Memphis Blanked by Round Rock, 2-0

A night after Round Rock was shut out by Memphis, the Express returned the favor and took their second game of the series with a 2-0 victory behind a terrific pitching performance.

Nick Tepesch struck out six and allowed only three hits through the game's nine innings. The right-hander failed to walk a batter and threw a total 104 pitches, 73 for strikes. It was his fourth win of the season, tied for the league lead with Nashville's Mike Fiers and Sacramento's Joe Savery. Round Rock's hurler lowered his ERA to 1.82.

Tim Cooney (3-1, 2.35) did his best to emulate Tepesch, but fell victim to a tough draw. The two matched each other through the first five innings, keeping both offenses off the scoreboard. The left-hander finished the game with two earned runs on six hits, adding eight strikeouts, but suffering his first loss of the season.

Round Rock threatened in the first inning, loading the bases after two consecutive singles from Adam Rosales and Bryan Peterson, followed by a walk to Brad Snyder. Cooney found his way out of the jam though by striking out the next two hitters and avoiding any further trouble.

Both teams were pretty silent offensively through the next few frames, but the Express finally found their way ahead with back-to-back runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Peterson came around to score in the sixth after hitting a one-out double and outfielder Jared Hoying rocked a solo shot in the seventh. The home team was up 2-0, which was more than enough for Tepesch.

Memphis threatened with four of the team's five hits in the last two innings. Scott Moore (1-for-3, K) and Xavier Scruggs (1-for-3, K) both singled in the eighth, but a double play and strikeout got Tepesch out of trouble. Greg Garcia (1-for-4, K) and Joey Butler (1-for-4) had singles in the ninth, but were left stranded to end the game. In the end, the Redbirds' never advanced a runner past second base, falling prey to their second shutout of the season.

Round Rock and Memphis finish their four-game series with a 1:05 pm start at the Dell Diamond on Sunday. Right-hander Zach Petrick (0-0, 4.50) will pitch against Scott Baker (3-1, 2.77).