PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Secures Series Finale with 3-2 Win over Iowa

Published on July 23, 2015 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


DES MOINES, Iowa - The Round Rock Express (56-41) took the series finale in a Thursday matinee against the Iowa Cubs (52-46) at Principal Park, 3-2. The victory provided the Express with its 10th series win of the season and extended its winning streak to three games.

Round Rock pounced on Iowa starter Felipe Paulino with the help of a lead-off double from 1B Chris Gimenez to start the third inning as hot hitting SS Hanser Alberto stepped to the plate. Alberto paused the production with a ground out, but RF Ryan Strausborger picked up the pace with a soft single to center that hustled Gimenez to third. Strausborger moved himself into scoring position by swiping second base for his 23rd stolen bag of the year, placing runners on second and third for 2B Tommy Field. Field worked the count to 3-1 before striking a sharp ground ball into left that scored Gimenez and advanced Strausborger to third, still with one out. C Brett Nicholas supplied the next run two pitches later by hitting into a force that eliminated Field, but brought Strausborger across the plate, making it 2-0 Round Rock. A walk to DH Ed Lucas forced Iowa pitching coach Mike Cather to talk with Paulino. The meeting proved beneficial for the Iowa starter as he struck out Express 3B Joey Gallo to end the top of the third.

Iowa responded in the bottom of the third on a one-out single by CF Matt Szczur that marked the third hit of the day against Round Rock starter Alec Asher. Asher was then taken to deep left center by I-Cubs LF Mike Baxter on his first homer of the season, tying the contest 2-2. The homer was the only glimpse of offense Asher allowed for the remainder of the game.

Paulino worked into the seventh, but was unable to keep Round Rock LF Michael Choice off first after issuing his second walk of the game. He recovered with a strikeout to put one in his pocket, but a throwing error on a pick-off attempt jettisoned Choice to third, putting the go-ahead run ninety feet away. Gimenez came through in the clutch with a RBI single that allowed Choice to trot home and give the E-Train its second lead of the game, 3-2. The run signaled the end of Paulino's (2-6, 4.71) day after going 6.1 innings with six hits, three runs (two earned), two walks and eight strikeouts.

Express LHP Will Lamb entered for Asher (3-5, 4.91) after the Round Rock starter pitched 6.0 innings of work with six hits, two runs (two earned), three walks and five strikeouts. Lamb recorded a fly out to start his 11th appearance of the season, but yielded a walk and hit an I-Cub to put two on with one out. The left-hander recuperated well with a ground out and pop out to close the seventh.

RHP Francisco Mendoza was the second E-Train reliever to come out of the bullpen and only needed one pitch to record the third out of the eighth after taking over for Lamb.

Closer Jon Edwards collected back-to-back strikeouts to open the bottom of the ninth, but allowed an infield single to Szczur that kept the I-Cubs hopes alive. Edwards battled with Baxter for nine pitches, but ultimately came out the victor with a strikeout to gather his 18th save of the year and seal the series win for Round Rock.

The Express head back to Dell Diamond for a 12-game homestand with series against the Oklahoma City Dodgers, Omaha Storm Chasers and Memphis Redbirds. The longest homestand of the season begins tomorrow night as RHP Jerad Eickhoff (8-3, 4.30) takes on Dodgers southpaw Eric Stults (0-0, 4.63). 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 July 23, 2015


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