PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express - Game Notes vs. Sacramento River Cats

Published on May 23, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


*** PDF GAME NOTES ATTACHED ***

GAME 47 | 23 MAY 2012 | 7:05 P.M. CDT | THE DELL DIAMOND | ROUND ROCK, TEXAS

ROUND ROCK EXPRESS (20-26) vs. SACRAMENTO RIVER CATS (29-17)

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

EXPRESS: LHP Zach Jackson (1-4, 4.28 ERA) | RIVER CATS: LHP Fabio Castro (1-4, 7.41 ERA)

TONIGHT'S"ˆGAME

Round Rock continues an eight-game home stand Wednesday with the third of four games against the Sacramento River Cats (Oakland Athletics). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT at The Dell Diamond. The Express won each of the series' first two games, including an 11-5 victory last night. Round Rock has won consecutive games for the first time since May 7-8. The River Cats are 3-3 on their current eight-game road trip that started with winning three of four at Albuquerque. Round Rock is 12-10 at home, while Sacramento is 14-8 on the road. The Express are fourth in the PCL's American Southern Division, seven games back of Albuquerque. Sacramento trails only Fresno in the Pacific Southern Division by a game and a half.

BROADCAST"ˆINFORMATION

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.

EXPRESS-RIVER CATS SERIES

This is the lone series between the two squads this season. The Express have won each of the first two games, 6-5 and 11-5, respectively. Round Rock is hitting .366 (26-for-71) in the series with two homers and five doubles. Express pitchers have 20 strikeouts against six walks in 18.0 innings, holding the River Cats to a .257 average (18-for-70). Sacramento has six home runs, five of which were solo shots. SERIES NOTES: Round Rock leads the all-time series 17-13, including an 8-6 mark at The Dell Diamond. The Express have won five of the last six meetings after taking three of four in West Sacramento last season. The teams split a four-game series in Round Rock two years ago. Round Rock also won series in 2008 (3-1) and 2007 (3-1). Sacramento won series in 2009 (3-1) and 2006). There has never been a sweep in the series as the teams split four games in 2005. ... 2011 SERIES: The Express won each of the series' first three games last season, winning by scores of 7-3, 6-3 and 9-3 before a 5-3 loss in the finale. Zach Jackson was the only Express pitcher to record a decision that is with the team this year. He earned the victory in the series opener with 3.2 innings of relief, allowing three runs on eight hits (two homers) and two walks with three strikeouts. Jackson followed Mark Hamburger, who tossed four scoreless innings on one hit and a walk with five strikeouts in his first career start. No other current Express pitcher worked more than one inning in last year's series. Brad Nelson was 5-for-12 (.417) in three games at Raley Field last season with one homer, five RBI, two doubles, a walk and four runs scored. ... CAREER vs. SACRAMENTO: Matt Kata owns a .382 average (13-for-34) in 10 career games against Sacramento with three RBI, a double and four runs scored. Kata's numbers do not include his 2003 season with Tucson, for which statistics are not available. Nelson has played 28 career games against Sacramento, going 24-for-102 (.235) with four homers, 16 RBI, 10 doubles and 13 runs scored. Ryan Spilborghs has played 15 career games against the River Cats, going 17-for-59 (.288) with three RBI, two doubles, a triple and 12 runs scored. Sean Green is 0-2 with a 1.23 ERA (2 ER/14.2 IP) and two saves in 12 career relief appearances vs. Sacramento. Jackson is 1-2 with a 7.06 ERA (17 ER/21.2 IP) in six career outings (three starts) against the River Cats. Tanner Scheppers made his third career relief appearance vs. Sacramento in the series opener; he is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and one save in 4.2 innings with five walks and six strikeouts.

SERIES"ˆINFORMATION

GAME"ˆ45 | MONDAY, MAY 21

Express 6, River Cats 5

WP: Scheppers (1-0). LP: Threets (3-1). SV: None.

