'Cakes Rise in Ninth to Record Walkoff 3-2 Win over Express

METAIRIE, Louisiana - The Round Rock Express (56-66) defense committed a pair of errors in the bottom of the ninth inning as the New Orleans Baby Cakes (50-72) scored three unearned runs in the frame to collect a 3-2 walkoff win on Thursday night. The late Baby Cakes rally spoiled a dazzling pitchers' duel complements of E-Train RHP Clayton Blackburn and 'Cakes RHP Scott Copeland .
Blackburn posted his best start of the season, blanking New Orleans on five hits and two walks in seven innings. On the other side, Copeland allowed both E-Train runs on a total of five hits and two walks in 7.2 strong innings. The righty struck out eight Round Rock hitters and walked only two.
The frenetic finish helped New Orleans reliever RHP Keyvius Sampson (5-3, 5.85) earn the win thanks to 1.1 scoreless innings. Express RHP Tayler Scott (0-1, 5.79) suffered his first loss of the season after giving up all three New Orleans runs, each of which were unearned, on a total of two hits in 0.2 innings of relief.
The two teams combined for just eight hits in the first seven innings. In the top of the first, Express LF Willie Calhoun and 1B Will Middlebrooks teamed up for a pair of two-out singles, but DH Ronald Guzmán grounded into a fielder's choice that eliminated the threat.
In the bottom of the inning, New Orleans 3B Steve Lombardozzi manufactured a leadoff walk prior to a Eury Pérez single. However, Blackburn enticed LF Moisés Sierra into a double play before retiring 1B Cal Towey .
Only four baserunners worked their way into scoring position over the next six innings. Guzman recorded a two-out single in the sixth before RF Ryan Rua worked a walk, however 3B Tyler Smith lined out to thwart the opportunity. New Orleans loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the frame but again came up empty.
The Express finally broke the scoreless draw in the eighth. After a two-out Rua single, SS Jurickson Profar stepped to the plate and sent a screaming line drive over the wall in deep center field to put Round Rock up 2-0.
The ninth inning began precariously as DH Christian Colón sent a sharp ground ball to Smith, who kicked the offering into center field for a leadoff error. After SS Peter Mooney doubled to put two runners in scoring position with one out, C Austin Nola sent a routine grounder to Profar at short. The ball rolled under Profar's glove and into left field, allowing both runners to score while Nola took first.
Scott forced Lombardozzi into a swinging strikeout for the second out of the frame, however the ball skipped past C Kevin Torres while Nola sprinted to third on the wild pitch. In the very next at-bat, Perez sent a ground ball to Middlebrooks at first, who bobbled the offering, leaving just enough time for Nola to score the game-winning run.
The two American Southern Division rivals conclude their season series on Friday night. Express RHP Nick Martínez (3-0, 2.64) is slated to face Baby Cakes LHP Mike Kickham (2-1, 6.94). First pitch at the Shrine on Airline is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
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