PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express Blanked by Tucson 2-0

Published on August 2, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK, Texas - For the fourth time in his eight Triple-A starts, Round Rock Express left-hander Chad Bell was beleaguered by poor run support. The result was a 2-0 victory for the Tucson Padres in Thursday night's Pacific Coast League action at The Dell Diamond. The Express (50-63) were blanked for the seventh time this season - all at home - and the third time in a game started by Bell. The Padres (43-69) halted a three-game skid and evened the series at one game apiece.

Bell (3-4) worked seven and one-third innings, his longest outing of the season regardless of level. He scattered five hits and four walks with eight strikeouts, matching his season high from a May 31 game at Tulsa with Double-A Frisco. The Express scored a total of two runs in his four losses.

However, two of the five hits Bell allowed proved to be the game's difference. After falling behind 0-2, Daniel Robertson led off the game with a homer into the home run porch beyond the left-field wall; it was his second homer in 99 games with Tucson. Jesus Merchan led off the seventh with a homer on an 0-1 Bell offering; it was his second homer in 22 games with the Padres.

Meanwhile, Tucson starter Andrew Werner (1-0) kept the Express in check all night, tossing the first complete game and first shutout of his two-year professional career. He recorded two complete games and one shutout in independent ball during the 2010 season. Werner, in his second career Triple-A outing after 18 starts at Double-A San Antonio, scattered five hits, including two bunt singles, with six strikeouts and no walks.

The closest Round Rock got to scoring was with two outs in the seventh. Ryan Spilborghs tripled off the base of the centerfield wall but was thrown out trying to stretch it into an inside-the-park homer.

Julio Borbon had Round Rock's lone multiple-hit game with a bunt single in the fourth and a two-out single in the ninth. He is 21-for-49 with eight multiple-hit efforts over his last 11 games. Leonys Martin had a bunt single in four at bats to push his hitting streak nine games. Brad Nelson (1-for-4) had Round Rock's other hit, a leadoff single in the second.

Merchan was 2-for-2, while Robertson, Andy Parrino and Jedd Gyorko each had one hit.

Round Rock and Tucson continue their four-game series Friday with a 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch at The Dell Diamond. Right-hander Justin Grimm (1-0, 2.57 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Express against Padres right-hander Jorge Reyes (0-4, 6.75 ERA).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 2, 2012


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