GAME"ˆ46 | TUESDAY, MAY 22

Express 11, River Cats 5

WP: Kirkman (3-1). LP: Peacock (5-2). SV: Hamburger (1).

GAME"ˆ47 | WEDNESDAY, MAY 23 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Zach Jackson (1-4, 4.28 ERA)

River Cats: RHP Graham Godfrey (3-0, 1.21 ERA)

GAME"ˆ48 | THURSDAY, MAY 24 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Neil Ramirez (4-4, 6.75 ERA)

River Cats: RHP A.J. Griffin (0-1, 7.36 ERA)

EXPRESS STARTER

LHP ZACH JACKSON (1-3, 4.19 ERA)

2012: Allowed four runs on five hits in two innings of relief with no walks and one strikeout in April 2 exhibition game vs. Rangers ... suffered loss in April 9 start at Omaha, a 6-3 Express defeat ... no-decision in April 14 start vs. Iowa, a 6-5 Cubs win ... collared with loss in April 19 start vs. Omaha, a 7-2 Storm Chasers win ... earned first victory in April 24 start at New Orleans, a 7-1 Express win; worked six shutout innings with six strikeouts ... saddled with loss in April 30 start at New Orleans, allowing three runs over 6.2 innings in a 5-3 Express loss ... no-decision in may 5 start vs. Memphis, a 5-1 Redbirds victory in 10 innings; held Redbirds scoreless on four hits and two walks over 6.1 innings with five strikeouts ... no-decision in May 10 start at Salt Lake, a 5-3 Express loss; held Bees to two runs (one earned) over seven innings, his longest outing of the season to date, and left game with a 2-1 lead ... nine double plays induced, tied for best on the staff ... at least one double play induced in five of eight starts, getting at least two three times ... 2.01 ERA (7 ER/31.1 IP) over last five starts with a 1-2 record 21 strikeouts against six walks ... surrendered at least one home run in six of nine outings (nine total), including three in April 19 start vs. Omaha ... opponents are 3-for-19 (.158) with runners in scoring position and two outs ... has not allowed a first-inning earned run (one unearned run) ... 0.56 ERA through first two innings (five unearned runs) ... 0-3, 4.82 ERA (15 ER/28.0 IP) in five starts at The Dell Diamond.

LAST START: Shouldered loss in May 18 start vs. Fresno at The Dell Diamond, a 5-2 Grizzlies win ... allowed five runs (three earned) on eight hits, including two homers, over 5.1 innings with one walk and three strikeouts ... surrendered fourth-inning leadoff homer to Roger Kieschnick and sixth-inning leadoff homer to Todd Linden ... left game trailing 5-1 ... lone bequeathed runner did not score ... used 94 pitches, 57 strikes.

2011 vs. SACRAMENTO: Earned victory in relief despite allowing three runs on eight hits over 3.2 innings with two walks and three strikeouts in lone appearance at Raley Field ... followed Mark Hamburger's four shutout innings in Hamburger's first career start.

CAREER vs. SACRAMENTO: 1-2, 7.06 ERA (17 ER/21.2 IP) in six career appearances (three starts) ... 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA (9 ER/12.0 IP) in two starts and two relief outings with Las Vegas in 2010 ... lost lone start vs. Sacramento with Nashville in 2007, allowing five runs on eight hits and a walk over six innings with three strikeouts.

NOTABLE: Began college career at Louisville (2002-2003) ... at Louisville, lettered two years as a pitcher ... had an overall record of 17-9 which ranked third all-time at Louisville ... earned Freshman All-American honors after the 2002 season ... earned All-Conference USA second team and CUSA All-Freshman team honors after the 2002 season ... played for the Hyannis Mets in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2003, earning a spot on the Cape Cod All-Star Game ... transferred to Texas A&M in 2004 ... went 10-7 with a 3.58 ERA in 18 starts his junior year prior to being drafted by Toronto ... was a community health and sport management major in college ... lettered four years at Seneca Valley High School in Cranberry Township, Pa. ... compiled a career high school record of 25-4 on the mound and hit a school-record 12 home runs ... struck out 17 batters in final high school game ... originally drafted by the White Sox in the 50th round of the 2001 June draft.

