Express bullpen silences Baby Cakes

The Round Rock Express used a four-run rally in the fourth inning and 6 1/3 shutout innings from its bullpen to overcome the New Orleans Baby Cakes on Thursday night, 6-3.
New Orleans struck for three runs in the first three innings against Express starter Anthony Bass, who exited with an apparent injury on the same pitch where 'Cakes outfielder Destin Hood was forced from the game following a check swing.
Nick Noonan took over Hood's at-bat with two on and two out in the third, and ripped a pinch-hit single up the middle to plate both runners, giving New Orleans a 3-1 lead.
The Express drove Baby Cakes starter Kelvin Marte from the game by sending all nine batters to the plate in the fourth. Jason Martinson tied the game with a two-run double, and Preston Beck drove in the go-ahead run on an infield single when Marte was late to cover first base. Travis Snider completed the rally with a two-out RBI single off Brandon Cunniff.
Martinson added a second double against Javy Guerra in the ninth and scored on a Drew Robinson single to provide an insurance tally.
Jimmy Reyes (2-1) stepped in to provide 2 1/3 frames of scoreless relief for Round Rock, and four more relievers held New Orleans off the scoreboard the rest of the night. Preston Claiborne picked up his 12^th save despite allowing a pair of singles in the ninth.
The Baby Cakes stranded 10 runners in the game, and clinched an 18th consecutive non-winning series to open the season.
Marte (1-4) was charged with five runs on six hits and took the loss, despite recording a season-high six strikeouts.
The teams conclude the four-game set on Friday at 7 p.m.