PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express Slide Past Albuqueruque 3-2

Published on July 26, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK, Texas - Zach Jackson posted his first win since June 23, and Matt Kata doubled and tripled as the Round Rock Express edged the Albuquerque Isotopes 3-2 in Thursday night's Pacific Coast League action at The Dell Diamond. The Express (44-61) have won three of their last five games; it was Round Rock's fourth one-run game in that span. The Isotopes (61-44) lead the season series 8-7.

Beleaguered by poor run support most of the season, Jackson (4-12) made Round Rock's three spot hold up Thursday night. He held the Isotopes to two runs on six hits and a walk over seven and two-thirds innings with five strikeouts. It was the fifth time in his last six outings that Jackson allowed three or fewer runs but only his second win against four losses in that span. Express batters have given Jackson only 3.2 runs of support in his 18 starts and only 2.2 runs of support in his 12 losses.

Jackson surrendered a solo homer to Ivan De Jesus Jr. with one out in the second, breaking a scoreless tie. Round Rock tied the game in the fourth when Brad Nelson tripled with two outs, and Kata followed with a double. Kata opened the seventh with a triple and scored on a Luis Hernandez single. Tommy Mendonca later plated Hernandez with the eventual game-deciding run on a sacrifice fly.

Trent Oeltjen tripled past a diving Julio Borbon in center to open the eighth, and Elian Herrera followed with a sacrifice fly. Jackson retired Alex Castellanos on a flyout and struck out Josh Fields on a ball in the dirt; however, Elio Sarmiento's throw to first skipped low, allowing Fields to reach safely. That was the final batter Jackson faced. Yoshinori closed the inning with a week grounder from Jerry Sands and struck out the side in the ninth for his third save.

It was Jackson's first win at The Dell Diamond since the 2011 regular-season finale when he beat Albuquerque with a complete-game effort. It was his longest outing since that game but the 11th time he worked past six innings this season.

Albuquerque starter Will Savage (10-4) shouldered the loss; he allowed three runs on eight hits over seven innings with five strikeouts and no walks. Eric Threets pitched a perfect eighth with one strikeout.

Kata enjoyed Round Rock's lone multiple-hit game; he also was hit by a pitch. Oeltjen and De Jesus both had two-hit nights for the Isotopes.

Round Rock and Albuquerque conclude their four-game series Friday with a 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch at The Dell Diamond. The Express send right-hander Greg Reynolds (7-6, 5.34 ERA) to the mound opposite Isotopes right-hander Stephen Fife (8-5, 4.31 ERA).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 26, 2012


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