SPILBORGHS STEADY AS A ROCK

Ryan Spilborghs, who joined the Express when he was traded May 4 from Cleveland to the Rangers, has hit safely in each of his first 16 games with Round Rock. That is Round Rock's fifth streak of at least 11 games and third of at least 15 games this season. Spilborghs is hitting .385 (25-for-65) during the streak with eight multiple-hit games, including a three-hit effort May 15 at Tacoma. Spilborghs produced an RBI in eight of the 16 games. His hitting streak is the PCL's ninth-longest this season and the league's fourth-longest active streak. Spilborghs is 7-for-16 (.438) with one home run when leading off an inning and 2-for-3 with the bases loaded. He is hitting .457 (16-for-35) with runners on base, including a .391 mark (9-for-23) with runners in scoring position. Spilborghs, who also spent parts of five seasons with Colorado Springs, has played 199 career games in the Pacific Coast League; he owns a .345 average (262-for-760) in the league with 21 homers, 109 RBI and 61 doubles.

GOOD TIMES ON BORBON STREAK

Julio Borbon is riding a 10-game hitting streak (.422, 19-for-45), his longest this season and Round Rock's sixth of at least 10 games. Borbon has six multiple-hit outings during the streak, including a trio of three-hit games, and nine RBI. He has scored at least one run in each of the last eight games (11 runs) and delivered at least one extra-base hit in each of the last six games (three doubles, one triple, three home runs). He also has hit safely in 20 of his last 22 games (.371, 36-for-97) with 12 multiple-hit outings, four three-hit games, four home runs, 16 RBI, five doubles, three triples, 17 runs scored and seven stolen bases. His average has skyrocketed from .186 to .283 in that time. Borbon is hitting .426 (23-for-54) during innings four through six with three of his five home runs and 15 of his 24 RBI. However, he is hitting .230 (29-for-130) outside the middle frames, including a .148 mark (8-for-54) after the sixth inning. Borbon's second-inning, bases-loaded, two-run double Monday night was his third hit in eight bases-loaded at bats. He has hit safely in 13 consecutive home games, tied for the PCL's sixth-longest this season and third-longest active streak.

CATCH 22

Yangervis Solarte, who earlier this season enjoyed a franchise-record, 22-game hitting streak and a 25-game on-base streak, has hit safely in each of his last eight games (.353, 12-for-34). The current streak is one game removed from the 22-game run, meaning he has hit safely in 30 of his last 31 games (.359, 47-for-131). Solarte also has hit safely in 15 consecutive home games, tied for the PCL's longest streak this season. He has gone hitless in consecutive games only twice this season with no three-game skids. He also has reached safely in 39 of 42 games played, including 18 straight at The Dell Diamond. Solarte is hitting .226 (14-for-62) through the first three innings but .350 (41-for-117) thereafter with five of his six home runs and all but three of his 24 RBI. Solarte is third in plate appearances per strikeout (11.59).

MENDONCA BE MISLEAD

Tommy Mendonca's .231 season average is a bit misleading. While he has struggled through hitless slumps of at least 12 at bats three times, he has been one of Round Rock's most productive clutch hitters this season. Mendonca is hitting .306 (11-for-36) with runners in scoring position, including a .400 mark (6-for-15) with runners in scoring position and two outs. He is tied with Julio Borbon for the team lead with three bases-loaded hits (eight at bats). Furthermore, Mendonca is hitting .303 (10-for-33) after the seventh inning. His current four-game hitting streak (.467, 7-for-15) matches his longest of the season; he has scored at least once in each game (six runs) and produced at least one RBI in each game (seven RBI) with two doubles and a home run.

