PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express Drop Opener to Oklahoma City 4-3

Published on August 21, 2010 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK, Texas - Hernan Iribarren's two-run homer in the top of the ninth gave the Oklahoma City RedHawks a 4-3 victory over the Round Rock Express in Saturday night's series opener at The Dell Diamond. The Express (54-74) snapped a four-game winning streak and suffered their sixth consecutive loss against Oklahoma City. The RedHawks (67-59) lead the season series 11-2.

Round Rock carried a 3-2 lead into the ninth inning. Casey Daigle started Max Ramirez off 0-2 but eventually walked the Oklahoma City catcher. Iribarren then drilled a 2-2 Daigle offering over the RedHawks bullpen beyond the right-center wall.

That made a winner of Zach Phillips (3-1), who struck out one in a perfect eighth inning. Pedro Strop worked around a two-out walk and struck out two in the bottom of the ninth for his 11th save. Starter Omar Beltre worked 7.0 innings and surrendered three runs on four hits and three walks with eight strikeouts.

Daigle (2-3) suffered his sixth blown save in 14 opportunities. The ninth-inning also spoiled starter Jordan Lyles' bid for his first Triple-A victory. The 19-year-old Lyles allowed two runs on five hits and a walk over 6.0 innings. It was only the second time in his career that Lyles did not record a strikeout; the other time was Aug. 12, 2008, in 1.0 inning of relief for rookie-league Greeneville.

Oswaldo Navarro's solo homer in the bottom of the first provided the game's first run. Oklahoma City tied the game in the third on a Willy Taveras RBI groundout. Drew Locke led off the bottom of the fourth with a walk, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on Christ Shelton's RBI groundout.

Oklahoma City once again tied the game in the top of the fifth when James Tomlin drew a two-out walk, and Esteban German followed with an RBI double. The Express recaptured the lead in the bottom of the inning. Collin DeLome led off with a triple and scored on J.B. Shuck's two-out single.

The Express managed only four hits on the night; Locke also walked twice. Ramirez was 2-for-3 with a walk for the RedHawks, while Alex Cora was 2-for-4.

Round Rock and Oklahoma City continue their four-game series Sunday with a 6:05 p.m. CDT first pitch at The Dell Diamond. Right-hander Josh Banks (9-8, 3.62 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Express, while right-hander Doug Mathis (4-4, 5.63 ERA) is slated for the RedHawks.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 21, 2010


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