E-Train Cruises Past Colorado Springs 8-2

COLORADO SPRINGS, Col. - LHP Robbie Ross Jr. was outstanding for a third straight start Sunday, tossing seven quality innings to lead the Round Rock Express (55-52) to an 8-2 victory over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (45-63) at Security Service Field.

Ross Jr. (3-3, 5.79 ERA) evened his record on the season by permitting just two runs on seven hits, striking out two and issuing no free passes. The Lexington, Kentucky native needed just 81 pitches to twirl his third straight quality start for the E-Train.

Offensively, Round Rock was paced by their seven and nine-hole hitters as the tandem of CF Ryan Strausborger and 3B Josh Wilson finished a combined 5-for-5 with five RBI and three runs scored.

The Sky Sox plated the first two runs of the game in the second on an RBI single by C Jackson Williams. RF Matt McBride and 2B Angelys Nina began the inning with back-to-back singles before 1B Ryan Wheeler sacrificed both into scoring position. Williams then grounded a ball back through the middle to put the home team ahead 2-0.

Round Rock responded swiftly with two runs in the third to square the game at 2-2. Strausborger ripped a lead-off base hit into center and immediately came around to score as 2B Brent Lillibridge followed with an RBI double. Wilson then brought Lillibridge home with a game-tying single to left.

The Express touched Sky Sox starter LHP Brian Burres (1-5, 7.00 ERA) for another two runs in the fifth to take the lead for good. C Brett Nicholas singled to lead off the inning ahead of Strausborger, Lillibridge and Wilson, each of whom drew a walk to bring home their catcher with the go-ahead run. SS Luis Sardinas grounded into a double play following the three straight walks, but brought home Strausborger in the process to make it 4-2 E-Train.

Wilson added another Round Rock run with an RBI double in the seventh before the Express piled on three in the eighth. With one out, DH Carlos Pena drove home RF Jared Hoying on a fielder's choice. Later in the inning, Strausborger delivered a two-out, two-run double to bring the final score to 8-2 as reliever RHP Matt West shutout the Sky Sox over the final two innings.

Round Rock's road trip will come to a close Monday as they finish out their regular season series with the Sky Sox at Security Service Field. First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. CDT.

Listen to the game live on 104.9 FM The Horn or online at hornfm.com. For more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook and Twitter!