PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express Blank Salt Lake 2-0

Published on August 5, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK, Texas - Martin Perez struck out eight over 6.2 innings, and Craig Gentry homered in his first rehab game with Round Rock as the Express blanked Salt Lake 2-0 in Friday night's Pacific Coast League action at The Dell Diamond. The Express (67-47) posted their first shutout since May 2 and lead the series two games to one over the Bees (52-62).

Perez (3-2) lost each of his first two starts at The Dell Diamond after being promoted from Double-A Frisco at the All-Star break, allowing 11 earned runs over 8.1 innings (11.88 ERA). However, he was nearly unhittable Friday night. He struck out two batters in the first, second, third and fifth innings. Perez retired 10 of the first 11 batters he faced, allowing only a one-out walk in the second.

Salt Lake did not manage a hit until Hank Conger's one-out single in the fourth. Reggie Willits led off the sixth with a double but was stranded at third.

The Bees' best scoring chance came in the seventh; Paul McAnulty and Efren Navarro opened the inning with consecutive singles, putting runners on the corners with no outs. However, McAnulty was caught in a pickle between third and home when he tried to score on Jeremy Moore's grounder to Express first baseman Chad Tracy. Navarro was out at third on a Gil Velazquez fielder's choice. Michael Kirkman then relieved Perez and struck out pinch hitter Freddy Sandoval.

Round Rock added an insurance run in the seventh. Val Majewski singled, stole second, moved to third on Nick Green's sacrifice bunt and scored on Matt Kata's sacrifice fly.

Kirkman struck out three in 1.1 innings, allowing only a one-out single in the eighth. Pedro Strop worked around a leadoff single in the ninth with one strikeout for his ninth save.

It was Round Rock's third shutout of the season and first at The Dell Diamond since a 2-0 win April 13 against Omaha.

Salt Lake starter Eric Junge (6-9) was saddled with the tough-luck loss. He allowed three hits and three walks with one strikeout in a complete-game loss.

Round Rock and Salt Lake conclude their four-game series Saturday with a 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch at The Dell Diamond. Left-hander Zach Jackson (9-4, 5.86 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Express opposite Bees right-hander Bear Bay (7-7, 4.73 ERA).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 5, 2011


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