Round Rock Narrowly Bested by Omaha, 2-0
August 10, 2018 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Omaha Storm Chasers (54-62) shutout the Round Rock Express (52-65) for the second straight night as they carved out a 2-0 victory on Friday evening at Dell Diamond. In his second start with the Express, rehabbing Texas Rangers outfielder Nomar Mazara went 0-4 with a strikeout while serving as Round Rock's designated hitter.
Express starter RHP Chris Rowley (0-3, 5.40) suffered a tough-luck loss after allowing just one earned run on one hit over 7.0 innings. In his third start wearing a Round Rock uniform, the right-hander struck out three and walked four while throwing 66 of his 96 pitches for strikes. Tonight's winning pitcher, Storm Chasers starter RHP Arnaldo Hernandez (3-1, 4.18), carried a perfect game into the sixth en route to completing 7.0 shutout frames.
Omaha opened the scoring in the top of the second as they got out to an early 1-0 edge. RF Donnie Dewees reached base on a one-out walk, stole second, and eventually carried home the game's first run when LF Jack Lopez smoked an RBI double to right. Lopez was thrown out trying to take second by Express RF Nick Torres to end the side.
The E-Train put together their best scoring opportunity of the night in the bottom of the sixth when LF Franklin Rollin broke up Hernandez's perfect game on a line drive single up the middle. With two outs, CF Scott Heineman ripped a double to left, docking runners on second and third for SS Cliff Pennington. However, the threat was neutralized by Hernandez when he enticed Pennington into a 4-3 groundout. Rollin's single and Heineman's two-bagger would go down as Round Rock's only hits of the contest.
Bouncing back from his hiccup in the second, Rowley went on to retire the next 13 batters he faced in order before issuing a walk to Storm Chasers DH Elier Hernandez in the seventh. The E-Train starter would finish his final frame of the night unscathed after Hernandez was thrown out at second on a steal attempt prior to a Ramon Torres flyout.
Round Rock reliever LHP Zac Curtis made his first appearance with the Express in the top of the eighth. Curtis, who was claimed off waivers by the Rangers on August 7, recorded a pair of punchouts while holding Omaha hitless in his 1.0 inning of work.
In the top of the ninth, the Storm Chasers padded their lead to 2-0. After Round Rock reliever RHP Connor Sadzeck fanned the leadoff man for the first out, Omaha SS Nicky Torres squirted a ground-ball single through the left side of the infield. Following a base hit by 1B Frank Schwindel that put runners on the corners, C Cam Gallagher brought Lopez home when he laid down a bunt and reached base on a fielder's choice.
Down to their final out, Round Rock saw a glimmer of hope in the bottom of the ninth when Pennington climbed aboard on an error to bring Mazara to the plate. Representing the tying-run, Mazara took a called strike three over the inner-half of the plate from Storm Chasers reliever LHP Richard Lovelady to end the game.
The E-Train will look to snap their season-long eight-game losing streak in game three on Saturday night at Dell Diamond. Round Rock RHP Adrian Sampson (5-4, 4.33) is scheduled to start against Omaha LHP Jake Kalish (5-5, 3.39). First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. CDT.
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