PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express notebook

Published on July 7, 2005 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


Three Astros Pitchers Set to Play in 2005 MLB All-Star Game in Detroit on July 12

Future Hall of Fame pitcher and part owner of the Round Rock Express, Roger Clemens along with former Express pitchers Roy Oswalt and Brad Lidge have been named to their National League All-Star team. It will be Oswalt and Lidge's first All-Star appearance while Clemens will be participating in his eleventh All-Star Game. It is the first time since 1999 that three Houston pitchers have been named to the All-Star game.

Oswalt, who was voted in by the fans after receiving 2,652,549 votes in the Ameriquest All-Star Final Vote, is 11-7 with a 2.44 ERA in eighteen starts for the Astros this season. In his last ten starts, Oswalt has gone 7-3 with a 1.31 ERA. Oswalt went 11-4 with a 1.94 ERA in nineteen games (eighteen starts) for the Express in 2000.

Closer Brad Lidge, who set the National League record for strikeouts in a season by a relief pitcher last year with 154, made this year's squad by converting eighteen out of twenty-one save opportunities. Lidge has a 2-2 record with a 2.65 ERA while striking out 53 and walking twelve in 34 innings of work this season. Lidge pitched in Round Rock in 2001 and 2002, posting a 2-0 record with a 1.73 ERA in five starts in 2001. Lidge pitched in five games as a reliever in 2002, recording a 1-1 record with a 2.45 ERA before earning a promotion to Triple-A New Orleans.

Clemens' All-Star appearance is his third consecutive and second consecutive as an Astro. Clemens has a 7-3 record with a Major League leading 1.41 ERA in seventeen starts this season for the Astros. Clemens has a career major league record of 335-167 with a 3.14 ERA since signing as a first round draft choice of the Boston Red Sox from the University of Texas in 1983. Clemens is 9th on the all-time wins list with 335 victories, second behind Express owner Nolan Ryan in career strikeouts with 4,425 and the only pitcher to win seven Cy Young Awards.

Former Express Third Baseman Morgan Ensberg Named NL Player of the Week

Even though Morgan Ensberg was not included on this year's all-star team, Ensberg was recognized as the National League player of the week for the week of June 27-July 3. Ensberg hit .387 (12-for-31) with four home runs and twelve RBI.

Ensberg helped the Express win the Texas League Championship in 2000 and is currently hitting .287, with a team-leading 22 HR and 61 RBI for the Astros this season.

Burke, Taveras, Wandy, Burns Updates

Utility man Chris Burke is riding an eleven-game hitting streak in which he is hitting .350 (14-for-40) and has raised his season average to .239. Left-hander Wandy Rodriguez will make his ninth major league start tonight against the San Diego Padres. Wandy, winner of his last two starts is 4-3 with a 6.55 ERA for the Astros. Centerfielder Willy Taveras, who won a Texas League batting title with the Express last year, is hitting .294 with three homeruns, thirteen RBI and 22 stolen bases for the Astros. He has already broken the Astros club record with seventeen bunt base hits. Reliever Mike Burns has lowered his ERA to 5.73. He has only given up one earned run in his last five outings (5.2 IP).

Triple-A All-Star Game to be televised on ESPN2

ESPN and Triple-A Baseball today announced the 18th Annual Triple-A All-Star Game will be televised live from Raley Field in Sacramento, California on ESPN2 on Wednesday, July 13 at 9:00 p.m. central time. ESPN baseball analyst Buck Martinez will be returning for his third Triple-A All-Star game and will be joined in the booth by veteran commentator Dave Barnett and former New York Mets General Manager Steve Phillips, with Gary Miller reporting from the field.

Express third baseman Mike Coolbaugh will represent the Round Rock Express in the game. Coolbaugh is leading the PCL with 67 RBI and is third in homeruns with eighteen. Pitcher Taylor Buchholz was also named to the PCL All-Star team but will not make the trip to Sacramento due to a shoulder injury. Buchholz is 6-0 with a 4.19 ERA in fourteen starts for the Express this season.

Upcoming Express Schedule

The Express return home for a three game series against the Nashville Sounds on Friday, July 8.

Friday, July 8 Fireworks Fridays - Fireworks presented by Bud Light follow the conclusion of the 7:05 PM game against the Nashville Sounds. Also, the first 4,000 fans to enter the ballpark will receive a copy of the Capital City Sports Report magazine.

Saturday, July 9 Bobblehead Giveaway - The first 3,000 fans attending the game will receive a "Spike" (mascot) bobblehead courtesy of SBC!

Sunday, July 10 HEB Kids Day - All kids age twelve and under will receive a Craig Biggio T-shirt courtesy of Rock Sports upon entrance to The Dell Diamond. HEB sponsors the Sock-Hop inflatables, trackless train, face painters and additional fun entertainment for the kids located on the third base outer concourse from 5:30-7:30 PM. All kids twelve and under are also welcome to participate in running the bases after the game.

For tickets, log on to www.roundrockexpress.com or call 512-255-BALL.

b2 Networks

Express fans can catch the Express in action against the Iowa Cubs tonight by clicking on the b2 Networks logo on the Round Rock Express home page - www.roundrockexpress.com. All Express home games are also available over the web by clicking on the b2 Networks logo.

Check out the Round Rock Express Statistics

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



Pacific Coast League Stories from July 7, 2005


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