ROUND ROCK, Texas - Round Rock Express (64-72) LF Ryan Rua launched a two-run homer to deep center field in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the E-Train a 5-3 victory over the Oklahoma City Dodgers (72-68z) on Saturday night at Dell Diamond. Express reliever RHP Tanner Scheppers
ROUND ROCK, Texas - Round Rock Express (64-72) LF Ryan Rua launched a two-run homer to deep center field in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the E-Train a 5-3 victory over the Oklahoma City Dodgers (72-68z) on Saturday night at Dell Diamond.
Express reliever RHP Tanner Scheppers (1-3, 4.84) picked up the win after throwing two scoreless innings of relief. OKC LHP Jeremy Bleich (5-3, 3.22) was tabbed with the loss after giving up Rua's go-ahead blast.
Neither starting pitcher figured into the decision as Round Rock RHP Tyler Wagner gave up three runs on six hits in five innings of work. Dodgers RHP Madison Younginer allowed three runs on seven hits in just 3.1 innings.
The visitors tagged Wagner for three runs in the first two innings. 2B Tim Locastro was hit with a pitch in the first plate appearance of the game. 3B Kyle Farmer followed up with an RBI double that put OKC on the board. After an Edwin Ríos single, CF Henry Ramos grounded into a fielder's choice that sent Farmer racing home to double the lead to 2-0.
An inning later, DH Jacob Scavuzzo , C Jack Murphy and Locastro teamed up for three singles, the latest of which scored Oklahoma City's third run of the night.
Round Rock answered in the bottom of the frame as CF Jared Hoying lined a one-out double to left field. 3B Phil Gosselin and DH Preston Beck kept the rally going with back-to-back singles, scoring a run to trim the deficit to 3-1.
In the fourth, 1B Ronald Guzmán collected a leadoff single before Gosselin notched his second single of the night, driving Guzman home to bring the Express even closer. After a Beck single, C Brett Hayes sent a sacrifice fly to center field, knotting the contest at 3-3.
Following three scoreless innings, 2B Willie Calhoun opened the eighth inning with a single. Rua then stepped to the plate and launched a go-ahead homer, giving the Express their first lead of the night at 5-3.
Scheppers worked around a leadoff single to retire the side in the ninth, picking up his third save of the season and preserving the win.
Round Rock and Oklahoma City meet against on Sunday at 6:05 p.m. E-Train RHP Clayton Blackburn (6-2, 4.50) is scheduled to face OKC RHP David Hale (2-4, 4.05). First pitch at Dell Diamond is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
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