Round Rock Express Drop 5-1 Decision to Sacramento as Jordan Lyles Makes AAA Debut
ROUND ROCK -- Round Rock Drops 5-1 Decision to Sacramento as Jordan Lyles makes AAA Debut Jordan Lyles made his AAA pitching debut Tuesday night for the Round Rock Express but a couple of home runs, mainly a Dallas McPherson fifth-inning three-run shot, helped put him on the losing end of a 5-1 decision.
Lyles hit the first batter he faced in the game but settled down to keep the Sacramento bats relatively quite until the McPherson blast put the Express in a 4-1 hole.
Round Rock put two runners on in the bottom of the first-inning when Tommy Manzella singled and Brain Bogusevic followed with a walk. Chris Shelton was unable to move the runners up when he struck out and Andrew Locke followed with a come-backer to the mound allowing Sacramento starting pitcher Bobby Cramer to make an easy put out on the grounder.
The Express threatened again the in second-inning when Matt Kata led off with a bunt single and moved to second base on a Collin Delome infield single. Cramer then struck out Edwin Maysonet before getting Edwin Bellorin to ground into a inning ending double-play.
Lyles allowed a two-out double to Travis Buck in the next inning but bounced right back to struck out McPherson to leave Buck stranded. It was Lyles third strike out through three innings.
Brian Bogusevic scored Round Rocks only run of the night in the bottom half of the frame when he singled with two outs, stole second base, and came around to score on a Chris Shelton single to left field to tie the game at 1-1.
The game moved into the fifth-inning and that is when McPherson delivered his 3-run shot to put Sacramento up 4-1.
Lyles struck out the first two batters he faced in the top of the sixth-inning before giving up a single to Jared Price. He then picked up his third strike out of the inning when he struck out Corey Wimberly to end the inning.
Fernando Abad relieved Lyles to start the seventh-inning and found himself in trouble after a single, a passed ball, and a walk put two runners on. McPherson stepped to the plate looking to deliver again but Abad struck him out before yielding way to Chris Sampson.
Sacramento's threat came to an end moments later when Sampson got Matt Carson to ground into a double play.
Sacramento strung together a couple of singles and a McPherson double in the ninth-inning to push their lead out to 5-1 which would prove to be the final score.
Lyles worked six innings giving up four runs on eight hits to go along with nine strike outs. Cramer gave up just the one run on seven hits while striking out six over his five innings of work.Justin James picked up the save for Sacramento after working the last two innings.
Manzella went 2-for-4 for the Express. Travis Buck went 3-for-4 for the visiting Rivercats.
Round Rock will close out their four games series against Sacramento tonight with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m
