PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express Clip Memphis Redbirds 5-4

Published on July 10, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK, Texas - Pedro Strop struck out Andrew Brown with runners at second and third to preserve a 5-4 victory for the Round Rock Express over the Memphis Redbirds in Saturday night's Pacific Coast League action at The Dell Diamond. The Express (52-37) improved to 12-2 at home since June 18 and knotted the season series against the Redbirds (47-42) at three games apiece.

Round Rock trailed 3-2 entering the bottom of the sixth, but Joey Butler led off with his sixth home run of the season to tie the game. Brad Nelson drew a one-out walk, and Robinzon Diaz clubbed a two-out homer - his third of the season. That proved to be the game-winning hit.

Memphis made things interesting in the ninth, though. After the Redbirds got consecutive singles from Adron Chambers and Jim Rapoport to open the inning, Strop induced a comebacker double-play ball from Tyler Greene. However, the Redbirds did not go quietly even then. Nick Stavinoha followed with an RBI single; Aaron Luna reached on an infield single, and both runners advanced one base on the errant throw to first. But Strop got two quick strikes on Brown before striking him out on a 2-2 fastball.

That made a winner of starter Brett Tomko (5-3); he allowed three runs on eight hits over 6.0 innings with four strikeouts and no walks. Michael Kirkman worked a pair of scoreless innings on two hits with four strikeouts and a walk before giving way to Strop, who posted his sixth save and second in three nights.

Memphis starter Nick Additon (2-5) was saddled with the loss. He allowed four runs on five hits and two walks over 5.1 innings with five strikeouts. Additon left with the game tied 3-3 after walking Nelson, who was charged to Additon's line when he scored on the Diaz home run off reliever Jess Todd.

Stavinoha drilled a two-run homer off the Pepsi sign atop the Home Run Porch beyond the left-field wall in the top of the third; it was his 16th round-tripper of the season. Chad Tracy tied the game in the bottom of the fourth with his 19th homer - a two-run shot that hit nearly the exact same spot on the Pepsi sign as Stavinoha's. Memphis recaptured the lead in the top of the fifth on Greene's solo home run, his fifth of the season.

Memphis out-hit the Express 14-8 as five Redbirds produced multiple-hit games. Stavinoha and Bryan Anderson each had three hits, while Rapoport, Greene and Chambers all had two-hit nights.

Diaz, Nelson and Kevin Cash all had two-hit games for the Express, who have won 13 of their last 14 games when hitting at least one home run.

Round Rock and Memphis conclude the four-game series Sunday with a 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch at The Dell Diamond. Right-hander Scott Feldman (2-1, 4.29 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Express opposite Redbirds right-hander Brandon Dickson (4-7, 3.86).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 10, 2011


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