PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express Drop Finale at Nashville 4-3

Published on July 19, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Taylor Green homered on the second pitch of the bottom of the ninth, giving the Nashville Sounds a 4-3 victory over the Round Rock Express in Thursday night's Pacific Coast League series finale at Herschel Greer Stadium. The Express (41-57) and Sounds (43-55) split the four-game series. Nashville leads the season series 6-5.

Taylor's homer was his second of the season and first since April 7 at New Orleans in the season's third game. It also was the first run Nashville scored against Express relievers in the series, ending a 12-and-two-thirds-innings scoreless streak for the Round Rock bullpen.

That made a winner of Sounds reliever Jim Henderson (4-3), who wiggled out of a jam in the top of the ninth. Luis Hernandez walked with one out, stole second and moved to third on an errant throw to second. After Elio Sarmiento struck out, Julio Borbon walked to put runners on the corners. However, Greg Miclat struck out, stranding the go-ahead run at third.

Joe Ortiz (0-1) pitched a perfect eighth with one strikeout but surrendered Taylor's homer and took the loss. It was the fourth solo homer allowed by Ortiz in 11 outings with the Express; those are the only runs he has allowed in 13 and two-thirds innings with Round Rock.

Round Rock built a 2-0 lead thanks to solo spots in the fourth and sixth innings, but the Express missed a golden opportunity for more. Successive singles from Miclat, Matt Kata and Brad Nelson opened the fourth and plated one run. Ryan Spilborghs followed with another single to load the bases; however, Yangervis Solarte popped out and Guilder Rodriguez bounced into an inning-ending double play. Spilborghs delivered a sacrifice fly in the sixth.

Nashville rallied for a three-spot in the bottom of the sixth. Logan Schafer tied the game with a two-run double, and Sean Halton added a sacrifice fly. Round Rock tied the game in the eighth on Spilborghs' two-out RBI single. That snapped an 0-for-21 slump for Spilborghs with runners in scoring position and two outs. However, the Express squandered a chance for more as Solarte followed with an inning-ending pop out.

Express starter Justin Grimm allowed three runs on five hits over five and one-third innings with five strikeouts and no walks in his second Triple-A start. Nashville starter Claudio Vargas surrendered a run on five hits and no walks with one strikeout over five innings.

Spilborghs (2-for-3) and Nelson (2-for-3) both enjoyed multiple-hit games for the Express. Spilborghs enjoyed his first multiple-hit outing since the All-Star break and just his third multiple-RBI effort since May 25.

Former Express member Edwin Maysonet (2-for-3) had the lone multiple-hit outing for Nashville.

Round Rock returns home Friday, opening a four-game series against the Omaha Storm Chasers. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT at The Dell Diamond. Texas Rangers right-hander Neftali Feliz is scheduled to make a three-inning rehab start for the Express. Right-hander Nate Adcock (4-3, 5.40 ERA) is slated to start for the Storm Chasers.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 19, 2012


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