Round Rock Uses Long Ball to Stomp Omaha, 4-1
OMAHA, NE. - The Round Rock Express (44-29) took game one against the Omaha Storm Chasers (39-35) at Werner Park Friday night, 4-1. The E-Train left the yard twice and held the Storm Chasers scoreless through the first four innings of the contest.
Round Rock CF Jared Hoying ignited the E-Train scoring effort in the second inning by taking Omaha starter and ML rehabber Yordano Ventura to left center for his 13th blast of the season. The two-out solo shot marked the second game in a row Hoying has left the park. C Chris Gimenez ended the inning by getting tagged at second base, halting the Round Rock momentum.
The E-Train continued its attack on Ventura in the top of the fifth inning as LF Michael Choice earned a lead-off walk and was advanced to second on a Hoying single. Hoying's single proved to be the last action of the evening for Ventura (0-1, 6.75) as he went 4.0 innings with three hits, three runs (three earned), three walks and five strikeouts. Omaha RHP Andy Ferguson entered for Ventura with men on first and second with Gimenez coming to the plate. The Round Rock catcher laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners, putting Hoying on second and Choice on third. SS Beamer Weems stepped in the box and lined a two-RBI double to left field with one out, extending the Express lead to 3-0. Ferguson escaped the inning with an inning-ending double play.
Express starter Ross Wolf managed four shutout innings before the Omaha bats found life in the bottom of the fifth. Wolf collected the first out with a liner straight to 2B Tommy Field after a four pitch battle with Storm Chasers RF Moises Sierra, but saw Omaha DH Casey Kotchman get aboard with a single. Wolf then hit SS Orlando Calixte with a pitch, putting Storm Chasers on first and second. The Round Rock starter recovered with a fly out for the second out of the inning, but surrendered a RBI double to 2B Gabriel Noriega on the first pitch, making the score 3-1 Round Rock. Wolf ended the inning with a fly out to send the game into the sixth.
Wolf's (6-5, 6.68) night came to an end after 6.0 innings pitched with five hits, one run (earned) and one walk. LHP Alex Claudio entered for Wolf in the bottom of the seventh in his first game back with Round Rock. The southpaw's only blemish was a two-out double before he completed the seventh with a ground out.
Round Rock received an insurance run as RF Ryan Strausborger smashed the first pitch he saw from Ferguson in the top of the eighth for the second Express solo home run of the night. The blast augmented the E-Train lead to 4-1 and gave Strausborger his seventh of 2015 and his second in two games.
RHP Jared Burton entered in the ninth for his first save opportunity of the season, but began his outing by giving up a lead-off single to Sierra. The Express righty recuperated well by finishing the ninth with a fly out and two Ks, earning his first save of the season.
The Express and Storm Chasers continue the series tomorrow night with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch at Werner Park. ML rehabber Martin Perez takes the hill for Round Rock in his first rehab outing against Omaha RHP Aaron Brooks.
For tickets and more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Follow the Express on Facebook and Twitter!