RARE SKID FOR BUTLER

Joey Butler snapped an 0-for-12 skid with his sixth-inning single Monday night. It was the longest hitless stretch of his 158-game Triple-A career by three at bats. Butler had gone three straight games without a hit, also the longest slump of his Triple-A career. Nonetheless, he is hitting .362 (17-for-47) over his last 14 games, but he has not produced a multiple-hit game in any of the last 10 games. Butler is hitting .415 (49-for-118) when putting the ball in play; he has hit safely in 16 of 33 such at bats (.485) since May 8. However, he has hit into eight double plays, four of which came in a three-game span April 9-11. He is hitting .336 (39-for-116) after the third inning with all eight of his home runs and 22 of his 27 RBI. Butler is fifth in the PCL in runs (36) and tied for second in walks (30).

DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE

Round Rock has at least one double in every game since the season opener "" a 45-game run, including a season-high six two-baggers May 11 at Salt Lake. Luis Martinez kept the streak alive May 17 with a one-out, ninth-inning double. Round Rock clubbed at least two doubles in 31 of those games, collecting three or more 16 times, four or more 10 times and five or more four times. The Express tallied three doubles in the first inning alone May 4 vs. Memphis en route to a five-double night. Round Rock is second in the PCL with 105 doubles, trailing only Albuquerque (111).

"HOME" RUNS SCARCE

In stark contrast to last season, The Dell Diamond has not been a launching pad for the Express. Round Rock averages 0.77 homers per game through 22 home dates this season. The Express clubbed two homers last night, stopping a four-game stretch without a homer at The Dell Diamond. Conversely, Round Rock averages 1.38 homers in 24 road games, including a season-high five May 8 at Salt Lake. The Express snapped a streak of nine consecutive road games with at least one homer May 13 at Tacoma (15 homers). Round Rock has homered in all but six road games this season, clubbing at least two homers eight times. Meanwhile, the Express enjoyed their fourth multiple-homer game at The Dell Diamond last night. Julio Borbon became the first Express player to homer twice in a home game this season May 17 vs. Fresno (17th game); Chris Davis accomplished that feat in last year's third home game, tying a franchise record with three homers. 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 9.95 runs per game at The Dell Diamond this season as opposed to the 11.90 average in 2011.

KEY NUMBERS TELL THE STORY

Round Rock has lost 10 of its last 13 games, a stretch that began with a six-game losing streak. The Express have been outscored 101-70 in that span, surrendering double-digit runs five times. Express pitchers have a 7.17 ERA (89 ER/111.2 IP) over the last 13 games and have allowed at least one home run in 10 straight games (17 homers). A closer look into the numbers shows the Express are hitting .183 (17-for-93) with runners in scoring position in the 10 losses and .447 (17-for-38) in the three wins. Conversely, opponents are hitting .328 (39-for-119) with runners in scoring position in the 10 Express losses and .167 (4-for-24) in Round Rock's three wins. Round Rock is 5-for-19 (.263) with the bases loaded over the last 13 games with three of the five hits coming in the three wins; opponents are 6-for-10 (.600) with two grand slams over the last 13 games.

IT'S A LOADED QUESTION

The Express produced multiple bases-loaded hits in a game for the first time this season Monday night. Tommy Mendonca (single) and Julio Borbon (double) produced the hits in successive at bats during Round Rock's five-run second inning. Borbon's double was one of only three extra-base hits with the bases loaded by the Express this season. Round Rock is 12-for-44 (.273) with the bases loaded, producing no grand slams and drawing nine walks against eight strikeouts. Mendonca's single Monday night snapped a 1-for-13 bases-load skid for the Express, who earlier this season suffered an 0-for-11 slump. Borbon (3-for-8), Mendonca (3-for-8) and Ryan Spilborghs (2-for-3) are the only Round Rock players with multiple bases-loaded hits. Dusty Brown has drawn three walks and produced one sacrifice fly in four bases-loaded plate appearances. The rest of the team is 4-for-25 (.160). Meanwhile, opposing batters are 18-for-36 (.500) with the bases loaded, including four grand slams. Opponents are 14-for-23 (.609) with the bases loaded since April 21, including a 5-for-5 series by Oklahoma City (April 26-29).

