Express are lights-out in besting Zephyrs

The Round Rock Express used three straight doubles to spark a three-run third inning rally, and defeated the New Orleans Zephyrs, 4-2 on Wednesday night.

The Zephyrs grabbed an early lead on Jordany Valdespin's home run leading off the second inning, his fourth of the season. Juan Diaz followed with a double into the right field corner, and scored one out later when Matt Angle laced a single over a drawn-in infield for a 2-0 advantage.

Anthony DeSclafani retired the first seven batters he faced before Jason Donald, Kensuke Tanaka and Luis Sardinas strung together consecutive doubles in the third to tie the game. Bryan Petersen added a blooper that fell fair inside the left field line to drive in a third run and give the Express a 3-2 lead.

After surrendering a leadoff single to Brett Nicholas in the fourth, DeSclafani (1-2) settled down to hold the Express hitless over the next three innings. He finished with eight strikeouts, equaling the total from a June 5 start in El Paso for his most in five Triple-A outings.

With the Zephyrs still trailing 3-2 during the seventh inning stretch, a storm front with winds approaching 50 mph came through the New Orleans area and caused localized power outages. Zephyr Field lost power to three of its light towers, the game was delayed for 20 minutes before power was restored.

Upon resuming, Matt Angle ripped a leadoff double down the right field line against Express reliever Lisalverto Bonilla but was stranded as the Zephyrs went 1-for-10 on the night with runners in scoring position.

Ryan Rua slugged a home run in the ninth off Arquimedes Caminero, and Neftali Feliz retired the Zephyrs in order in the bottom of the inning for his seventh save of the year.

Justin Germano (3-7), who was 0-2 with a 6.50 ERA in three previous starts against the Zephyrs this season, scattered two runs and seven hits in six innings and picked up the victory. He struck out five and walked one.

The Z's and Express wrap up the series on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Zephyrs' Independence Day celebration, featuring a mini-flag giveaway, fireworks and a postgame concert.