PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Obliterates Las Vegas 18-7

Published on June 10, 2018 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


LAS VEGAS, Nevada - The Round Rock Express (28-34) refused to cool off after last night's 12-run explosion as the E-Train tallied a new season-high for runs scored in Saturday night's 18-7 drubbing of the Las Vegas 51s (26-37). Through two nights at Cashman Field, Express hitters have put up 30 runs on 34 hits, connecting for nine home runs and 14 total extra-base hits. 2B Christian Lopes has conducted the scoring parade with 13 total bases on four hits, including three homers in 10 trips to the plate.

Heading out to the mound with plenty of run support behind him, Round Rock reliever LHP Brady Feigl (4-0, 0.87) garnered the win for his 2.0 perfect innings out of the bullpen in which he picked up three punchouts. 51s starter LHP P.J. Conlon (2-4, 7.51) took home the loss after he was knocked around for 10 runs, eight of which were earned, on 12 hits and a walk.

Riding the heat wave of last night's six-run ninth inning, the E-Train offense jumped all over Conlon in the opening frame for three runs. 3B Andy Ibanez played catalyst when he singled on a line drive to left and then advanced to third when DH Tommy Joseph laced a sharp ground ball off the glove of SS Phillip Evans. With runners on the corners, RF Hunter Cole collected his ninth hit in 19 Triple-A at-bats by knocking a single into center to bring Ibanez home from third. Since joining the team earlier in the week the 25-year-old Cole has run a .417/.440/1.000 slash line in five games, racking up four home runs and two doubles.

With the 1-0 lead in hand, C Tony Sanchez unleashed a mile-high fly ball to straight away center that bounced off the wall for a booming two-run double to put Round Rock in the driver's seat 3-0. After Las Vegas got a run back in the bottom half of the second on a Dominic Smith RBI double, Round Rock's bats matched their first inning production on a pair of home runs by CF Scott Heineman and LF Ryan Rua to make it 6-1.

Following a two-run second for the 51s, Express OF Drew Robinson made his first appearance since May 23rd of this year as he reached base on a single while pinch-hitting for 1B Hanser Alberto in the third. Robinson, who missed time while recovering from a injury, went 1-4 with two runs scored in his return to the diamond.

Both teams would trade scoreless innings until the top of the fifth when Round Rock fired off a five-run rally on three home runs, seemingly turning this one into a blowout at 11-3. Sanchez and Lopes kicked off the derby on back-to-back solo shots before SS Nick Noonan reached on a two-out single and came around to score on a dropped fly ball. Heineman then made Las Vegas pay for the blunder by jumping all over the first career Triple-A pitch of 51s reliever RHP Joshua Torres for his second two-run homer of the ballgame.

Working with an eight-run cushion, Express starter RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx hit a wall in the bottom of the fifth after tossing four solid three-run innings as Las Vegas climbed back within striking distance when RF Zach Borenstein and 3B Cody Asche each connected on a two-run homers before Round Rock recorded an out. Feigl was then called upon to shut things down and did just that, retiring the next three batters in order on two strikeouts and a weak chopper to second base.

In response to the 51s lead-slashing fifth, the E-Train made sure to keep the slugfest going in the top of the sixth by padding the score with two more runs. Cole led off the frame by lofting a two-bagger into the gap in left-center and eventually touched home on a Sanchez single, the third base hit of the backstop's four-hit performance. Lopes would then single to right before SS Nick Noonan bounced into a double play that moved Sanchez to third where the he would later score from on a passed ball.

In control with a six-run lead, Round Rock went full throttle by churning out their second five-run frame of the contest in the top of the eighth on just three base hits, highlighted by a two-RBI double from Ibanez. The final run of the evening was plated when Joseph became the fourth Express hitter to record three or more hits on the night by lining a run-scoring single back up the middle, locking in the final score at 18-7.

The E-Train will attempt to capture their second-consecutive series win tomorrow afternoon with LHP Michael Roth (2-2, 3.25) aligned to face Las Vegas RHP Chris Flexen (4-4, 4.70). First pitch is set for 2:05 p.m. CDT.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 10, 2018


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