Sidewinders rally late for win

Published on April 30, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Tucson Sidewinders News Release


Round Rock, TX - Jesus Merchan and Donnie Kelly had RBI hits in the eighth inning as the Sidewinders erased an early 3-0 deficit and rallied for a 4-3 win over the Round Rock Express on Wednesday night. Tucson has won two of the first three games in the series and will have a chance to win their first series of the year tomorrow night.

Trent Oeltjen started the Sidewinders eighth inning rally with a one out single. He advanced to second on a ground ball to third and then moved to third when Round Rock shortstop Tomas Perez misplayed a routine ground ball hit by Wilkin Castillo. Merchan followed with a double to left to tie the game at 3 and then Kelly hit the first pitch from Express closer Nick Regilio up the middle for a run scoring single.

Juan Gutierrez started for the Sidewinders and earned his first win of the season. Gutierrez (1-4) allowed three runs (one earned) in the second inning but was nearly perfect from there as he gave up just one more hit and walked two. No Round Rock baserunner reached second base after the second inning.

Emiliano Fruto and Leo Rosales finished up with each working a perfect inning. Rosales closed the game for his second save of the season.

The Express used three singles and a Merchan throwing error to build a 3-0 lead in the second but Tucson scratched out single runs in the fifth and seventh to set the stage for the eighth inning rally. Emilio Bonifacio's groundout plated the Sidewinders' first run in the fifth and Gutierrez helped himself with a solo home run to left-center in the seventh.

The blast by Gutierrez was the first home run of his professional career and just his fourth professional hit.

The Sidewinders and Express will wrap up their four game series on Thursday night at Dell Diamond. Right-hander Yusmeiro Petit will make his 2008 Sidewinders debut after being optioned down from the Diamondbacks against right-hander Chad Reineke (0-3, 7.27) for Round Rock. First pitch is at 5:05 Tucson time. The game will air LIVE on COOL 1450 beginning at 4:55.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 30, 2008


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