The Round Rock Express are 3-5 on current home stand and look to close out series with a win over Isotopes
After losing five out of six games over a recent stretch, the Round Rock Express put together a three game winning streak in which they scored 21 runs. However, the Express have struggled with consistancy and have dropped to 43-55, eight-and-one-half games out of first place in the PCL American South.
The Express dropped the first two games of their current home stand to the PCL American South second place Oklahoma City Redhawks. In the opening game Express pitching struggled as they gave up 15 hits and seven runs in the 7-5 loss. The offense swung the bats well picking up 14 hits in the loss before coming right back the next night to collect nine hits in a losing effort.
Polin Trinidad took the mound for game three of the series and turned in a gem with his seven inning four hit performance. He gave up just two bases on balls while striking out five. Brian Bogusevic, Jason Smith, and Matt Kata had two hits apiece in the win.
The Express bats heated up once again in game four of the series and Bud Norris scattered 10 hits over eight innings of work while giving up four runs in the 7-4 win. Tommy Manzella and John Gall each had four hits on the night with Manzella slugging his fifth home run of the year to go along with two RBI. Right fielder Yordany Ramirez went 3-for-4 with an RBI as the Express hitters tallied 15 hits on the evening.
Game five of the home stand saw the Express extend their winning streak to three behind a five hitter by starting pitcher Yorman Bazardo. Doug Brocail chipped in with a perfect inning of relief before Samuel Gervacio came on the pitch the ninth and help seal the win.
Bogusevic continued to swing the bat well as he went 3-for-5 with 3 RBI. Smith, Chris Johnson, and Brian Esposito each had two hits on the night. Ramirez added a 3-run blast in the eighth inning, his 10th home run of the year, as the Express rolled to a 9-2 win.
The Express split a double header on Tuesday with Josh Muecke tossing 5 1/3 innings without giving up a run in the first game which was a continuation of a game that was postponed earlier in the year due to rain. Smith contributed three RBI as the Express claimed the opening game of the twin bill by a score of 5-1.
Tony Abreu helped Albuquerque jump out to a quick 1-0 lead in game two with a lead off solo home run. Round Rock starting pitcher Mark McLemore then settled down and gave up just one hit over the next 3 2/3 innings before Chin-Lung Hu doubled to left-center and later scored on an Abreu sacrifice fly extending the lead to 2-0.
Albuquerque starting pitcher Henry Bonilla combined with three relievers to pitch a three-hitter in the 3-1 win.
The Express came out on the losing end of a 5-2 game on Wednesday as Albuquerque overcame an early 2-1 deficit with three runs in the seventh inning off Express reliever Samuel Gervacio. They would later tack on another run in the eighth inning before coming away with the 5-2 win.
Round Rock will close out their home stand Thursday evening against Albuquerque with a 7:05 pm start time at the Dell Diamond. They will then head out on the road for a 10 game road trip.
