Box Score

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Cory Riordan allowed just four Express hitters to reach base in six and two-thirds innings as Round Rock fell 7-3 at Colorado Springs in Friday night’s Pacific Coast League action at Security Service Field. Colorado Springs (65-56) has won four of five. Round Rock (53-67) lost a series opener for the first time since July 20.

The Sky Sox got things started in the bottom of the first when Charlie Blackmon tripled to center to drive in Tim Wheeler who walked to lead off the game. Blackmon then scored when Andrew Brown grounded out to short.

Leading 5-1 in the seventh, Brown put the exclamation point on the night when he followed a Blackmon walk with a mammoth two-run home run off the scoreboard beyond center field.

Riordan (1-1) earned the win for the Sky Sox. The 26-year-old pitched into the seventh and allowed one run on four hits and struck out four.

Martin Perez (5-6) was saddled with the loss for Round Rock. He gave up five runs on eight hits and four strikeouts and struck out two.

The Express scratched out a run in the seventh when Luis Hernandez scampered home on a Brad Nelson RBI groundout. They managed two more in the eighth when Leonys Martin drove in Yangervis Solarte with an RBI double. Luis Hernandez followed that up with a single to score the speedy Cuban.

Brown’s three RBI led the way for the Sky Sox. Brandon Wood went 3-for-3 with three RBI.

Hernandez paced the Express with two hits, an RBI and a run scored. Solarte also had two hits and scored.

Round Rock continues its four-game series Saturday at Colorado Springs. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT. Left-hander Zach Jackson (5-12, 4.79) takes the hill for the Express opposite rehabbing Rockies right-hander Jhoulys Chacin (0-0, 0.00 ERA) for the Sky Sox.