Rogers, Sounds Take Two More From Express
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Round Rock Express (61-61) and the Nashville Sounds (66-56) played their second doubleheader in three days Sunday, and for the second time in three days the Sounds pulled off a doubleheader sweep, defeating the Express 13-4 and 4-2 at Greer Stadium.
In game one, the Express won the home run battle, but were otherwise overwhelmed by a potent Sounds offensive attack led by 3B Jason Rogers and RF Jeremy Hermida. Rogers finished 3-for-3 with two home runs and a career-high six RBI, while Hermida went 3-for-4 with two doubles and four RBI.
Nashville jumped all over Round Rock starter RHP Luke Jackson (1-1, 9.00 ERA) out of the gate, scoring four runs in the first and five in the second to amass a 9-0 advantage. Hermida got the scoring started with an RBI double ahead of Rogers, who blasted his first round tripper of the game, a three-run shot over the left field wall. With the bases loaded and no outs in the second, LF Eugenio Velez singled home the Sounds first run of the inning. Hermida and Rogers then delivered back-to-back two-run hits to chase Jackson from the game.
The E-Train got on the board in the fourth when RF Jared Hoying belted his 20th home run of the season. Rogers negated Hoying's dinger with a solo shot of his own in the home half, however, giving the home team a 10-1 cushion.
In the fifth, CF Ryan Strausborger hit the first of his two home runs in the game to cut Round Rock's insurmountable deficit to eight, only to see the Sounds stretch their lead to 13-2 in the bottom of the inning.
Strausborger's second long ball came with one on and one out in the seventh, as he lined a 2-0 pitch over the wall in left to bring the final score to 13-4. The Express outfielder now has three homers this season.
UT-Austin alum RHP Taylor Jungmann (6-5, 4.75 ERA) benefitted greatly from Nashville's offensive outburst, picking up his sixth win of the year. Jungmann allowed two runs on four hits over six innings, while walking two and striking out a season-high nine batters.
In game two, Round Rock jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a solo blast by DH Michael Choice in the second, but once again proved to have no answer for Rogers and the relentless Sounds offense.
Nashville SS Hector Gomez led off the third with his 13th home run of the season to tie the game. With two on and two out later in the inning, Rogers struck again, connecting for his third homer of the night to put his club in the driver's seat at 4-1. Rogers has gone yard seven times this season.
Choice went deep for a second time to lead off the seventh, his fifth of the season, to bring the final score to 4-2.
Express starter RHP Justin Germano (4-13, 4.51 ERA) suffered his league-leading 13th loss of the season after giving up four runs on seven hits in five innings of work. Germano's counterpart RHP Ariel Pena (9-7, 4.28 ERA) surrendered one run on five hits over 5.2 innings to earn the win.
Weather permitting, the Express and Sounds will conclude their five-game series Monday night at Greer Stadium. Round Rock's LHP Ryan Feierabend (8-5, 4.54 ERA) is scheduled to make his first start since returning from a month-long stint with the Texas Rangers, while Nashville will counter with RHP Donovan Hand (1-7, 5.40 ERA). The series finale will begin at 7:05 p.m.
Listen to the game live on 104.9 The Horn or 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!