PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express Relinquish Division Lead

Published on June 7, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK, Texas - Round Rock stranded 16 base-runners, including 10 in scoring position and the bases loaded three times, in a 6-3 loss to Albuquerque in Tuesday night's Pacific Coast League series finale at The Dell Diamond. With the loss, the Express (33-26) relinquished their lead in the PCL American Southern Division - a spot they had held since April 16 and outright since May 2. The Isotopes (33-25) moved one-half game ahead of Round Rock in the division after winning three of four in the series.

Eugenio Velez tripled on the game's first pitch and scored one batter later on Jamie Hoffman's RBI ground. The Isotopes never relinquished that lead. Albuquerque pushed its lead to 4-0 on Trayvon Robinson's second-inning solo homer and consecutive solo homers from John Lindsey and J.D. Closser in the fourth.

Round Rock got on the board in the fifth on Doug Deeds' two-run homer, his sixth of the season. That snapped a 17-inning scoreless streak for Albuquerque pitching that dated back to Chad Tracy's fourth-inning home run in Round Rock's 8-2 win Sunday afternoon.

The Express missed opportunities to pull closer in each of the next three innings but stranded runners at first and second in the sixth and left the bases loaded in both the seventh and eighth innings.

Albuquerque added two insurance runs in the eighth, pushing its lead to 6-2. The Express loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth but could manage only Joey Butler's two-out walk. Round Rock was 0-for-11 on the night with runners in scoring position.

Isotopes starter Tim Sexton (2-0) picked up the win. He worked 5.2 innings and allowed two runs on seven hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Albuquerque pitchers surrendered 10 hits, seven walks and hit two batters but managed only to allow three runs.

Express starter Derek Hankins (5-4) lost his third consecutive decision, allowing four runs on seven hits over 6.0 innings with no walks and five strikeouts. Pedro Strop struck out four in 2.0 innings but yielded a pair of runs on five hits. Cody Eppley pitched a perfect ninth with one strikeout.

Esteban German, who popped out to end the game, was 3-for-6. Butler was 2-for-4 and extended his hitting streak to 10 games. He has hit safely in 17 of his last 18 games.

Lindsey was 3-for-4 for the Isotopes, while Velez, Closser and Oeltjen all had two-hit games.

Wednesday a league-wide off day, the PCL's third of five throughout the season not counting the All-Star Game break. Round Rock resumes play Thursday, opening a four-game series at Iowa. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT at Principal Park in Des Moines, Iowa, with right-hander Tommy Hunter (1-1, 3.38 ERA) on the mound for the Express.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 7, 2011


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