PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express Edge Isotopes 3-2

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


ROUND ROCK, Texas - Roy Oswalt worked two scoreless innings in his first mound appearance this season, and Mike Bianucci blasted his 11th home run as the Round Rock Express edged the Albuquerque Isotopes 3-2 in Saturday night's Pacific Coast League series opener at The Dell Diamond. The Express (26-31) have won three straight for the first time since May 6-8 and have won five of their last seven. The Isotopes (31-26) have lost three straight.

Oswalt surrendered a bloop single on a 1-2 pitch, a five-pitch walk and a 1-2 infield single to open the game. He escaped unscathed, though, with a three-pitch strikeout and a first-pitch ground-ball double play. Oswalt worked around a leadoff single for a scoreless second before exiting the game. He used 34 pitches - 17 in each inning - with 21 strikes. It was Oswalt's first mound appearance at any level this season after signing a minor league contract May 29 with the Texas Rangers.

Joey Butler doubled with two outs in the bottom of the second, and Val Majewski followed with an RBI single. Former Express member Luis Cruz tied the game in the top of the third with a two-out RBI single. Round Rock captured the lead for good in the fourth. Butler walked with one out and scored on Mike Bianucci's two-out homer. It was his 11th round-tripper, tying Butler for the team lead.

Brian Cavazos-Galvez led off the seventh with a homer, his third of the season, but the Isotopes did not manage another base runner.

Michael Kirkman (5-1) followed Oswalt and earned the win, allowing two runs on five hits over five innings with two walks and three strikeouts. Kirkman is 5-0 with a 3.50 ERA (14 ER/36.0 IP) in seven starts since May 1. Aaron Heilman retired all six batters he faced with three strikeouts for his first save.

Albuquerque starter and former Express member Fernando Nieve (2-3) took the loss; he allowed three runs on nine hits over six innings with one walk and six strikeouts. Derrick Loop issued only a walk over two scoreless innings of relief.

Matt Kata was 2-for-4, extending his hitting streak to nine games. Majewski was 2-for-3, and Butler scored twice. Brad Nelson was 0-for-4, snapping his eight-game hitting streak.

Cruz, Josh Fields and Cavazos-Galvez all had two-hit games for the Isotopes.

Round Rock and Albuquerque continue their four-game series Sunday with a 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch at The Dell Diamond. The Express send right-hander Neil Ramirez (5-5, 7.57 ERA) to the mound, while right-hander Will Savage (7-2, 4.45 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Isotopes.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 2, 2012


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