PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express Fall to Omaha 7-2

Published on April 19, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK, Texas - Three Omaha batters homered, and starter Mike Montgomery worked seven strong innings as the Storm Chasers defeated the Round Rock Express 7-2 in Thursday night's Pacific Coast League action at The Dell Diamond. The Storm Chasers (11-4) have won six of seven this season against the Express (5-10), who have lost nine of their last 11 against Omaha dating back to the 2011 PCL American Conference Championship series.

Montgomery (1-0) limited the Express to two runs - one earned - on four hits and a pair of walks; he struck out seven, a season high. He retired 12 straight after Matt Kata's two-out walk loaded the bases in the bottom of the first, including a strikeout of Joey Butler to end the first. Montgomery did not allow an extra-base hit until Butler's one-out double in the seventh. Sean O'Sullivan worked two scoreless innings to close the game.

Meanwhile, Omaha batters provided Montgomery plenty of run support. After a Leonys Martin fielding error in left provided the Storm Chasers a pair of unearned runs in the top of the first, the Express scrapped for an unearned run in the bottom of the inning on Mike Bianucci's RBI single. Tony Abreu pushed Omaha's lead to 5-1 with a one-out, three-run homer in the third. Storm Chasers Terry Evans and Cody Clark both clubbed solo homers in the fourth, and Round Rock's Yangervis Solarte plated Butler with a single in the seventh to cap the scoring.

Express starter Zach Jackson (0-2) took the loss; he allowed seven runs - five earned - on six hits and four walks over four and two-thirds innings with a season-high seven strikeouts. Mark Hamburger, who was Round Rock's opening-day starter, worked two and two-thirds scoreless innings in his first relief outing of the season; he worked around three singles and a walk with three strikeouts. Hamburger's return to the bullpen was announced prior to the game.

Abreu and Clark both had three-hit games, while Johnny Giavotella was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Clark was the only Omaha batter who did not strikeout as Express pitchers notched 11 whiffs on the night.

The Express did not have a multiple-hit game for the second consecutive game; although, Julio Borbon and Matt Kata both singled and walked. Butler extended his hitting streak to 10 games; he has hit safely in 11 straight and 25 of his last 26 games at The Dell Diamond dating back to last season.

Round Rock and Omaha conclude their four-game series Friday with a 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch at The Dell Diamond. Left-hander Michael Kirkman (0-0, 11.12 ERA) is expected to start for the Express, while lefty Will Smith (0-0, 4.97 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Storm Chasers.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 19, 2012


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