E-Train Rolls To 5-2 Victory In Salt Lake

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - LHP Robbie Ross Jr. gave the Round Rock Express (65-66) eight solid innings Wednesday night, leading the E-Train to a 5-2 victory over the Salt Lake Bees (56-76) at Smith's Ballpark.

Ross Jr. (5-4, 4.69 ERA) was impressive in his first start since being optioned back to Round Rock, allowing two runs on eight hits, while striking out five and walking one. The Lexington, Kentucky native now has five quality starts in his last six outings with the Express.

After three scoreless innings, Round Rock took control of the game with four runs in the fourth. SS Luis Sardinas led off the inning with a double and later scored on a one-out Ryan Rua single. RF Michael Choice then plated Rua with a double to left and immediately came around on an RBI single by C Tomas Telis. After a walk and a wild pitch, 3B Chris Gimenez gave the E-Train a 4-0 lead with a sacrifice fly to left.

Salt Lake got a run back on an RBI infield single by DH Ryan Wheeler in the home half of the inning, only to see their deficit return to four runs on a Jared Hoying home run in the fifth. With the bases empty and one out, Round Rock's center fielder took Bees starter Caleb Clay (3-4, 4.55 ERA) deep to right to make it 5-1 E-Train. Hoying now has a team-high 23 round trippers on the season. He has clubbed three in his last eight games.

The Bees plated a final run in the eighth on C.J. Cron RBI groundout to bring the final score to 5-2.

Ross Jr.'s fellow Kentuckian Nate Adcock weathered a hit and a walk in the ninth to secure his second save of the season. The right-hander struck out two to lock down the E-Train win.

Four Express players turned in multi-hit performances Wednesday led by 3B Chris Gimenez, who finished 3-for-3 with an RBI.

The Express and Bees will continue their series with game two Thursday at Smith's Ballpark. Round Rock RHP Luke Jackson (1-2, 9.10 ERA) is expected to take the ball for Round Rock against Salt Lake's RHP Chris Volstad (2-1, 5.45 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. CDT.

Listen to the game live on 104.9 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!