SLOPPY PENMANSHIP

After going 22 consecutive games without a loss, Round Rock's bullpen has taken five on the chin over the last 17 games. In the 22 games between losses, Express relievers posted a 2.81 ERA (26 ER/83.1 IP) and allowed no more than one earned run in 17 of the 22 games. Express relievers are 0-5 with a 6.71 ERA (45 ER/60.1 IP) in the 17 games since, also surrendering six unearned runs. The pen allowed Salt Lake to overcome a four-run, ninth-inning deficit May 9 in a 10-9 loss. It was the largest ninth-inning lead blown by the Express bullpen since July 20, 2011, when Round Rock plated eight seventh-inning runs to take an 11-7 lead only to see New Orleans score seven ninth-inning runs for a 14-11 win. Round Rock relievers are 5-9 with a 4.73 ERA (88 ER/167.1 IP) this season. The pen yielded four-plus runs five times in the last 13 games and six-plus three times, including a season-high seven runs May 17 vs. Fresno.

POSITION PLAYER"ˆNOTES

Mike Bianucci tallied a season-high three hits last night, his first multiple-hit game since May 12 and 13th of the season. He was 4-for-29 (.138) in eight games between multiple-hit outings. He has one RBI (May 15 at Tacoma) and one extra-base hit (double May 12 at Tacoma) over his last 10 games. Bianucci has gone hitless in consecutive games twice this season (April 17-18, April 24-26), but he has not put together more than two consecutive games with a hit since a four-game run May 6-9. He is tied for sixth in the PCL with nine homers, but he is homerless in his last 36 at bats. Bianucci is 0-for-4 with the bases loaded, walking once. ... Dusty Brown has reached safely in four of his last 18 plate appearances immediately following a stretch in which he reached safely in 10 consecutive plate appearances. He is 16-for-44 (.364) over his last 15 games with five multiple-hit outings, three home runs, nine RBI, six doubles, seven runs scored and 11 walks against five strikeouts. However, he ended an 0-for16 slide with his seventh-inning double last night. Brown is 2-for-12 (.167) with runners in scoring position but has five walks and eight RBI; both hits came with two outs, including one home run. He has three walks and a sacrifice fly in four bases-loaded plate appearances. ... Luis Hernandez snapped an 0-for-14 skid with his second-inning, two-run single Monday night. Interestingly, he produced four RBI without a hit over the previous three games. He is 4-for-10 since stopping the slump. Monday night's double was his sixth extra-base hit (four doubles, two homers) over a 30-game stretch since April 15. Hernandez also has 21 strikeouts in that time but has only three strikeouts over the last six games. He is 6-for-33 (.182) when leading off an inning and 7-for-37 (.189) with runners in scoring position, going 2-for-15 (.133) with RISP and two outs. ... Matt Kata has not gone hitless in consecutive games this season; however, he has not hit safely in more than six straight. He has reached safely in 22 of 25 games started. Kata is hitting .308 (8-for-26) when leading off an inning with two homers and four walks (.419 on-base percentage). He is 10-for-30 (.333) with runners in scoring position. ... Luis Martinez is hitting .313 (10-for-32) over his last nine games with three multiple-hit outings, six doubles, two RBI and eight runs scored. He has hit safely in four straight games and scored once in each of his last five games. Martinez is 10-for-21 (.476) in the third and fourth innings but 11-for-60 (.183) the rest of the game. His second-inning single Monday night was his first hit in 12 second-inning at bats this season. He is 2-for-14 (.143) with runners in scoring position and two outs, and he is 0-for-5 with the bases loaded, drawing one walk. ... Brad Nelson has not gone hitless in consecutive games since a three-game spell April 19-21. He has hit safely in 22 of 25 games since, enjoying hitting streaks of 11 games and nine games in that time. However, he is 3-for-15 (.200) since snapping the nine-game streak May 19. Nelson has hit safely in 13 consecutive road games, tied for the PCL's fifth-longest streak this season and tied for second among active streaks. However, he has only two multiple-hit games since May 3 and only six RBI since April 27, a 22-game span with no multiple-RBI performances. Nelson is hitting .345 (19-for-55) during the first three innings but .243 (26-for-107) after the third inning. He has a .480 on-base percentage when leading off an inning, hitting .366 (15-for-41) with one home run and nine walks. Nelson is 5-for-22 (.227) with runners in scoring position and two outs. ... Elio Sarmiento is 1-for-19 (.053) over his last five games after going 5-for-11 (.455) in his first three games.

