PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express Game Notes

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


TODAY'S GAME

Round Rock hosts the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Colorado Rockies) for the finale of a four-game series at The Dell Diamond. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. CDT. The Express are 12-7 at The Dell Diamond, winning six of their last seven at home. The Sky Sox have lost six of seven overall and are 5-14 on the road this season.

PROMOTIONS

H-E-B Kids Day ... Express Wiffle Bats for kids age 12 and under, compliments of North Carolina Furniture Direct

RADIO BROADCAST INFORMATION

Today's game airs on 104.9 FM The Horn ESPN Radio Austin. Online audio also is available at www.espnaustin.com. Express Director of Broadcasting Mike Capps provides play-by-play alongside color analyst Jerry Grote.

EXPRESS-SKY SOX SERIES

Round Rock leads the series two games to one. The Express won Thursday's opener 8-3, but the Sky Sox rebounded for a 5-4 victory Friday night. Round Rock won last night 9-4.

STARTING PITCHERS

EXPRESS: LHP Zach Jackson (2-1, 5.77 ERA)

Last Outing: Suffered first loss of season in May 16 loss at Las Vegas, a 9-4 Express loss ... Allowed six runs on six hits, four walks and two hit batsmen with two strikeouts over 4.0 innings ... Left game trailing 6-1.

2011: Makes ninth start today ... Round Rock is 6-2 in his starts ... Worked at least into the sixth inning in each of season's first seven starts ... Last win was April 20 at Oklahoma City, a game in which he took a no-hitter into the eighth inning ... 27 strikeouts against 18 walks over 48.1 innings with .295 opponents' batting average ... Allowed at least one first-inning run in five of eight starts, including three-plus runs in each of last two ... 13.50 first-inning ERA (12 ER / 8.0 IP); 4.23 ERA (19 ER / 40.2 IP) after the first inning.

2010: Spent entire season with Triple-A Las Vegas in the Toronto Blue Jays organization ... 2-3 with a 5.64 ERA in 35 games, five starts; 49 strikeouts over 81.1 innings

Notable: Drafted by Chicago White Sox in 50th round of 2001 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of high school but did not sign ... LaTrobe, Pa., native began collegiate career at Louisville before transferring to Texas A&M ... Toronto Blue Jays first-round pick in 2004 after one season at Texas A&M ... MLB debut June 4, 2006, with Blue Jays vs. Washington Nationals ... Also spent time in Milwaukee Brewers and Cleveland Indians organizations ... Was part of the July 7, 2008, trade that sent C.C. Sabathia from Milwaukee from Cleveland ... Signed minor league contract with Rangers in January.

SKY SOX: RHP Billy Buckner (0-1, 8.06 ERA)

Last Outing: Took loss in May 1 start at Tucson, a 9-3 decision ... Allowed nine runs on nine hits and four walks with two strikeouts over 3.1 innings ... Placed on disabled list after start.

2011: Makes sixth start today ... Activated from disabled list for today's start ... Allowed six runs April 15 at Reno and nine runs May 1 at Tucson but three or fewer runs in each of other three starts ... 18 strikeouts with 13 walks over 22.1 innings and .355 opponents' batting average ... Lone home run allowed was April 15 at Reno.

2010: Started season with Reno Aces in the Arizona Diamondback organization ... Made seven starts at Reno, going 3-1 with a 3.53 ERA and 27 strikeouts over 43.1 innings ... Recalled to Arizona in mid-May ... Made three starts with Diamondbacks, going 0-3 with an 11.08 ERA and four home runs allowed in 13.0 innings ... Traded June 1 to Detroit Tigers for Dontrelle Willis ... Spent remainder of season with Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens ... Made eight starts at Toledo with one complete game, going 3-5 with a 9.40 ERA and a .359 opponents' batting average over 37.1 innings ... Released in late July after clearing waivers.

Notable: Born in Decatur, Ga. ... Prepped at Salem High School in Conyers, Ga. ... Pitched two seasons at Young Harris [Ga.] College ... Selected by Tampa Bay in ninth round of 2003 draft but did not sign ... Pitched one season at the University of South Carolina, helping Gamecocks to 2004 College World Series appearance ... Kansas City Royals second-round pick in 2004 (55th overall selection) ... MLB debut Aug. 24, 2007, with Royals ... Traded to Arizona Diamondbacks following 2007 season for Alberto Callaspo ... Signed by Rockies following 2010 season.

EXPRESS ARMS WHIFF SKY SOX

Five Round Rock pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts last night against Colorado Springs. That total was one shy of the club's Triple-A era (since 2005) record of 17 established Aug. 31, 2006. It marked the second time this season the Express have tallied 16 strikeouts in a game, also doing so April 19 at Oklahoma City. Saturday night, Express pitchers did not walk a batter and retired the last 11 they faced with eight strikeouts.

FIVE IS THE KEY

Round Rock is 22-6 this season when scoring at least five runs. Only four times have the Express won when scoring fewer than five runs: April 12 vs. Omaha (3-2, 13 innings), April 13 vs. Omaha (2-0), April 18 at New Orleans (3-1) and April 22 at Oklahoma City (2-1). Since then, the Express have lost eight consecutive games when scoring fewer than five runs. Meanwhile, Round Rock is 17-5 when allowing fewer than five runs and 9-11 when allowing at least five runs.

KIRKMAN BACK TO OLD FORM

Southpaw Michael Kirkman is 0-3 with a 5.60 ERA this season, one year removed from earning PCL Pitcher of the Year honors. However, those numbers do not tell the entire story. Eight days after taking a line drive off his left tricep, Kirkman suffered the roughest outing of his career when he allowed 10 runs on 10 hits over 3.1 innings against Iowa in the season opener. Since then, he owns a 3.38 ERA, allowing 12 earned runs over 32.0 innings. Kirkman has been especially strong of late, posting a 1.50 ERA (3 ER / 18.0 IP) over his last five outings. In three relief outings, Kirkman has allowed one unearned run over 6.0 innings with seven strikeouts and a .217 opponents' batting average.

RANSOM RETURNS TO ROUND ROCK FOR RENO SERIES

Former Express member Cody Ransom returns to The Dell Diamond when the Reno Aces visit Round Rock for a four-game series starting Monday. Ransom was a member of the 2006 and 2007 Express squads. He split time between third base and shortstop in 2006, hitting .247 with 21 home runs, 23 doubles and 62 RBI. Ransom was Round Rock's regular third baseman in 2007 when he hit .260 with 28 home runs, 35 doubles and 90 RBI. His 2007 home run total remains second on Round Rock's Triple-A era (since 2005) records chart as does his extra-base hits total (63) from that season. Ransom, who was a member of the Rangers Triple-A affiliate Oklahoma City in 2005, played 19 games with the Houston Astros in September 2007. He signed with the New York Yankees following the 2007 season and split each of the next two seasons between Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre and New York. Ransom played in the Philadelphia Phillies organization last season.

CLOSE GAMES NOT GOING ROUND ROCK'S WAY

The Express have lost four straight one-run games after opening the season 7-1 in such games. Round Rock is 13-10 in games decided by two runs or fewer.

LAST-MINUTE DECISIONS

Six of Round Rock's last 11 games were decided in a team's final at bat. Friday night's game was the eighth such time in the last 15 games. Five of those eight games ended in walk-off fashion with the opponent winning three times. One-third of Round Rock's games (14 of 42) have been decided in the winning team's final at bat. The Express are 8-6 in such cases.

ROUND ROCK AMONG TOP PCL TEAMS

Round Rock (26-16) owns the second-best record in the Pacific Coast League, one-half game behind Sacramento (27-16) and one-half game ahead of Reno (26-17). The next closest team in the overall league standings is Las Vegas (25-18). The Express lead the American Southern Division by two-and-a-games over Albuquerque (23-18) and New Orleans (24-19). Columbus (29-14) of the International League owns the best Triple-A record.

EXPRESS ENJOY STRONG START

The Express have posted the second-best 42-game start in the franchise's Triple-A history (since 2005). The 2006 squad started 27-15 and improved to 31-18 before a five-game losing streak. Only one other Round Rock Triple-A team was above .500 through 42 games; the 2005 team was 24-18.

HOME AT LAST

The Express continues a 12-game home stand today, the season's longest and penultimate multiple-series home stand. Round Rock played only 16 of the season's first 39 games at The Dell Diamond, playing 23 of 31 games on the road after a season-opening, eight-game home stand. The Express are 12-7 at home this season, winning six of their last seven at The Dell Diamond last night.

Check out the Round Rock Express Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 22, 2011


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