Express Drop Third Straight To Vegas, 9-5

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The Round Rock Express (67-70) walked a season-high 13 batters Tuesday as they dropped their third straight game in Sin City, falling 9-5 to Anthony Seratelli and the Las Vegas 51s (79-60) at Cashman Field.

For the second night in a row, Seratelli put his team in the driver's seat in the second. With the bases juiced and two away, the 51s center fielder took Express starter RHP Lisalverto Bonilla deep to right-center field for his fifth home run of the season, this one of the grand variety, to put Vegas on top 4-0.

Round Rock responded with two runs in the third to cut their deficit in half. 2B Jason Donald led off with single to center and scored two batters later when CF Ryan Strausborger went deep to left-center for his fifth round tripper of the year.

In the sixth, the E-Train inched to within one at 4-3 courtesy of a Jared Hoying solo blast to left. Hoying now has a team-best 24 homers on the campaign.

The 51s stretched their advantage out to four with three runs in the home half of the sixth to put the game away. Round Rock reliever Luke Jackson issued two walks and a hit to load the bases before walking in two runs. SS Matt Reynolds then lifted a sacrifice fly to center to give Las Vegas a 7-3 cushion.

The E-Train again cut their lead in half in the seventh as 1B J.R. Towles delivered a two-out, two-run double to make it 7-5. Towles, who spent parts of three seasons with Round Rock from 2007-2009, finished 1-for-3 in his 2014 debut with his old club after signing a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers on Monday.

Vegas tacked on two more runs in the eighth to bring the final score to 9-5.

Round Rock's Bonilla (3-2, 4.39 ERA) took the loss despite striking out a season-high nine batters. In 4.2 innings, the right-hander gave up four runs on four hits, while walking three. 51s starter RHP Logan Verrett (11-5, 4.47 ERA) meanwhile got the win after allowing two runs in five innings, while striking out five and walking none.

The E-Train's offensive attack was led by Hoying, who finished 2-for-4 with a double and a dinger to extend his hitting streak to a season-high 10 games.

The Express will conclude their 2014 road schedule Wednesday night with the 51s at Cashman Field. LHP Jimmy Reyes (1-1, 8.05 ERA) is scheduled to take the ball for Round Rock against highly touted New York Mets prospect RHP Noah Syndergaard (8-7, 4.85 ERA) of Las Vegas. Game time is slated for 9:05 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!

NOTE: The Memphis Redbirds defeated the Fresno Grizzlies Tuesday night, mathematically eliminating the Express from playoff contention.