Express Win 6-5 after 12th-Inning Walk-Off Walk

ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Round Rock Express (47-45) collected 13 base hits on Thursday night but it was a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the 12th inning that gave the E-Train a 6-5 victory over the Sacramento River Cats (38-54) at Dell Diamond.

Round Rock LHP Andrew Faulkner (5-1, 4.73) snatched the win following a scoreless top of the 12th inning. On the other side, Sacramento RHP Jake Dunning (2-2, 4.38) took the loss after surrendering three hits before issuing the game-winning walk.

The Express pulled out of the station full steam ahead to open the second half of the season. RF Delino DeShields slapped a leadoff single to shortstop before RF Drew Robinson knocked a double off the wall in center field, putting both runners in scoring position.

Two batters later, Sacramento starter RHP Clayton Blackburn lost control of a pitch, sailing the offering to the backstop while DeShields came flying home with the opening run. After LF Justin Ruggiano drew a two-out walk, 1B Kyle Kubitza drove in a pair with a hard-hit double to right field, giving the E-Train a quick 3-0 lead.

Round Rock starter RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning before the River Cats managed to knot the game at three. LF Austin Slater broke up the no-no bid in its infancy with a leadoff double to open the fifth. A two-out double off the bat of SS Rando Moreno gave the visitors their first run of the evening. In the very next at-bat, CF Gorkys Hernandez stepped to the plate and launched a two-run homer into the Home Run Porch to reset the score at 3-3.

A furious two-out rally in the bottom of the eighth eventually plated the go-ahead runs for the Express. Kubitza kicked off the late comeback with a walk before SS Hanser Alberto followed up with a single. 2B Doug Bernier then lined a 1-1 pitch just inches fair down the left field foul line, scoring Kubitza easily while Alberto sprinted home with an extra insurance run.

However, Sacramento struck back in the top of the ninth. DH Travis Ishikawa sparked the rally by getting hit with a Jimmy Reyes pitch in the first plate appearance of the frame. RHP Carlos Fisher then entered the game and allowed a double to C Andrew Susac, putting two runners in scoring position for Slater. The left fielder delivered with an RBI groundout that cut his team's deficit to 5-4. RF Chris Denorfia then popped a sacrifice fly into left field that left Susac to race home with the game-tying run.

After a pair of scoreless innings, Round Rock broke through in the bottom of the 12th. Kubitza led off the inning with a double before moving to third on an Alberto infield single. Bernier then singled to load the bases for C Patrick Cantwell. One of the most patient hitters of the year for the Express proved his worth, collecting a four-pitch walk that sent Kubitza trotting home to seal the 6-5 walk-off victory.

The Express and River Cats will continue their series Friday evening as Sacramento LHP Adalberto Mejia (1-1, 4.81) is scheduled to pitch against a Round Rock pitcher who has yet to be announced. First pitch on Christmas in July Night at Dell Diamond is set for 7:05 p.m.

Single game tickets are available along with season ticket packages and group discounts. For more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter!