PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express Sweep New Orleans in Doubleheader

Published on August 28, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK, Texas - Although the visiting team won both games, the Round Rock Express swept a doubleheader against the New Orleans Zephyrs at The Dell Diamond in Tuesday night's Pacific Coast League action. The Express (66-72) won the opener 5-4 and the nightcap 3-1. Round Rock improved to a league-best 23-11 since July 26, while the Zephyrs (73-65) have lost four straight.

The series originally was scheduled to be played at Zephyr Field in Metairie, La. However, it was moved to The Dell Diamond due to Hurricane Isaac. New Orleans was designated as the home team by the league office. The Zephyrs traveled through the night from New Orleans, arriving in Round Rock early Tuesday morning.

Round Rock benefited from homers to win both games. Leonys Martin blasted his 12th homer of the season in the fourth inning of the opener - a solo shot to right that snapped a 3-3 tie. Brad Nelson followed with his 24th homer. Shawn Bowman's two-out RBI double in the bottom of the fourth pulled the Zephyrs to within a run but they could get no closer.

Express starter Greg Reynolds (11-8) picked up the win; he allowed four runs on six hits and a walk over six innings with four strikeouts. Tanner Scheppers struck out the side in the seventh for his 10th save in his first game with the Express since June 5. Reynolds and Scheppers combined to retire 10 of New Orleans' final 11 batters after Bowman's fourth-inning double.

New Orleans starter Omar Poveda (4-3) took the loss, allowing five runs on nine hits and two walks over four innings with no strikeouts.

Every Express batter hit safely in the opener. Martin and Brandon Snyder both enjoyed two-hit outings. Joey Butler clubbed his 19th homer, and Matt Kata had a two-run single in the first inning.

Martin singled to start the second game, and Yangervis Solarte followed with his 10th homer of the season; Round Rock never relinquished the lead. Mike Cervenak plated a run with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first, but the Express got the run back in the fourth when Kata led off with a single and later scored by way of a New Orleans error.

Express starter Derek Hankins allowed one run on one hit and two walks with seven strikeouts; however, he did not qualify for the win, going only four innings. Neal Cotts (2-1) loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth but escaped unscathed, retiring the next three batters with two strikeouts. Willie Eyre retired the side in the sixth, and Yoshinori Tateyama struck out two in a perfect seventh for his sixth save.

J.D. Martin (6-9) shouldered the complete-game loss for the Zephyrs. He allowed three runs - two earned - on six hits with five strikeouts and no walks.

Solarte and Ryan Spilborghs had two hits each for the Express. Three Zephyrs had one hit each in the nightcap; Chris Coghlan had the lone extra-base hit, a first-inning double.

Round Rock and New Orleans continue their four-game series Wednesday with a 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch at The Dell Diamond. Left-hander Chad Bell (4-4, 4.41 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Express against Zephyrs lefty Brad Hand (11-6, 3.65 ERA).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 28, 2012


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