mike Bianucci walked for the first time since May 31, a span of 47 consecutive plate appearances without a walk. Julio Borbon drew a full-count walk, his first free pass since May 9, ending a streak of 112 consecutive plate appearances without a walk. Those with walk-less streaks still intact are Luis Hernandez (May 19 "" 25 games, 115 plate appearances), Matt Kata (May 13 "" 20 games, 84 plate appearances) and Tommy Mendonca (May 2 "" 29 games, 112 plate appearances). Meanwhile, Joey Butler leads the PCL with 48 walks. He drew three walks for the second time this season Thursday night as the Express matched a season high with nine free passes.

RAMBLIN' MAN

Brad Nelson hit safely in 26 of his last 27 road games, going 41-for-109 (.376) on the road since an 0-for-4 night April 21 at New Orleans. That stretch included a 21-game road hitting streak that is the PCL's longest this season. His lone hitless outing over the last 27 road games was June 8 at Omaha when he was hitless in a pinch-hit role. Nelson is hitting nearly 100 points better on the road (.336, 48-for-143) than at home (.239, 26-for-109). Seven of his eight homers and 28 of his 37 RBI were in road games. Nelson has not gone hitless in consecutive games regardless of location since a three-game spell April 19-21. He has hit safely in 42 of 48 games since, enjoying hitting streaks of 11, nine and eight games. Nelson hit safely in seven of his last eight games, going 11-for-33 (.333) with a home run, seven RBI and two doubles.

UNDER PRESSURE

Matt Kata is hitting .467 (21-for-45) with runners in scoring position, delivering 32 RBI. He is even more deadly with runners in scoring position and two outs, going 9-for-17 (.529) with 18 RBI. He owns Round Rock's lone grand slam (May 31 at Memphis) and is 4-for-6 with the bases loaded (11 RBI); he is 3-for-3 with the bases loaded since delivering a game-winning, three-run double May 24 vs. Sacramento. Furthermore, Kata is hitting .400 (16-for-40) after the seventh inning with 10 RBI. He hit safely in 15 of his last 17 games (.394, 28-for-71) with two homers, 16 RBI, three doubles, a triple, nine multiple-hit outings and four multiple-RBI games.

HELP!

Zach Jackson tied the Express franchise record with 13 wins last season despite a 5.51 ERA. Round Rock supported Jackson to the tune of 6.17 runs per game in his 23 starts in 2011. This season, Jackson's ERA is lower (5.33) but his record is just 2-8. That largely is because the Express have averaged just 3.62 runs per game in Jackson's 13 starts, scoring three or fewer runs eight times and fewer than three runs five times. Round Rock scored a total of 22 runs in his eight losses. Jackson yielded three or fewer earned runs in six of nine starts since tossing six shutout innings in a win April 24 at New Orleans. However, he is 1-6 in those nine starts. Jackson surrendered one unearned run over six innings in his June 5 start vs. Albuquerque; the Express were shutout 2-0.

FORK IN THE ROAD

Round Rock is 13-24 since blowing a 9-5 lead in the ninth inning May 9 at Salt Lake. The Express were 17-16 prior to that loss, the only point at which they were over .500 this season. Round Rock has been outscored by 45 runs over the last 37 games, surrendering double-digit runs nine times. Express pitchers have a 5.97 ERA (211 ER/318.0 IP) in that time. A closer look into the numbers shows the Express are hitting .192 (37-for-193) with runners in scoring position in the 24 losses and .386 (59-for-153) in the 13 wins. Conversely, opponents are hitting .352 (96-for-273) with runners in scoring position in the 24 Express losses and .136 (14-for-107) in Round Rock's 13 victories.

FIVE TO ONE

The Express are 23-4 when holding the opposition to fewer than five runs but 7-36 when allowing at least five runs. Round Rock surrendered at least five runs eight times in the last 12 games and lost all eight games. Meanwhile, the Express are 6-20 when scoring fewer than five runs; three of the six wins were shutouts.

BRING IT ON HOME

In stark contrast to last season, The Dell Diamond has not been a launching pad for the Express. Round Rock averages 0.68 homers per game through 31 home dates this season (21 homers). The Express have not homered in 10 of their last 14 home games. Conversely, Round Rock averages 1.36 homers in 39 road games (53 homers), including a season-high five May 8 at Salt Lake. The Express clubbed at least two homers 13 times on the road. Meanwhile, the Express have five multiple-homer games at The Dell Diamond. Last season, Round Rock averaged 1.46 home runs per game at The Dell Diamond and 0.97 homers per game on the road. Teams have combined to score 9.39 runs per game at The Dell Diamond this season as opposed to the 11.90 average in 2011.

