PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express Fall to I-Cubs, 3-2

April 11, 2013 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK, Texas - After a solid start by Express right-hander Ross Wolf, Round Rock's bullpen surrendered three runs in the top of the fifth that proved the deciding factor.

The Express started the scoring in the second inning after second baseman Yangervis Solarte walked to begin the frame, followed by a single into the left-center gap by designated hitter Joey Butler. Butler's single put runners on the corners with no outs. After third baseman Mike Olt went down on strikes, first baseman Chris McGuiness grounded out to second base, plating Solarte for the early 1-0 lead.

With Butler on second and two outs, catcher Eli Whiteside lined the ninth pitch of his extended at-bat into centerfield to score Butler for the second E-Train run.

The I-Cubs threatened in the third, putting runners on first and second with two outs, but Wolf forced first baseman Brad Nelson to ground out to second, closing the inning.

Wolf cruised through 4.0 innings, allowing just two hits in the first Triple-A start of his 12-year professional career. Left-hander Neal Cotts took the ball to begin the fifth and was greeted with a solo home run by Iowa catcher Luis Flores to cut the Round Rock lead in half.

Cubs third baseman Edwin Maysonet followed the long ball with a single and advanced into scoring position when second baseman Logan Watkins worked a walk. Cotts then loaded the bases after issuing another walk to right fielder Brett Jackson. Round Rock relinquished the lead on a Donnie Murphy sacrifice fly to deep center field that tied the game at two runs apiece.

With runners on first and third and one out, Cotts struck out Nelson for the second out. Manager Bobby Jones called on veteran reliever Yoshinori Tateyama out of the bullpen to face designated hitter Darnell McDonald. McDonald chopped a 1-1 pitch to third that Olt was unable to handle cleanly, allowing the Cubs to score the go-ahead run.

The E-Train mounted a rally in the bottom of the eighth when Whiteside's second knock of the night was followed by a single off the bat of center fielder Engel Beltre into shallow center. Runners on first and second, shortstop Jurickson Profar's sharp ground ball was snared by a diving Watkins who wheeled and fired to second to retire Beltre on a fielder's choice. With runners on the corners, right fielder Jim Adduci worked the count full after starting down 0-2 and walked on the next pitch to load the bases.

Clean-up hitter Aaron Cunningham stepped to the plate to face right-hander Blake Parker fresh out of the Iowa bullpen. The left fielder was unable to take advantage of the RBI opportunity, coming up empty on a 2-2 offering from Parker and cutting short Round Rock's comeback.

Parker earned the save with a scoreless ninth, the 60th of his minor league career and 35th as an Iowa Cub, a franchise record. I-Cubs starter Drew Carpenter improved to 1-1 with the win while Cotts suffered his first loss (0-1).

The Express will go for the series win tomorrow night when southpaw Brad Mills (1-0, 1.50 ERA) toes the rubber to face Iowa's Brooks Raley (0-1, 9.00 ERA) at 7:05 p.m. The Original Thirsty Thursday also returns to Dell Diamond tomorrow night which will feature discounted draft beers and $1.00 sodas. For tickets and more information, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook and Twitter!

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 11, 2013


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