Jackson Leads Express Past OKC

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Round Rock Express left-hander Zach Jackson lost a no-hit bid on the first batter of the eighth Wednesday night at Bricktown Ballpark but settled for a winning decision as the Express defeated the Oklahoma City RedHawks 5-3 in Pacific Coast League action. The Express (10-4) have won five straight for the first time since May 1-5, 2009, and have won nine of their last 10.

By virtue of three walks and a double play, Jackson (2-0) faced two over the minimum through seven innings. However, Carlos Corporan laced leadoff double off the base of the right-field wall to open the eighth. Anderson Hernandez blooped a one-out single to right, pushing Corporan to third. Oswaldo Navarro followed with a sacrifice fly, ending Jackson's shutout bid.

Jackson's final line was not indicative of how dominant he was at least through the first seven frames. He allowed three runs on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts, leaving the game with one out in the ninth and runners at first and second. Cody Eppley allowed an RBI double and a run-scoring groundout before closing the game for his third save in as many tries.

Round Rock built a 5-0 lead before the Oklahoma City (4-9) got its first hit. Esteban German opened the game with a single, stole second, moved to third on an Endy Chavez sacrifice bunt and scored on Brian Barden's sacrifice fly. German led off the third with a double and later scored on Chad Tracy's RBI single.

The score remained 2-0 until the top of the eighth when Round Rock plated three runs on three hits and three RedHawk errors. Barden recorded an RBI groundout, Tracy had an RBI double and the third run scored when Hernandez dropped a pop fly at second.

Round Rock's three insurance runs in the top of the eighth proved to be the difference as Oklahoma City plated two runs in the ninth and threatened for more. Collin DeLome plated the first run with a pinch-hit RBI double that put runners at second and third with one out. Barden then snagged a hot shot at third off the bat of Corporan and threw out the RedHawk catcher at first, allowing Brian Dopirak to score from third. J.B. Shuck followed with a groundout to Barden for the final out.

German was 3-for-4 with a walk and three runs scored, while Tracy was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Barden did not have a hit but plated two runs, walked and scored once.

Oklahoma City starter Ryan Rowland-Smith (0-1) was saddled with the loss; he allowed two runs on five hits and a walk with two strikeouts over 5.0 innings.

Round Rock and Oklahoma City continue their four-game series Thursday with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch at Bricktown Ballpark. Right-hander Derek Hankins (2-0, 4.50 ERA) will start for the Express, while right-hander Fernando Nieve (1-1, 7.45 ERA) is slated to go for the RedHawks.

NOTES: Round Rock picked up a half game in the PCL American Southern Division standings Wednesday and now have a one-and-a-half-games lead over Albuquerque, which split a doubleheader at Iowa. ... The Express are 5-1 on the road trip and have won nine of their last 10 games. ... Tracy extended his hitting streak to eight games, Round Rock's longest active streak. He is hitting .382 (13-for-34) in those games after starting the season 2-for-20. ... German has hit safely in five straight games. He is 12-for-21 (.571) on the road trip with five walks for a .654 on base percentage.