EVERYDAY PEOPLE

Mike Bianucci is 7-for-40 (.175) over his last 10 games. He leads the team with 12 home runs; however, he has three homers in his last 129 at bats after hitting nine in his first 118 at bats. He also has not gone more than two consecutive games without a strikeout and has 14 strikeouts over his last 11 games. Bianucci has two walks over his last 17 games (75 plate appearances). He is 4-for-11 (.364) with the bases loaded (two doubles, two walks, 10 RBI) and 16-for-35 (.457) in the fourth inning (three homers, seven RBI). ... Dusty Brown is 4-for-49 (.082) since an eighth-inning double May 11 at Salt Lake; he has 18 strikeouts in that time and nine strikeouts over his last seven games. Brown has walked at least once in each of his last five games (seven walks). He is 2-for-21 (.095) with runners in scoring position; both hits came with two outs. Brown owns a .500 on-base percentage when leading off an inning, hitting .333 (7-for-21) with one homer and seven walks against four strikeouts. He has three walks and two sacrifice flies in six bases-loaded plate appearances. ... Joey Butler leads the PCL with 48 walks; he has five walks over his last four games. Butler is hitting .389 (70-for-180) when putting the ball in play. He is 11-for-24 (.488) in the fifth inning with four homers and eight RBI; he also has 10 eighth-inning RBI. Butler is second on the team with 11 home runs, six of which were solo shots. He is 6-for-33 (.182) over his last nine games and has at least one strikeout in nine of his last 11 games (12 strikeouts). ... Luis Hernandez is 13-for-40 (.325) over his last 10 games with five multiple-hit outings (four of his last six games), one home run, five RBI, four doubles, a triple and six runs scored. However, he also has hit into three double plays in his last six plate appearances. Hernandez has not walked since May 19, a span of 25 games and 115 plate appearances. Three of his four home runs were solo shots. Hernandez committed two errors in June 11 at Albuquerque, matching his season total entering the game. He leads all PCL shortstops with a .986 fielding percentage (four errors, 284 chances). ... Luis Martinez is 6-for-16 (.375) with five walks, a double, a triple and five runs scored over his last five games. He is 13-for-30 (.433) in the third and fourth innings but 17-for-89 (.191) the rest of the game, going 2-for-20 (.100) prior to the third inning. He is 2-for-21 (.095) with runners in scoring position and two outs, and he is 0-for-5 with the bases loaded (one walk, one hit-by-pitch, one sacrifice fly). ... Tommy Mendonca has at least one strikeout in 15 of his last 18 games (23 strikeouts), including nine strikeouts over his last six games. Mendonca has not gone more than two straight games without a strikeout. He has not walked since May 2 vs. New Orleans, a span of 29 games and 112 plate appearances. Mendonca is 15-for-48 (.313) after the seventh inning. ... Greg Miclat's two-hit game in Wednesday night's series finale at Albuquerque was his first multiple-hit outing since a two-hit night April 23 at New Orleans "" his only other multiple-hit game this season. Six of his last eight hits were doubles. ... Yangervis Solarte is second in the PCL with 13.27 plate appearances per strikeout. He is hitting .230 (20-for-87) through the first three innings but .303 (53-for-175) thereafter with five of his six home runs and 25 of his 30 RBI. Solarte is hitting .212 (11-for-52) over his last 14 games and has not homered since May 14, a span of 27 games and 109 at bats. He is 13-for-38 (.342) when leading off an inning with one home run and three walks (.390 on-base percentage). Solarte is 4-for-37 (.108) with runners in scoring position and fewer than two outs. Five of his six home runs were solo shots. ... Ryan Spilborghs has not homered since May 26, a span of 17 games and 66 at bats. Spilborghs is 5-for-32 (.156) over his last eight games; three of the five hits came June 13 at Albuquerque. He is 5-for-24 (.208) with runners in scoring position and two outs. Spilborghs has played 220 career PCL games, hitting .343 (286-for-833) with 24 homers, 119 RBI and 64 doubles.

