PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Resilient in Comeback Win

Published on June 12, 2014 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The Round Rock Express (31-36) would not be denied their first series sweep of the season Thursday as they weathered five Isotopes (30-37) home runs to secure a 6-5, comeback victory at Isotopes Park.

The Express displayed a resilience Thursday that has not been seen much this year, overcoming a two-run deficit late to finish off the sweep with their first comeback win of the season.

Round Rock's last series sweep came August 28-30 of the 2012 season when they took four from the Zephyrs in New Orleans.

With that, Thursday's win was not easy.

Express starter RHP Daniel McCutchen matched a season-high with nine strikeouts on the night, but was victimized by five Isotopes home runs in the process.

In the second, 1B Clint Robinson (11) and 3B Alex Liddi (3) led off the inning with back-to-back homers. After McCutchen rung up two batters looking, LF Jeremy Hazelbaker went yard to give Albuquerque a 3-0 lead.

Round Rock cut their deficit to one with two runs in the fourth. C Brett Nicholas started the inning with a single to left, and CF Jared Hoying followed a 3B Brent Lillibridge strikeout with a base hit to put runners on first and second with one out. 1B Adam Rosales then delivered Nicholas from second with a single through the left side ahead of 2B Jason Donald, who plated Hoying with a sacrifice fly.

The long ball continued to plague McCutchen in the fifth as Hazelbaker clubbed his second long ball of the game and third of the season to double the Isotopes advantage at 4-2.

The Express got another run back in the seventh as Donald led off with a triple and scored on an RBI groundout by SS Josh Wilson to make it 4-3. But just as Round Rock inched closer, the "˜Topes came up with yet another solo home run in the bottom of the seventh, this time off the bat of C Johnny Monell (1) to push their lead back out to two.

Down 5-3 entering the eighth, a resilient Round Rock came up with three runs to take control of the lead. With runners on first and second, Hoying served a one-out single into left to score one. Rosales followed by ripping a game-tying RBI double to right to square the contest at five. Hoying, who had advanced to third on Rosales's double, scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball during the next at-bat to put the E-Train in front for good at 6-5, but the "˜Topes did not go down without a fight.

In the ninth, Albuquerque filled the bases against LHP Aaron Poreda. But with two outs, the left-hander was able to induce a game-ending groundout by "˜Topes cleanup hitter Robinson. Poreda, who has been lights out for the Express of late, struck out three over the final two innings for his second save of the season.

RHP Scott Richmond (1-2, 8.29 ERA) got the win for Round Rock in relief of McCutchen after working out of a bases loaded jam in the seventh.

The E-Train will head south Friday to begin its inaugural four-game series with the El Paso Chihuahuas, new affiliate of the San Diego Padres, at Southwest University Park. Round Rock will send RHP Justin Germano (1-6, 3.96 ERA) out to face off with El Paso's RHP Odrisamer Despaigne (1-1, 7.07 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. CDT.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 12, 2014


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