PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express Blank Portland 3-0

Published on August 17, 2010 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Josh Banks tossed his first career complete-game shutout as the Round Rock Express blanked the Portland Beavers 3-0 in Tuesday night's series opener at PGE Park. The Express (51-73) snapped a three-game skid and have won six straight against the Beavers (48-76), dating back to the 2008 series finale.

Banks scattered six hits and a walk with one strikeout for his first complete-game of the season. It was Round Rock's fourth shutout of the season and first on the road since June 10 when Banks and Roy Corcoran combined on a three-hit shutout at New Orleans. It also was Banks' first win since June 20 when the Express defeated Omaha 8-3 at The Dell Diamond.

Round Rock seized the lead in the top of the first with a run on three hits. Drew Locke doubled with two outs; after Chris Shelton walked, Oswaldo Navarro scored Locke with a single to right.

That 1-0 score remained until the top of the eighth when the Express tacked on a pair of insurance runs on three hits. Banks got things started with a one-out single, and J.B. Shuck followed with a single. Two batters later, Locke doubled to left-center, scoring Banks and Shuck.

Banks worked around a two-out Cedric Hunter in the bottom of the eighth and retired the side in order in the ninth. Hunter's eighth-inning single was Portland's lone hit in the game's final four innings.

Ramos (4-6) took the loss for Portland, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks with three strikeouts over 7.1 innings. Luis Perdomo allowed a hit and struck out one over an inning and two-thirds of scoreless relief.

The Beavers had their best scoring chances in the third and fourth innings. In the third, starting pitcher Cesar Ramos and Hunter delivered consecutive two-out singles. However, Banks got Sean Kazmir to groundout, ending the inning. In the fourth, Kyle Phillips drew a one-out walk, and Aaron Cunningham doubled to right-center. However, Shuck threw out Phillips at home on the play.

Those were the only innings in which Banks allowed more than one base-runner. He used only 91 pitches on the night, recording 65 strikes. It was the 173rd career minor league start for Banks, who left with one out in the ninth in the combined shutout June 10 at New Orleans.

Locke and Shuck combined for six of the Express' eight hits, each collecting three knocks. Locke, who had three doubles, moved into fifth place on Round Rock's single-season doubles list (34) and a seventh-place tie on the franchise's single-season extra-base hits chart (53). It was Locke's team-leading 21st multiple-RBI game, and he now is tied for seventh in Express Triple-A history with 70 RBI on the season.

Hunter had the lone multiple-hit game for Portland, going 2-for-4.

Round Rock and Portland continue their four-game series Wednesday with a 9:05 p.m. CDT first pitch at PGE Park. Right-hander Yorman Bazardo (3-4, 4.10 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Express, while right-hander Radhames Liz (7-7, 4.87 ERA) goes for the Beavers.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 17, 2010


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