Round Rock Express Fall to Iowa 4-1
Published on June 20, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
ROUND ROCK, Texas - Blake Lalli's two-run single keyed a three-run seventh inning as the Iowa Cubs defeated the Round Rock Express 4-1 in Wednesday night's Pacific Coast League action at The Dell Diamond. The Express (32-41) lost for only the fifth time when holding the opponent to fewer than five runs. The Cubs (31-42) snapped a seven-game road losing streak.
With the game tied 1-1, Iowa loaded the bases on two walks and a hit batter ahead of Lalli's two-out, game-winning hit. Matt Tolbert followed with an RBI single, capping the scoring.
Cubs starter Brooks Raley (3-2) was masterful, allowing only an unearned run on two hits and a walk over seven innings with seven strikeouts. Michael Bowden worked around a leadoff single for a scoreless eighth with one strikeout. Rafael Dolis also worked around a leadoff single in the ninth and recorded two strikeouts for his second save.
Express starter Neil Ramirez (6-8) was collared with the tough-luck loss in arguably his best start since early May. He allowed three runs - two of which scored after he left the game - on two hits and two walks with eight strikeouts over six and two-thirds innings. Ramirez surrendered fewer than six runs for only the fourth time in his last 11 starts and logged a season high in strikeouts - his most since logging nine strikeouts June 5, 2011.
Willie Eyre, who rejoined the Rangers organization earlier in the week, yielded both run-scoring hits in the seventh. He allowed one run on two hits and three walks with two strikeouts over one and one-third innings in his first outing with the Express. Yoshinori Tateyama worked a perfect ninth in his first appearance since returning to the Express from the Rangers earlier in the week.
Ramirez retired the first six batters he faced with four strikeouts before Ty Wright's leadoff homer in the third. Round Rock tied the game in the fifth when Joey Butler led off with a double, moved to third on an errant pickoff attempt and scored on Dusty Brown's sacrifice fly.
Butler was 2-for-4, producing his first multiple-hit game since a two-hit night June 9 at Omaha. Ryan Spilborghs and Yangervis Solarte also had singles for the Express, who punched out 10 times on the night.
Lalli had Iowa's lone multiple-hit game, going 2-for-4.
Round Rock and Iowa continue their four-game series Thursday with a 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch at The Dell Diamond. Left-hander Martin Perez (4-5, 4.90 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Express opposite Cubs right-hander Frankie De La Cruz (1-1, 2.58 ERA).
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