Round Rock Uses an Eight-Run Seventh to Fend Off El Paso 8-6
ROUND ROCK, Texas - The first nine-inning game at Dell Diamond in four days provided heart-wrenching drama as the Round Rock Express (29-16) defeated the El Paso Chihuahuas (24-22), 8-6. The E-Train stormed back from a 2-0 deficit with eight runs in the seventh inning, but received a scare as El Paso instilled a four-run rally of its own in the ninth. The teams combined for 14 runs on 22 hits.
The opening three innings told the story of strong starting pitching as Round Rock starter Anthony Ranaudo and El Paso starter Zack Segovia went toe-to-toe. Both threw shutout innings to the opposing side through the first third of the contest and controlled the pace of play as the right handers worked diligently. Ranaudo only gave up two hits through three and Segovia did him one better by only surrendering one.
El Paso LF Alex Dickerson used a lead-off single in the fourth to revitalize the Chihuahuas and get the bats flowing. Ranaudo shook off the opening single with a fly out of RF Rymer Liriano, but was unable to retire 3B Brett Wallace who laced his eighth double of the season to score Dickerson for the game's first run. Ranaudo picked up another out to lighten the load with a fly out, but SS Ramiro Pena collected the third El Paso hit of the inning with a RBI single that brought Wallace home to put the Chihuahuas up 2-0 after four innings.
Segovia (1-0, 0.82) used an inning-ending double play in the sixth to complete his outing and keep the shutout alive for El Paso. The former Express starter went 6.0 innings allowing four hits with two strikeouts.
After a 1-2-3 seventh from Ranaudo, the E-Train went after El Paso reliever Leonel Campos in the bottom half of the inning. LF Michael Choice earned a one-out walk that spurred El Paso to pull Campos and bring in LHP Eury De La Rosa to face Express CF Jared Hoying. The decision proved futile for the Chihuahuas as Hoying hit his eighth double of the season to move Choice to third. DH Brett Nicholas supplied a sacrifice fly to deep right field to score Choice for the first Round Rock run of the game. The Express hitters continued the hit parade as SS Hanser Alberto singled to score Hoying, tying the game at two. RF Ryan Strausborger reached on a fielding error that brought Alberto around, giving Round Rock its first lead of the game at 3-2.
The E-Train remained relentless in the seventh as 3B Tyler Pastornicky lined a single to left to score Strausborger, putting Round Rock on top by two runs, 4-2. El Paso used another bullpen call that summoned LHP Chris Rearick, but the momentum was heavily in Round Rock's favor as 2B Rougned Odor rocketed his fifth homer of the year to add two more runs to the Express total, setting the score at 6-2. 1B Ed Lucas completed his turn at the hit barrage with a double to right, still with two outs on the board. A walk to C Tomas Telis put men on first and second, bringing Choice back around. The left fielder smoked a double to right that pulled in two more runs for Round Rock, making the score 8-2. The inning finally ended on a Hoying fly out. Round Rock finished the inning with eight runs, six hits and one man left on base.
The teams fell silent in the eighth as newly added Express RHP Jared Burton made his Round Rock debut with a 1-2-3 inning, but a drama-filled night was still in store for the Express fans as the teams entered the ninth.
RHP Jimmy Reyes took over for Burton with an 8-2 lead, needing only three outs to seal the victory for the Express. Reyes began his outing with a walk to Wallace, but followed up with the first out of the inning on a fly out. Pena then spiked a single to right field to put men on first and second with one out. 1B Tommy Medica kept the comeback threat alive with a RBI single to bring the score to 8-3. PH Mike McCoy supplied a clutch single that put another El Paso run on the board, inching the Chihuahuas closer, 8-4. The singles poured on as C Rocky Gale took Reyes to left field and tightened the score to 8-5. The RBI single was the last pitch of the night for Reyes as RHP Spencer Patton took the hill in relief. A quick fly out gave Patton the second out of the inning, but the tension at Dell Diamond still lingered. Back-to-back walks did not help Patton's cause as he loaded the bases. Patton finally settled against Wallace with a five-pitch strikeout that sent Wallace back to the dugout swinging and solidified the victory, 8-6.
Tomorrow night's series finale between the Express and Chihuahuas is set for a 7:05 p.m. first pitch on CBS Sports Network as the Minor League Baseball Game of the Week. RHP Chi Chi Gonzalez (3-5, 4.15) toeing the rubber for Round Rock against El Paso south paw Jason Lane (3-3, 4.18). The nationally televised game is the first of 10 to be featured on CBS Sports Network this summer. Check your local listings for channel information.
In a partnership with the United Way of Williamson County, fans who bring an item to donate to the flood victims will receive two complimentary general admission tickets to Thursday's game.
For tickets and more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Follow the Express on Facebook and Twitter!