ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Round Rock Dance Halls (22-31) opened the 2018 Battle for the Boot Championship with a convincing 8-1 victory over the Nashville Honky Tonks (26-25) on Wednesday night at Dell Diamond. The Express and Sounds kicked off their annual rivalry series by rebranding as the Dance Halls
ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Round Rock Dance Halls (22-31) opened the 2018 Battle for the Boot Championship with a convincing 8-1 victory over the Nashville Honky Tonks (26-25) on Wednesday night at Dell Diamond. The Express and Sounds kicked off their annual rivalry series by rebranding as the Dance Halls and Honky Tonks, respectively.
Dance Halls RHP Adrian Sampson (3-2, 5.82) picked up the win after allowing just one hit in 2.0 innings of relief. Honky Tonks LHP Eric Jokisch (1-6, 5.53) suffered the loss following a performance in which he allowed six runs on seven hits while walking four in 5.0 frames.
Round Rock starter LHP Michael Roth was impressive in his first start of the year with the team, limiting Nashville to a run on six hits in 4.0 innings of the no-decision.
The Dance Halls scored early and often in the lopsided victory. Round Rock RF Scott Heineman opened the game with a leadoff double prior to back-to-back groundouts by LF Willie Calhoun and DH Tony Sanchez that ultimately allowed the run to score.
Nashville briefly leveled the game at 1-1 in the second. DH Anthony García and C Josh Phegley tallied consecutive singles to open the frame. After a Sheldon Neuse walk loaded the bases, LF B.J. Boyd poked a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Garcia to tie the game.
Round Rock responded with a four-run third inning. Sanchez doubled, then 1B Tommy Joseph blasted a two-run homer. Following an Andy Ibáñez single, C Cameron Rupp launched the Dance Halls' second two-run homer of the frame, a towering shot to right field that put Round Rock up 5-1.
In the fifth, Sanchez and Ibanez singled before a Rupp walk loaded the bases. 2B Christian Lopes extended his team's lead to 6-1 with a sacrifice fly to left field. An inning later, CF Carlos Tocci and Heineman each recorded walks off of Nashville LHP Jarret Martin . Following a wild pitch, Sanchez singled home a run, then Calhoun grounded out to pad the lead to 8-1.
Sampson, RHP Tayler Scott , RHP Deolis Guerra and RHP R.J. Alvarez teamed up for 5.0 shutout innings out of the bullpen. The quartet allowed just four hits while striking out eight.
The Dance Halls and Honky Tonks continue their rivalry series on Thursday night. Round Rock LHP David Hurlbut (1-4, 5.21) is scheduled to start up against Nashville RHP James Naile (4-5, 3.38). First pitch at Dell Diamond is set for 7:05 p.m.
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