Express runs with lead over 'Birds

Memphis, TN: The Redbirds struggled again tonight to get the job done late in the ball game and came up on the losing end with an inning-to-inning battle in the fourth game of the series against Round Rock Express losing 3-2.

Nick Additon took the mound to start for the 'Birds with two scoreless innings giving only one hit. The Express took the lead in the third and added another in the fourth when left fielder Matt Kata hit a single to left field after Joey Butler and Robinzon Diaz got on. The Express went up 2-0 until the 'Birds answered back in the bottom of the fourth.

Mark Hamilton started it off with a single and made his way to home plate off a double hit by Matt Carpenter for a 2-1 ballgame in the fourth.

It wasn't long until Joey Butler for Round Rock came up in the top of the sixth to hit a solo home run to get what was at the time an insurance run for Express. But Aaron Luna didn't sit back as he answered back with his own home run in the bottom of the inning as the 'Birds still trail by one 3-2 going into the seventh.

Additon finished strong pitching a solid seven innings matching his season high record for innings pitched giving up three runs off eight hits with one walk and three strikeouts.

"He went seven innings and only gave three runs, that is a good effort. He did a good job and I was pleased with how he pitched," said Maloney.

The Redbirds make it a last chance inning again in the bottom of the ninth trailing 3-2 to the Express. Bryan Anderson gets on with a walk only one out but a quick double play ends the game as the 'Birds lose their third game to Round Rock this series.

The 'Birds have seen the Express for eight games straight, with a four day break in-between for All-Stars, but haven't quite figured out how they work.

"It has its advantages and disadvantages. You get use to a team and you learn what they are trying to do to you, what their plan of attack is against you, but at the same time they can be doing the same thing against you," said Chris Carpenter. "It can be challenging but that is how the schedule falls."

Memphis will play two more series and travel right back to Round Rock for another four-game series to finish the 16-game total that the two teams will face each other.

"We had a four day break in-between," said Manager Chris Maloney. " But we see these guys 16 times. We will see them again eight days after this, so we ought to know them pretty good by now."

The 'Birds will close their series with Round Rock tomorrow evening with a 6:05 PM first pitch as they try to bridge the series gap that the Express currently hold with a 3-1 lead.