PITCHER"ˆNOTES

Sean Green allowed 14 earned runs in 9.2 innings over his last eight appearances (13.04 ERA) after surrendering two earned runs in his first eight outings. Opposing batters are 3-for-18 (.167) with runners in scoring position and two outs but 8-for-20 (.400) when leading off an inning and 17-for-39 (.436) with the bases empty. Opponents also are 4-for-8 (.500) with the bases loaded, producing one grand slam and eight RBI. Green walked 10 batters over his last six appearances (8.0 innings) after issuing five free passes over his first 10 outings (14.0 innings). ... Mark Hamburger tallied seven strikeouts last night, a career high. His previous career high was six in two innings Aug. 6, 2010, with Double-A Frisco. Hamburger also had six strikeouts in three innings June 26, 2008, with rookie-league Elizabeth in the Twins organization. His previous Triple-A career high was five strikeouts Aug. 12, 2011, at Sacramento in his first career start. He also struck out five as a reliever May 9, 2011, in his last appearance with Double-A Frisco. Hamburger surrendered 10 runs in 10.1 innings (8.71 ERA) over his last four outings after yielding only one run over his first 9.2 innings (0.93 ERA) as a reliever this season. He allowed four runs in one inning May 9 at Salt Lake, the most runs he allowed as a reliever since surrendering four July 10, 2011, vs. Memphis. Opponents are hitting .458 (11-for-24) with runners in scoring position, producing two home runs and 20 RBI. He surrendered three home runs in his last two outings after going eight consecutive appearances without yielding a tater. ... Derek Hankins has two strikeouts in 8.2 innings over his last four outings. After surrendering runs in each of his first two appearances, he has allowed at least one run in every other outing since. Opposing batters are 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position and two outs and 0-for-4 with the bases loaded. Hankins has stranded seven of eight inherited runners. ... Aaron Heilman has at least two strikeouts in each of his last eight appearances, tallying 17 over 12.0 innings. He has allowed at least one runs in eight of 13 outings and allowed four of nine inherited runners to score. Opponents are 3-for-17 (.176) when leading off an inning but 10-for-28 (.357) with runners in scoring position. ... Michael Kirkman is 3-0 with a 3.96 ERA (11 ER/25.0 IP) and a .198 opponents' average (17-for-86) over his last five starts. He has 27 strikeouts in that time (9.72 per nine innings) but also has 16 walks (5.76 per nine innings). Opponents are 3-for-19 (.158) with runners in scoring position and two outs but 4-for-6 with the bases loaded, producing 10 RBI. ... Tanner Scheppers has allowed a run in four of 19 outings (nine runs total), surrendering multiple runs three times. He has one walk in his last 14 appearances, a 15.1-inning stretch, with 16 strikeouts in that time. Scheppers logged three strikeouts last night, a season high and his first multiple-strikeout game since May 2 vs. New Orleans. He has allowed four of nine inherited runners to score. Scheppers leads the PCL with 18 games finished. Opposing batters are 6-for-14 (.429) with runners in scoring position and two outs. ... Ben Snyder has not allowed a run over his last seven outings (9.1 innings) since surrendering four runs in 1.1 innings April 28 at Oklahoma City. Opponents are 6-for-32 (.188) in that time with three singles and three doubles. Snyder has held the opposition scoreless in 11 of his last 12 appearances. However, five of eight inherited runners have scored over his last six outings. Opponents are 9-for-24 (.375) with runners on base and two outs. ... Yoshinori Tateyama has not allowed an earned run in 11 of 12 outings. He has not allowed an earned run since April 21 at New Orleans, a span of 12.0 innings over eight appearances. Tateyama has allowed four runs (one earned), all of which scored in the eighth inning. Opponents are 1-for-12 (.083) with runners in scoring position and 3-for-27 (.111) when behind in the count. ... Tyler Tufts allowed at least one run in each of his last three outings and six of 11 appearances on the season. He surrendered a season-high six runs in just two-thirds of an inning May 11 at Salt Lake, matching his total over his first eight appearances. Tufts is 1-0 with a 2.16 ERA (2 ER/8.1 IP) in five outings at The Dell Diamond but 1-1 with a 10.13 ERA (12 ER/10.2 IP) in six road appearances. Opponents are 7-for-16 (.438) with runners in scoring position. Tufts had two strikeouts May 20 vs. Fresno, his first since April 26 "" a five-outing span.

