Express Survive Pitcher's Duel to Claim 3-2 Win over Sounds

ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Round Rock Express (12-9) survived an early pitcher's duel to edge past the Nashville Sounds (10-12) by a final score of 3-2 tonight at Dell Diamond. Express reliever RHP Carlos Fisher (2-0, 0.00) picked up his second win of the season after allowing one run on one hit in 1.2 innings of relief.

Sounds LHP Dillon Overton (1-2, 3.38) shined early but suffered the loss as the Express tagged the lefty for three earned runs on five hits in six innings of work. Continuing a theme set by Nashville's two previous starting pitchers, Overton struck out seven Round Rock hitters and walked just one.

Both offenses struggled to solve their opponent's starting pitcher throughout much of the contest. For the Express, LHP Chad Bell (1-0, 1.50) gave up only one hit through the first five frames - a second inning double to CF Jake Smolinski. The lefty finished the day having allowed just one run on two hits while recording six strikeouts.

Overton was equally impressive, as he carried a no-hitter deep into the middle frame. A second inning Ike Davis walk represented the only baserunner for the E-Train in the team's first 15 at-bats. 2B Pedro Ciriaco broke up the no-hit bid with a two-out single in the bottom of the fifth.

Nashville opened the scoring in the top of the sixth as 2B Joey Wendle recorded a leadoff single before advancing to third on a throwing error by Round Rock 3B Doug Bernier that also allowed SS Chad Pinder to reach second base safely. DH Max Muncy singled home Wendle in the next at-bat to break the scoreless draw. The Sounds added another run with a sacrifice fly off the bat of 3B Renato Nunez that was just deep enough to allow Pinder to race home from third.

The visiting team's advantage proved to be short lived as the Express shook off the rust of the last two evenings and rallied to take the lead in front of a raucous crowd at Dell Diamond. A one-out Ryan Strausborger single gave the E-Train their second base hit of the evening and opened the floodgates for the rest of the lineup. Strausborger moved to second on a wild pitch before SS Jurickson Profar singled to drive home his center fielder. The speedy Profar advanced to second while the Sounds unsuccessfully attempted to gun down Strausborger at the plate.

3B Doug Bernier singled in the ensuing at-bat, moving Profar to third. The climax of the evening occurred in the next plate appearance as DH Patrick Kivlehan smashed a double through the gap in left that drove both runners home. After the dust settled, the Express were clinging to a 3-2 lead, the team's first advantage in a game since Tuesday night's 3-2 win at Memphis.

The E-Train bullpen put up another solid outing, holding the Sounds hitless over the last three innings of play. Fisher, RHP Luke Jackson and LHP Andrew Faulkner combined to give up just one walk while striking out four in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings. Faulkner put a bow on the 3-2 Round Rock victory with a strikeout of 1B Rangel Ravelo to end the contest.

The two Southern Division rivals close out their four-game series tomorrow at 1:05 p.m. The Sounds are set to send RHP Zach Neal (2-1, 4.22) to the mound while the Express starter has yet to be announced. Tomorrow's contest marks the first of two Bark in the Park events at Dell Diamond, presented by Action Pack Dog Center.

Single game tickets are available along with season ticket packages and group discounts. For more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter!