PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express Game Notes

Published on June 11, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


TONIGHT'S GAMES

Round Rock continues a four-game series at Iowa with the resumption of the suspended series opener at 5:05 p.m. CDT, followed by the series' regularly scheduled third game at 7:05 p.m. at Principal Park in Des Moines, Iowa. The Express lead the suspended game 8-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning. That game will be played to its conclusion with tonight's regularly scheduled game a seven-inning affair. Round Rock is 17-11 on the road, while Iowa is 14-18 at home.

RADIO BROADCAST INFORMATION

The resumption of Thursday's series opener will be broadcast online only at www.espnaustin.com. At 6:50 p.m. CDT, 104.9 FM The Horn ESPN Radio Austin will pick up live coverage. Express Director of Broadcasting Mike Capps provides play-by-play.

EXPRESS-CUBS SERIES

This is the fourth and final series between Round Rock and Iowa; the Express lead the series 7-6 after winning 7-6 in 10 innings last night. The Cubs won three of four at The Dell Diamond in the season's first series, while the Express took three of four at Des Moines in early May. The teams then split a four-game series at The Dell Diamond two weekends ago. Nine of the 13 meetings were decided by three or fewer runs; however, only two games have been one-run contests with the Express winning both.

STARTING PITCHERS

EXPRESS: RHP Neil Ramirez (4-1, 3.44 ERA)

Last Outing: Earned victory in June 5 start against Albuquerque, an 8-2 Express win ... First win since May 5 (five no-decisions) ... Held Isotopes to two runs on four hits - one home run - over 6.0 innings with no walks ... Matched season high with nine strikeouts ... Allowed a single and double consecutively to open game, a one-out double and two-out hit batsman in the second and a fourth-inning leadoff homer ... Retired 13 of last 14 faced, including each of last nine ... Struck out the side following leadoff homer in the fourth ... Had at least one strikeout in each inning save the fifth, returning with two strikeouts in the sixth.

2011: Makes 12th start with Round Rock today ... Started year at Class A-Advanced Myrtle Beach ... Started one game for Pelicans, tossing 4.2 scoreless innings on one hit and one walk with nine strikeouts ... Joined Express on a spot start April 13 but remained with team after working 6.0 scoreless innings on three hits and no walks with three strikeouts for the win against Omaha ... Express are 8-3 in his starts, best on staff ... Averages 6.09 runs of support per start ... Surrendered four earned runs over 13.0 innings in last three starts (2.77 ERA) ... Posted wins April 13 vs. Omaha, April 19 at Oklahoma City, May 5 at Iowa and June 5 vs. Albuquerque ... Lone loss was April 24 vs. Oklahoma City ... Allowed three or fewer earned runs in 10 of 11 starts, surrendering five May 10 at Tucson ... Five of six runs allowed at Tucson were in the fourth inning, more than allowed in any other outing ... Surrendered fewer than three earned runs eight times ... Held opponent to six or fewer hits in 10 of 11 starts, four or fewer hits eight times ... Fourth in PCL in ERA (3.44), eighth in strikeouts (58), second in opponents' batting average (.224) and third in WHIP (1.22) ... Seventh in PCL with 3.50 ERA and fourth in opponents' batting average (.229) ... Among league starters, ranks second in strikeouts per nine innings (9.97) and fourth in fewest base runners per nine innings (11.69) ... Issued 21 walks and hit four batters over 52.1 innings ... 2-0 with a 3.25 ERA (10 ER / 27.2 IP) and a .218 opponents' batting average in six road starts.

2011 vs. IOWA: Earned victory May 5 in lone start against Cubs, a 9-2 Express win at Principal Park ... Worked 5.1 innings and allowed two runs on four hits and two walks with five strikeouts.

2010: Spent entire season with Hickory Crawdads (A) ... 10-8 with a 4.43 ERA in 28 games, 26 starts ... Tossed one complete game ... 142 strikeouts, 37 walks over 140.1 innings.

Notable: Rangers first-round pick (44th overall) in 2007 out of Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach, Va. ... School also produced former professional baseball player and NFL running back D.J. Dozier, and former NBA player J.R. Reid ... One of five Rangers first-round picks in 2007.

CUBS: RHP Marco Carrillo (0-1, 9.82 ERA)

Last Outing: Allowed one run on two hits and a walk with one hit batsman over 2.2 relief innings May 6 vs. Omaha ... Did not factor in the decision.

2011: Makes fifth appearance, first start with Iowa tonight ... Allowed 10 runs - eight earned - on 14 hits over 7.1 innings ... Two home runs surrendered with three walks and five strikeouts ... Opponents hitting .400 ... Began season with Double-A Tennessee Smokies of the Southern League ... Made 16 relief appearances and one start for Tennessee, going 4-0 with three saves and a 1.21 ERA ... Allowed seven runs - four earned - over 29.2 innings with 16 walks and 23 strikeouts ... Opponents hit .146 (15-for-103) with no home runs.