TEAM"ˆNOTES

Express pitchers tallied a season-high 12 strikeouts last night and have 31 strikeouts over the last three games (10.33 per nine innings). ... Round Rock is third in the PCL with 50 home runs behind only Oklahoma City (53) and Sacramento (51). Of Round Rock's 50 home runs, 27 have been solo shots, including 12 to leadoff an inning; 21 came with no outs. ... The Express lead the league with 350 runners left on base. ... The Express are 14-2 when holding the opposition to fewer than five runs but 6-24 when allowing at least five runs, snapping a 10-game skid in that situation with Monday night's 6-5 win. ... Monday's 6-5 victory was Round Rock's first one-run game since a 10-9 loss May 9 at Salt Lake. The Express are 6-7 in one-run games. Seven of the games were against Iowa. ... Express relievers have allowed 19 runs (15 earned) after the seventh inning over the last 14 games. ... The Express are 4-8 in series openers. ... Round Rock is 1-19 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 have four losses in 23 games when leading after seven innings.

NEXT SERIES

Round Rock embarks on an eight-game road trip, starting with a four-game series against the Nashville Sounds (Milwaukee Brewers). The series begins Friday with a 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch at scenic Herschel Greer Stadium and continues Saturday at 6:35 p.m., Sunday at 2:05 p.m. and Monday at 2:05 p.m. This is the first of four series between the Express and Sounds this season.

GAME"ˆ49 | FRIDAY, MAY 25 | 7:05 p.m. CDT | NASHVILLE, TENN.

Express: LHP Martin Perez (3-4, 5.72 ERA)

Sounds: RHP Seth McClung (1-4, 5.12 ERA)

GAME"ˆ50 | SATURDAY, MAY 26 | 6:35 p.m. CDT | NASHVILLE, TENN.

Express: RHP Greg Reynolds (3-3, 4.15 ERA)

Sounds: RHP Mark Rogers (0-2, 5.29 ERA)

GAME"ˆ51 | SUNDAY, MAY 27 | 2:05 p.m. CDT | NASHVILLE, TENN.

Express: LHP Michael Kirkman (3-1, 6.25 ERA)

Sounds: RHP Wily Peralta (1-5, 5.63 ERA)

GAME"ˆ52 | MONDAY, MAY 28 | 2:05 p.m. CDT | NASHVILLE, TENN.

Express: LHP Zach Jackson (1-4, 4.28 ERA; starts tonight)

Sounds: RHP Claudio Vargas (0-0, 9.00 ERA; starts tonight)

Check out the Round Rock Express Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 23, 2012


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