BROTHERS IN ARMS

Neal Cotts, who has battled injuries over the past three seasons, made his Texas Rangers organizational debut June 12 at Albuquerque. It was his first outing since June 24, 2009, with the Iowa Cubs. ... Mark Hamburger recorded at least one strikeout in all but two of 20 outings. He surrendered two runs in 9.0 innings (2.00 ERA) over his last four outings. Hamburger worked 3.0 scoreless innings June 12 at Albuquerque, his longest scoreless outing this season. Opponents are hitting .385 (15-for-39) with runners in scoring position (two home runs, 23 RBI). He has stranded all three inherited runners. ... Derek Hankins has one walk in his last nine outings (16.2 innings) with seven strikeouts and a .182 opponents' average (12-for-66). Opposing batters are 0-for-19 with runners in scoring position and two outs, and 0-for-5 with the bases loaded. Hankins stranded 11 of 12 inherited runners. ... Aaron Heilman has a 2.38 ERA (3 ER/11.1 IP) over his last nine outings, going 1-0 with two saves. He recorded at least one strikeout in 18 of 19 appearances since failing to do so in each of the season's first two outings, including a season-high three strikeouts June 3 vs. Albuquerque. He has 26 strikeouts in his last 21.2 innings. Four of 10 inherited runners scored, and opponents are hitting .361 (13-for-36) with runners in scoring position. ... Ben Snyder is 1-0 with a 1.26 ERA (2 ER/14.1 IP) in 10 outings at The Dell Diamond but 0-2 with a 5.09 ERA (13 ER/23.0 IP) in 13 road games. He has 13 strikeouts over 13.1 innings with four walks in his last eight appearances. Opponents are hitting .348 (8-for-23) with runners in scoring position and two outs. Snyder stranded 10 of 17 inherited runners. ... Johan Yan surrendered at least one run in five of seven outings since joining the Express (May 25) and allowed an inherited runner to score in one of the other two outings. Opponents are 7-for-14 (.500) against him with runners on base.

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH

Round Rock is hitting .325 (25-for-77) with the bases loaded, going 15-for-39 (.385) since May 21. Meanwhile, opposing batters are 28-for-67 (.418) with the bases loaded, including six grand slams. Oklahoma City is 6-for-6 against Express pitching with the bases loaded. ... Round Rock is third in the PCL with 74 homers, 53 of which were on the road. ... Round Rock is 5-12 in series openers. ... Of Round Rock's 74 home runs, 39 were solo shots, including 20 to leadoff an inning. ... Round Rock leads the PCL with 83 double plays turned. ... The Express have at least one double in 65 of 70 games, including 29 of 30 home games. Round Rock enjoyed a 47-game streak with at least one double after not failing to double in the season opener. ... Round Rock is 7-10 in one-run games. Seven of the 17 games were against Iowa. ... Round Rock is 1-31 when trailing after seven innings, posting their lone win May 2 with a six-run eighth to rally past New Orleans 10-5. Conversely, the Express are 28-5 when leading after seven innings.

WHO'S NEXT

Following the season's fourth of five off-days Monday, Round Rock continues eight-game home stand with a four-game series against the Iowa Cubs (Chicago Cubs). The series runs Tuesday through Friday with a 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch each night. This is the third of four series between Round Rock and Iowa. The teams split a four-game series to start the season April 5-8 at Des Moines and split a four-game series the following week (April 13-16) at The Dell Diamond. The Express will follow the Cubs back to Des Moines for a four-game series June 23-26.

GAME"ˆ72 | TUESDAY, JUNE 19 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Greg Reynolds (5-5, 4.57 ERA)

Cubs: RHP Rodrigo Lopez (1-1, 3.41 ERA)

GAME"ˆ73 | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Neil Ramirez (6-7, 8.02 ERA)

Cubs: LHP Brooks Raley (2-2, 5.93 ERA)

GAME"ˆ74 | THURSDAY, JUNE 21 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Martin Perez (4-5, 4.90 ERA)

Cubs: RHP Frankie De La Cruz (1-1, 2.58 ERA)

GAME"ˆ75 | FRIDAY, JUNE 22 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Zach Jackson (2-8, 5.33 ERA)

Cubs: LHP Chris Rusin (5-5, 4.56 ERA)

Check out the Round Rock Express Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 17, 2012


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