2011 vs. Round Rock: Pitched in relief May 29 at The Dell Diamond in first Triple-A outing of the season ... Allowed one run on one hit and a walk with three strikeouts over 2.0 innings ... Also issued two wild pitches ... Did not factor in decision of 9-8 Express victory.

2010: Split most of season between Daytona (A-Advanced) and Tennessee (AA) ... Made 17 relief appearances at Daytona, going 2-0 with a 1.67 ERA and a .195 opponents' batting average ... Posted a 5-0 record with a 4.47 ERA in 23 relief outings and one start with Tennessee ... Recorded 44 strikeouts over 46.1 innings with 18 walks and a .286 opponents' batting average ... Spent nine days with Iowa in July ... Appeared in four games with Iowa - all relief ... 0-1 with a 2.45 ERA and a .222 opponents' batting average, tallying five walks with one walk and two home runs allowed over 7.1 innings.

Notable: Born in Culiacan, Mexico ... Signed by Chicago Cubs as a non-drafted free agent prior to 2006 season ... Career 35-17 record in the minor leagues with a 3.58 ERA in 171 outings ... 41 of 47 career starts took place during 2007 and 2008 seasons.

LAST GAME

Kevin Cash delivered a two-out, two-run double in the top of the 10th, and the Express withstood a Cubs rally in the bottom of the inning for a 7-6 victory. Pedro Strop earned the victory in relief with two scoreless innings. Cody Eppley worked around one unearned run for his staff-leading fifth save. Starter Seth McClung allowed three runs on five hits and a walk with three strikeouts over 6.0 innings and left in line for the win. However, the Cubs tied the game 5-5 with a two-run seventh. Brian Barden was 4-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored in his first official game back from an 18-game stay on the disabled list. Omar Quintanilla was 2-for-5 with a homer, while Cash and Chad Tracy each had two hits. Brad Nelson plated two runs.

ISN'T THIS WHERE WE...

...came in? Round Rock and Iowa resume play in Thursday's suspended game this afternoon prior to tonight's regularly scheduled game. The suspended game will be completed in full, followed by a seven-inning contest. The Express lead 8-1 with two outs in the bottom of the fourth. The Cubs have a runner at second base with Marquez Smith at the plate. Chad Tracy's first-inning, three-run homer opened the scoring, and the Express plated three more runs in the third on Brian Barden's sacrifice fly and a Doug Deeds two-run triple. Brad Nelson's two-run double pushed the Express lead to 8-0 in the top of the fourth. Iowa got on the board in the fourth on Wellington Castillo's RBI double before the game entered a rain delay. Tommy Hunter worked three scoreless innings in a rehab start; he walked one and struck out two.

EXPRESS RECLAIM SHARE OF DIVISION LEAD

While Round Rock's series opener at Iowa was suspended Thursday night, Albuquerque suffered a 14-1 loss at Nashville. That left the teams tied for the PCL American Southern Division lead. The Isotopes led the division for one day of action, claiming it by taking three of four at The Dell Diamond earlier this week followed by an off-day. Both teams won last night and stand 34-26 (.567) on the season. Prior to Albuquerque's 6-3 victory in Tuesday's series finale at Round Rock, the Express led the division each day since April 18 and held the outright lead since May 2. New Orleans (32-30, .516) is three games back, while Oklahoma City (25-36) trails by nine-and-a-half games.

BUTLER'S STREAK AT 11 GAMES... ER... UH... 10 GAMES...

Joey Butler enters tonight's regularly scheduled game with a 11-game hitting streak, despite the fact that the streak is only 10 games officially. He doubled in his first at bat of Thursday's suspended game, pushing the streak to 11 games; however, that is not official until the game is completed. Butler did not have an at bat in last night's game, entering the game as a pinch runner in the ninth; he remained in the game to patrol center field but did not have a plate appearance.

AND THE HITS JUST KEEP ON COMING

Once Thursday's suspended game is completed, Joey Butler will have an 11-game hitting streak. Furthermore, he will have hit safely in 18 of his last 19 games, 28 of 30 games and all but four of 35 games with the Express. His 11-game hitting streak is Round Rock's longest this season and his second of at least 10 games. Butler entered Thursday's game hitting .389 (14-for-36) during the streak and was 1-for-2 before the game was suspended. He has 11 multiple-hit games on the season, all of which were two-hit outings.

