PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express Rally Past Tacoma 10-5

Published on August 9, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK, Texas - Matt Kata's fifth-inning, three-run homer erased a two-run deficit, and the Express never relinquished the lead en route to a 10-5 victory over the Tacoma Rainiers in Tuesday night's Pacific Coast League action at The Dell Diamond. The Express (69-49) snapped a two-game skid and improved to 14-2 this season following consecutive losses. The Rainiers (59-59) still lead the series two games to one but snapped a six-game winning streak at The Dell Diamond.

Tacoma starter Forrest Snow carried a perfect game into the fifth, but it ended there. Joey Butler and Brad Nelson had consecutive one-out singles, and Kata followed with his 12th homer of the season just inside the right-field foul pole. Round Rock trimmed its magic number to 18 games.

The Express added four runs on two hits, two walks, a hit batter and two wild pitches in the sixth and weather Wily Mo Pena's mammoth three-run homer that easily cleared the Home Run Porch in the top of the seventh. Nick Green had a sacrifice fly in the seventh. Butler and Kata both had solo homers in the eighth to cap the scoring.

It was Kata's second multiple-homer game of the season. He has eclipsed his career high with 13 home runs; his previous high was 11 in 2003 between Triple-A Tucson (eight) and the Arizona Diamondbacks (three). An Express player has homered at least twice in a game 15 times this season. Kata's was Round Rock's first multiple-homer game since Chris Davis hit two July 20 against New Orleans.

Express starter Ryan Tucker (3-4) turned in a gutsy performance, allowing only two unearned runs over 5.2 innings for the win. He scattered five hits and three walks with seven strikeouts, a season high. Michael Kirkman worked 2.1 innings with four strikeouts, and Cody Eppley pitched a scoreless ninth.

Snow (0-2) took the loss; he was touched for seven runs on five hits, a walk and a hit batter over 5.0 innings with four strikeouts.

Kata, Butler, Craig Gentry and Esteban German all had two-hit games for the Express. Kata finished with four RBI.

Pena (2-for-5) had Tacoma's lone multiple-hit game; he also drove in four.

Round Rock and Tacoma conclude their four-game series Wednesday with a 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch at The Dell Diamond. It will be dueling southpaws Martin Perez (3-2, 5.76 ERA) takes the mound for the Express opposite Rainiers left-hander Anthony Vasquez (4-2, 3.43 ERA).

NOTE: Express manager Bobby Jones recorded the 1,498th win of his career - all with the Texas Rangers organization.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 9, 2011


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