Sky Sox Top Express 7-2 to Split Series
April 16, 2018 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado - The Colorado Springs Sky Sox (8-3) forced a series split against the Round Rock Express (3-9) with a 7-2 victory in Monday afternoon's finale. Express 1B Tommy Joseph recorded his second homer of the season, but the Sky Sox offense proved to be too much to overcome.
Express RHP David Ledbetter (0-2, 6.43) suffered his second straight loss after allowing five runs, only four of which were earned, on eight hits in 4.0 innings of work. The righty struck out three and walked one. Sky Sox starter RHP Brandon Woodruff (2-0, 1.59) picked up the victory following 5.2 strong innings, allowing only one run on five hits while striking out three.
Colorado Springs jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first three innings of play. In the second, LF Tyrone Taylor, 3B Andres Blanco and DH Shane Optiz teamed up for three straight singles, the latest of which put the Sky Sox on the board. An ensuing throwing error by E-Train C Cameron Rupp sent Blanco home, upping the gap to 2-0. An inning later, C Christian Bethancourt and 1B Ji-Man Choi teamed up for back-to-back doubles that made it 3-0.
Round Rock got on the board in the fifth. Following a Nick Noonan walk, 2B Andy Ibanez and SS Hanser Alberto each singled to load the bases. A fielder's choice out by Jose Cardona eliminated Noonan at home but left the bases juiced for CF Scott Heineman. The outfielder worked a walk to force in a run, trimming the deficit to 3-1.
However, in the fifth, RF Brett Phillips doubled prior to a Bethancourt single. 2B Nate Orf welcomed Express reliever RHP Reed Garrett to the game with a two-run double that upped the gap to 5-1. The Sky Sox tacked on two more runs in the sixth thanks to a Keon Broxton single followed by Mauricio Dubon RBI triple. A fielding error by LF Willie Calhoun during the next at-bat allowed Dubon to score.
The E-Train added one final run in the ninth as Joseph connected on a Mark Zagurski pitch, collecting his second home run of the series that cut the final score to 7-2.
The Express now return home to open a seven-game homestand with a four-game series against the Oklahoma City Dodgers. Round Rock LHP Yohander Mendez (0-2, 8.00) is scheduled to take the mound opposite Oklahoma City RHP Manny Banuelos (1-0, 1.80). First pitch at Dell Diamond is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
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