Express Rally Past New Orleans 11-8
ROUND ROCK, Texas - Brian Bogusevic's RBI single capped a seven-run seventh inning as the Round Rock Express rallied past the New Orleans Zephyrs 11-8 Wednesday night at The Dell Diamond. The Express (41-57) take a two-games-to-one lead in the series. The Zephyrs (46-49) maintain a 10-5 advantage in the season series.
Round Rock sent 11 batters to the plate in the pivotal seventh inning. Each of the inning's first eight batters reached base safely and each of the first seven scored. It matched the highest-scoring inning of the season for the Express, who have scored seven in an inning on two other occasions.
With the Express trailing 8-4, Bogusevic and Tommy Everidge started the seven-run frame with consecutive walks. Matt Kata followed with a single to load the bases. Drew Locke started the scoring with a two-run double after falling behind 0-2. A single and a walk reloaded the bases, and Michael Garciaparra drew a game-tying, pinch-hit RBI walk. Collin DeLome was hit by a pitch to bring in the go-ahead run. A ground-ball double play scored another run, and Bogusevic's single capped the frame.
That made a winner of reliever T.J. Burton (2-3), who struck out the side in the top of the seventh - his lone inning of work. Starter Sergio Perez left after facing two batters in the sixth; he allowed four runs, three earned on three hits and five walks with two strikeouts.
New Orleans reliever Adalberto Mendez (3-3) took the loss. He pitched a scoreless sixth but allowed each of the five runners he faced in the seventh to reach base. Mendez allowed five runs on four hits and three walks with two strikeouts. Starter Chris Volstad surrendered four runs on five hits and three walks with three strikeouts over 4.0 innings.
Bogusevic reached safely in all five plate appearances, going 3-for-3 with two walks, a home run, four RBI and two runs scored. Edwin Maysonet was 3-for-5 with two runs scored.
The Zephyrs scored an unearned run on a hit batsman, a passed ball and a Scott Cousins single in the top of the third. That lead was short-lived, though, as Bogusevic clubbed a three-run homer in the bottom of the frame. It was Bogusevic's 11th round-tripper of the season and only his third non-solo homer.
After the teams traded runs in the fourth, New Orleans plated six runs on six hits in the sixth. Mark Saccomanno's solo homer started the scoring barrage as the Zephyrs sent 10 batters to the plate in the frame.
Saccomanno, who played for the Express each of the last three seasons, has hit safely in all three games of the series in his first games back to The Dell Diamond. Cousins was 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Brian Carroll was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Round Rock and New Orleans conclude the series Thursday with a 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch at The Dell Diamond. It will be dueling southpaws as Andy Van Hekken (6-6, 3.99 ERA) takes the mound for the Express, and Sean West (3-3, 3.50 ERA) toes the slab for the Zephyrs.
Caboose Notes
PEREZ DEPARTS GAME WITH INJURY
Express starter Sergio Perez left the game with no outs and a 2-1 count in top of sixth. Perez left a batter after Mark Saccomanno hit a towering home run to left field.
The right-hander said he felt tightness in his oblique and didn't want to risk anything but he feels fine. He shouldn't miss a start.
Perez tossed 5.0 innings, allowing four runs, three earned with five walks and two strikeouts.
The 25-year-old hasn't had command of his fastball of late, while not earning a win since June 17. Perez got off to a quick start in Round Rock, after a mid-May promotion, while tossing 7.0 innings in four consecutive while allowing three runs or less in each.
EXPRESS AIDED BY ADDITION OF SPEED
With the promotion of Wladimir Sutil to Round Rock on June 17, along with Collin DeLome coming off the disabled list on July 1, the Express added speed on the base paths.
They've taken advantage of it, in seven games since the All-Star break they've had eight stolen bases.
In the game-turning seventh inning, where Round Rock put seven runs on the board, Brian Bogusevic walked and then showed off his speed, stealing second to start the rally.
"It was weird because (opposing pitcher Adalberto Mendez) never got rhythm after that," Express manager Marc Bombard said after the 11-8 win. "We had some great base running tonight.
"Base running is very important. I've tried to say some things here and there to them and they've responded on the bases. They've gone a good job of running with their heads up."
CORCORAN TURNING THINGS AROUND
Pitching coach Burt Hooton has worked recently with Roy Corcoran and is getting results after the results after the reliever converted his second save in as many nights.
The right-hander picked up his seventh save of the year and hasn't allowed a run in his last three appearances.
"He was in a funk for about three weeks to a month and he's pitching now like he did a month ago (before that)," Round Rock manager Marc Bombard said.
His curveball has been tighter and he's done a better job of locating his fastball Bombard said.