WELCOME BACK, MR. BARDEN

Brian Barden was activated from the disabled list prior to the Iowa series. He was placed on the disabled list May 24 after sustaining a right-ankle injury in the May 21 game. Barden, who leads the Express with a .372 average, picked up right where he was before the injury, going 4-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in his first full game last night. He was 0-for-1 with a sacrifice fly in Thursday's suspended game. Barden is second on the team with 17 multiple-hit games. The Express were 8-10 in his absence.

DAVIS FEASTS ON CUBS PITCHING

Chris Davis has been a thorn in Iowa's side this season. In eight games against the Cubs, Davis is hitting .455 (15-for-33) with seven home runs, 18 RBI and two doubles. He owns a .459 on base percentage and a 1.152 slugging percentage against Iowa. Davis became the fourth player in Express history to hit three home runs in a game April 9 in Round Rock's 13-9 victory over the Cubs. However, Davis' success has not translated to Express success; Round Rock is 3-5 against Iowa with Davis.

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

Round Rock is hitting .239 (21-for-88) with runners in scoring position over the last nine games. The Express were 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position Tuesday against Albuquerque, stranding 16 runners and leaving the bases loaded three times. It was Round Rock's first times with the bases loaded since May 30 against Iowa, a seven-game drought. The Express were hitting .314 (153-for-488) with runners in scoring position prior to the last nine games.

ROAD WARRIORS

Round Rock (17-11) is one of five PCL teams above .500 on the road this season. The others are Sacramento (19-9), Reno (19-15), Las Vegas (17-13) and Omaha (16-15). The Express hit better (.293) and average more homers (1.56 per game) at home than on the road (.283, 0.79). However, the staff ERA is much better on the road (4.66) than at home (5.39). Opponents hit .302 against Express pitching at The Dell Diamond and .256 in their own parks.

BIG-INNING THEORY

Round Rock is 10-3 this season when scoring at least four runs in an inning and 24-23 when failing to do such. However, the difference in record is even more pronounced based upon what the opponent does. The Express are 33-15 when not allowing an inning of at least four runs but 1-11 when the opponent posts such an inning. The lone victory was May 11 at Tucson when the Padres scored four first-inning runs and the Express rallied for a 7-5 victory.

COMEBACK KIDS

Round Rock has 18 comeback win this season (trailing at any point in the game). The Express have won seven times when trailing after five innings, four times when trailing after six innings, four times when trailing after seven innings and twice when trailing entering the ninth inning.

CLOSE CALLS

Round Rock is 12-5 in one-run games; that .706 winning percentage is second in the league behind Albuquerque (16-5, .762). The Express started the season 7-1 in such games and then lost four straight before winning each of their last five one-run affairs. Round Rock is 19-13 in games decided by two runs or fewer.

EXPRESS RESPONDERS

Round Rock's opponent has scored first in 35 of 60 games this season. In 14 of those cases, the Express responded with at least one run in their next at bat, tying the game twice and claiming the lead six times. However, quickly responding has not guaranteed success. Round Rock is 15-20 when the opponent scores first and 6-9 when immediately answering with at least one run, meaning the Express are 9-9 when not immediately responding to the opponent's first score of the game. Round Rock is 3-3 when allowing the opponent to score first and then immediately claiming the lead, 2-2 when immediately tying the game, and 1-4 when responding but still trailing.

FIVE IS THE KEY

Round Rock is 29-10 this season when scoring at least five runs. Only five 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), April 22 at Oklahoma City (2-1) and May 27 vs. Iowa (3-1). Round Rock has lost 14 of its last 15 when scoring fewer than five runs. Meanwhile, Round Rock is 21-5 when allowing fewer than five runs and 13-21 when allowing at least five runs.

EXPRESS AMONG TOP PCL TEAMS

Round Rock is tied with Albuquerque (34-26, .567) for the PCL's third-best record. Sacramento (39-23, .629) leads the league, followed by Reno (36-26, .581). Omaha (34-27, .557), Las Vegas (34-28, .548) and New Orleans (32-30, .516) are the only other teams in the league above .500. The Express are 11-9 against teams currently above .500 and 23-17 against the rest of the league.

STRONG START CONTINUES

The Express own the second-best 60-game start in the franchise's Triple-A history (since 2005). The 2006 squad was 35-25 and improved to 57-33 by the All-Star Game break en route to a division title. No other Round Rock Triple-A team was above .500 through 60 games.

EXPRESS LEAD PCL IN ATTENDANCE

Round Rock leads the PCL in attendance, averaging 8,327 fans per game. Sacramento is second with a 7,169 per-game average, while Albuquerque (7,110) is third. The Express have finished second or third in the PCL each season since joining the league in 2005.

Check out the Round Rock Express Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Pacific Coast League Stories from June 11, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central