Round Rock Blasts Two Grand Slams in 14-8 Demolition of Iowa

ROUND ROCK, Texas - The most unique series of the season could not have had a more fitting final as the Round Rock Express (42-27) obliterated the Iowa Cubs (36-33) on Father's Day at Dell Diamond, 14-8. Round Rock split the series with the Cubs, taking the final two games.

The Express kicked off the game with 1-2-3 inning from starter Stolmy Pimentel and saw its bats come to life in the opening act with a lead-off single from CF Ryan Strausborger. 3B Tyler Pastornicky hit a quick line out to give Iowa starter Drake Britton some comfort, but 2B Tommy Field earned a walk after a six-pitch battle with Britton, putting two on with one out. A single from 1B Brett Nicholas loaded the bases for C Tomas Telis. Telis poked the first pitch he saw from Drake into the mitt of Iowa RF John Andreoli, freezing the runners with DH Michael Choice coming to the plate. Choice exerted his dominance over the I-Cubs with a towering shot to the left-field home run porch, marking the second E-Train home run of the year and giving Round Rock a 4-0 lead. Choice finished the series against Iowa 7-14 (.500) with one home run, three runs, two doubles and six RBIs.

The contest turned on a dime in the top of the second as Pimentel gave up a two-run homer to Iowa 1B Chris Valaika with two outs on the board, cutting the Round Rock lead to 4-2. Pimentel then issued a walk to SS Jonathan Mota, bringing CF Rubi Silva to the plate. Silva instantly tied the contest on the first pitch he saw from Pimentel, launching a two-run homer to left center field, making the game 4-4.

Round Rock's offensive explosion hit full stride in the bottom of the third inning as Britton began to deteriorate. Pastornicky took the southpaw to left with a lead-off single and Field continued the bombardment with a RBI triple, extending the lead to 5-4. A single from Nicholas scored Field for the sixth run of the night and consecutive walks from Drake loaded the bases for 3B Chris Gimenez. Gimenez joined the hit parade with a RBI single of his own that brought Nicholas in, sending the score to 7-4. A fly out from SS Beamer Weems settled the crowd, but Round Rock still had two outs to cause damage. The pinnacle of the inning came one pitch later as RF Chris Garia jettisoned the second grand slam of the game to left field for Round Rock, emptying the bases for an 11-4 advantage. The second grand slam crowned the Express as the first team in the Pacific Coast League with two grand slams in one game this season. Iowa LHP Joseph Ortiz entered for Britton (3-4, 6.52) who finished his night with 2.2 innings pitched, eight hits, 11 runs (11 earned), and four walks.

The E-Train padded its lead in the bottom of the fourth with Nicholas and Telis going double, single to lead off the inning. Choice then collected RBIs five and six on the night with a double, augmenting the Round Rock advantage to 13-4.

Round Rock then tied its single-game season high by scoring the 14th run of the evening as Nicholas gathered his second RBI of the night, scoring Garia on a ground out.

The I-Cubs added the final four runs of the game by scoring on a wild pitch courtesy of Express RHP Luke Jackson in the top of the eighth and three runs in the ninth thanks to a RBI singles from new 1B Ryan Dent, CF Rubi Silva and 2B Arismendy Alcantara to solidify the score at 14-8.   

Round Rock receives some much needed rest tomorrow afternoon thanks to a league-wide off day, but then embarks on its longest road trip of the season. The Express makes a three-game stop in New Orleans where RHP Alec Asher (2-2, 5.14) will toe the rubber against Zephyrs RHP Andre Rienzo (0-4, 3.07) in game one. After three with New Orleans, Round Rock goes to Omaha for four followed by four games in Iowa.

For tickets and more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Follow the Express on Facebook and Twitter!