PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Roars Back for 8-7 Win over New Orleans

Published on June 17, 2015 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Round Rock Express (39-25) made up a three-run deficit behind a strong seventh inning to defeat the New Orleans Zephyrs (29-34) 8-7 at Dell Diamond Tuesday night.

The New Orleans hitters had not produced a run in their past 14 innings, but shelled Express starter Stolmy Pimentel in the first inning as the Round Rock righty found himself down 1-0 before recording the first out. Pimentel started his outing with a walk and was then lit for a double by Zephyrs 2B Jordany Valdespin, putting runners on second and third. A Reid Brignac RBI single scored SS Miguel Rojas for the first run of the night. The Zephyrs struck again as DH Juan Diaz grounded out, but scored Valdespin in the process, elevating the New Orleans lead to 2-0. The boys from the bayou added a third run on another ground out, but Pimentel stopped the bleeding with a ground out to end the top half of the inning.

Pimentel's struggles followed him into the second inning as New Orleans LF Austin Wates hit a single to start the inning. Pimentel recovered with a strikeout to put one away, but was unable to prevent a double from Rojas that moved Wates to third. The Round Rock starter then used a pop out for out number two as Brignac stepped into the box for his second plate appearance. Brignac ripped the second pitch he saw from Pimentel for a two-RBI double that extended the Zephyrs advantage to 5-0.

Round Rock flexed its muscles in the bottom of the second as ML rehabber Ryan Rua earned a lead-off walk and 2B Tommy Field followed with a double to put men on second and third. A fly out from CF Jared Hoying and a strikeout from 1B Chris Gimenez seemed to deflate the run-scoring effort, but last night's hero Michael Choice had other plans for New Orleans starter Jarred Cosart. Choice took the ML rehabber to center field for his 13th double of the season, bringing home Rua and Field to make the score 5-2 Zephyrs. SS Beamer Weems then reached on an error, forcing a New Orleans mound visit. Cosart responded well to the visit and ended the inning three pitches later on a ground out.

Cosart used a ground out and a strikeout to make quick work in the bottom of the third, brining Rua to the plate with two down. Rua drove the count to 1-1 before unleashing a towering shot to deep left field that gave the third baseman his second homer in his stint with the Express. The solo shot inched Round Rock closer, 5-3.

The fourth inning marked the first shutout inning for both teams as Pimentel and Cosart persisted into the fifth. After Pimentel's 1-2-3 fifth, the E-Train bats attacked Cosart. LF Tyler Pastornicky hit a one-out grounder to get on first and was moved to third on a single from C Brett Nicholas to load the corners. Cosart got Rua to strikeout swinging, but Field provided the RBI single to bring Pastornicky home and make the score 5-4 New Orleans with two outs. The momentum came to a halt as Hoying grounded out to end the fifth.

Pimentel conceded a lead-off walk to start the sixth, but collected consecutive outs with a ground out and fly out to put two in his pocket. The two-out advantage did little as Zephyrs CF Isaac Galloway smoked a line drive single that scored lead-off walk beneficiary Scott Sizemore, augmenting the New Orleans lead to 6-4. Rojas followed with a single of his own that scored Galloway to lengthen the Zephyrs advantage to 7-4. Pimentel's (0-2, 7.71) night came to an end after 5.2 innings pitched with nine hits, seven runs (seven earned), three walks and one strikeout. LHP Will Lamb made his Round Rock debut as the southpaw entered for Pimentel, surrendering a single before ending the top of the sixth on a strikeout.

Cosart's (0-0, 4.91) second rehab start came to a close after 5.1 innings pitched with seven hits, four runs (four earned), two walks and six Ks.

The Express strengthened its comeback effort in the bottom of the seventh by attacking New Orleans reliever Grant Dayton. Dayton allowed back-to-back singles before earning the first out and continued to slip by giving up a RBI double to Hoying, making the score 7-5. A New Orleans mound visit proved useless as Gimenez supplied a two-RBI single that tied the contest, still with one out. Dayton was then pulled and RHP Jon Link took the reins for the Zephyrs. Link got Choice to pop out for out number two, summoning Weems to the batter's box. Weems won a four-pitch battle with Link by lining a double into left field, sending Gimenez home to give Round rock its first lead of the game, 8-7.

The Round Rock bullpen slammed the door on the Zephyrs with help from RHP Jose Monegro, RHP Luke Jackson and RHP Spencer Patton. Monegro and Jackson each earned a hold in a combined eighth and Patton picked up his eighth save of the year to give the Express win number 39.

The Express and Zephyrs complete the series tomorrow night as RHP Alec Asher (1-2, 6.55) takes the hill for Round Rock against New Orleans RHP Andre Rienzo (0-3, 3.15). The first pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

For tickets and more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Follow the Express on Facebook and Twitter!

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 17, 2015


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