PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express Fail to Close Against Colorado Springs

Published on May 22, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK, Texas - Nine consecutive batters reached safely with two outs as the Colorado Springs Sky Sox scored eight ninth-inning runs to rally past the Round Rock Express 15-10 in Sunday's Pacific Coast League series finale at The Dell Diamond. The Express (26-17) suffered their seventh loss this season in the opponent's final at bat, six of which have come in the last 11 games. The Sky Sox (18-26) salvaged a series split with the win.

Round Rock led 10-7 entering the ninth inning. Reliever Beau Jones retired the inning's first two batters before Chris Nelson doubled. Justin Miller then entered the game and walked Josh Fields before surrendering a three-run, game-tying home run to Eliezer Afonzo. After two more walks, Jordan Pacheco scored from second on an up-the-middle infield single. Matt Pagnozzi walked to reload the bases, and Eric Young Jr. delivered a three-run triple. Charlie Blackmon capped the frame with an RBI single.

That made a winner of Jim Miller (3-1), who allowed a run on two hits and two walks with one strikeout over the game's final 2.0 innings. Starter Billy Buckner surrendered four runs on four hits and a walk with no strikeouts over 4.1 innings.

Justin Miller (1-2) took the loss for the Express as all four batters he faced scored. Starter Zach Jackson allowed six runs on 10 hits and no walks with four strikeouts over 6.0 innings. He left the game leading 9-6.

Kevin Cash's three-run homer in the fifth gave Round Rock a 4-2 lead. Colorado Springs answered with four runs on five hits in the sixth, but the Express responded with five runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. With runners at second and third and two outs, Colorado Springs chose to intentionally walk Nelson Cruz, who opened the inning with a homer.

Colorado Springs got a run back in the top of the seventh, cutting the Express lead to 9-7. Esteban German led off the eighth with a single and moved to second on Matt Kata's ground-out. The Sky Sox then intentionally walked Josh Hamilton before Cruz drew a full-count walk to load the bases. Chad Tracy legged out an RBI fielder's choice, pushing the Express lead to 10-7.

Kata was 3-for-5 with an RBI, while German and Joey Butler each had two hits, an RBI and a run scored. Cash tallied three RBI and scored twice.

Fields was 4-for-4 with four runs scored for the Sky Sox. Young, Alfonzo and Pacheco each had three RBI. Blackmon, Nelson, Pacheco, Matt Macri and Willy Taveras all had two-hit games.

Round Rock continues a 12-game home stand Monday, opening a four-game series against the Reno Aces (Arizona Diamondbacks). Right-hander Derek Hankins (5-1, 5.95 ERA) is slated to start for the Express. Southpaw and Waco, Texas, native Zach Duke (0-0, 0.00 ERA) is scheduled to make a rehab start for the Aces.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 22, 2011


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