PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Thumps Nashville, Grasps Series Finale 8-3

Published on September 3, 2015 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Round Rock Express (76-64) completed its final road trip of the 2015 regular season by pummeling the Nashville Sounds (63-77) Thursday night at First Tennessee Park, 8-3. Round Rock supplied four runs in the fifth and three runs in the ninth to outpace the Sounds and finish the 2015 regular season with a 33-37 record at away ballparks.

Express CF Lewis Brinson began the first inning by earning a walk and swiping his second stolen base of the year with Round Rock to end up on second as RF Nomar Mazara came to the plate. A Mazara ground out moved Brinson ninety feet from home with one out on the board. Nashville starter Brad Mills then walked Round Rock 2B Ryan Rua to place runners on the corners for 3B Ed Lucas. Lucas provided the early damage with a RBI single that allowed Brinson to make his way home and give Round Rock a 1-0 lead with two on. Mills escaped the jam with an inning-ending double play.

Round Rock starter Chi Chi Gonzalez blanked the Sounds through the first three innings, but Nashville 2B Joey Wendle took him to left for a single to start the bottom of the fourth. Gonzalez recovered with a strikeout, but conceded back-to-back walks that loaded the bases for Sounds LF Rangel Ravelo. Ravelo hit into a force out that eliminated Wendle at home, keeping the score at 1-0 with the bases still loaded and two outs on the board. The iceberg finally reached its tipping point on the next pitch from Gonzalez as 1B Nate Freiman plugged a single into left that tied the game at 1-1. Gonzalez escaped the fourth with a pop out.

E-Train SS Beamer Weems and Brinson each recorded a single to open the fifth and Mazara garnered a walk to load the bases as Rua stepped into the box. Rua supplied the boom with a grand slam to left field that broke the tie and put the E-Train in front 5-1. The grand slam marked his first since August 28, 2013 when he was a member of the Frisco RoughRiders. Mills (5-12, 4.52) went on to throw a walk and saw his night come to a close after 4.0 innings with five hits, five runs (five earned), six walks and four Ks.

Gonzalez (8-7, 3.57) finished his outing with a shutout fifth to complete his start with 5.0 innings pitched, four hits, one run (earned), three walks and six punch-outs. Relievers Edwar Cabrera, David Martinez and Jimmy Reyes all kept the strong outing alive by blanking the Sounds over the next three innings.

Weems scored his second run of the night in the top of the ninth on a wild pitch from Nashville reliever Taylor Thompson that extended the E-Train advantage to 6-1. Round Rock piled on two more runs in the ninth thanks to a two-RBI double from DH Tommy Field that made it an 8-1 contest.

Nashville made a final push in the bottom of the ninth behind a RBI single and a sacrifice fly off Express closer Tanner Scheppers that narrowed the gap to five. Scheppers terminated any notion of a rally with a strikeout to even the series and give Round Rock win number 76.

Round Rock comes home tomorrow night to christen the last homestand of the regular season as the E-Train welcomes the Iowa Cubs to Dell Diamond. RHP Anthony Ranaudo (7-5, 4.34) takes the mound for Round Rock against Iowa RHP Dallas Beeler (7-5, 4.17). First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m.

2015 Express playoff tickets are on sale now with Round Rock scheduled to host the first two games of its first round series at Dell Diamond on Wednesday, September 9 and Thursday, September 10. The Express will host the Oklahoma City Dodgers in the first round of the Pacific Coast League Playoffs for the first time in PCL history. Tickets may be purchased online or at the Dell Diamond ticket office. For more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook and Twitter!

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Pacific Coast League Stories from September 3, 2015


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