Doug Bernier Records First Cycle in Express History

ROUND ROCK, Texas - In the 17-year franchise history of the Round Rock Express (50-55), no player had ever hit for the cycle. That is, until tonight. SS Doug Bernier finished the game 4-4 with a triple in the first, double in the fifth, single in the seventh and an electrifying home run in the ninth. However, the monumental feat couldn't push the E-Train past the Omaha Storm Chasers (45-58), as the visitors claimed a 6-5 win on Wednesday night at Dell Diamond.

Omaha starter RHP Luke Farrell (4-3, 4.11) shined on the mound, allowing just two runs on six hits in seven innings of work. The righty struck out four and walked three. Express RHP Chi Chi Gonzalez (4-8, 5.23) suffered the loss following a performance in which he surrendered five runs on seven hits over 4.1 innings of work.

Unlike last night's contest when the entirety of the scoring occurred in the final four innings, Omaha dropped a three-spot in the first frame tonight. Fresh off an extended stint with the Kansas City Royals, 2B Whit Merrifield lined a ground-rule double down the left field line to open the game. Consecutive one-out walks to LF Reymond Fuentes and 3B Hunter Dozier put Gonzalez in an early bases-loaded jam.

1B Tony Cruz and CF Bubba Starling recorded back-to-back RBI singles before DH Travis Snider sent a long sacrifice fly into left field, allowing Dozier to tag and score Omaha's third and final run of the inning. Gonzalez recovered to strike out SS Orlando Calixte to end the frame.

Round Rock got one run back in the bottom of the second. After a rehabbing Bryan Holaday was hit by a pitch, Bernier extended his career-best hitting streak to 15 consecutive games with a two-out RBI triple that rolled to the wall in center field, the first step toward his historic cycle. 2B Edwin Garcia lined out to leave Bernier stranded at third.

In the fifth inning, Dozier singled before another ground-rule double, this one off the bat of Cruz, put two runners in scoring position for Starling. The outfielder delivered with a bases-clearing double, extending his team's lead to 5-2. Round Rock again attempted to rally in the bottom of the frame. Bernier checked a double off the list, then Garcia followed up with a double of his own. With two runners in scoring position and just one out, rehabbing Texas Rangers LF Drew Stubbs sent a sacrifice fly into center field, allowing Bernier to tag and score. However, Garcia was thrown out attempting to advance from second to third, ending what looked to be a promising inning for the E-Train.

Bernier singled with one out in the bottom of the seventh, putting him a homer short of the cycle. Round Rock's comeback attempt took a brief pause but returned in the eighth. With two outs in the frame, RF Jared Hoying lined a single into center field. Holaday then stepped to the plate and launched his first homer of his rehab stint, cutting Round Rock's deficit to 5-4.

Omaha added what proved to be a critical insurance run in the top of the ninth inning. With LHP Andrew Faulkner on in relief, C Parker Morin singled, RF Jorge Bonifacio walked, then Fuentes was hit by a pitch to load the bases. With no margin for error, Faulkner walked Cruz to plate what turned out to be the game-winning run for the Storm Chasers.

With the crowd anxiously waiting, Bernier stepped into the batter's box to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning. Storm Chasers reliever RHP Malcom Culver then left a 95 m.p.h. fastball up in the zone and Bernier took advantage, blasting the 1-1 offering deep into the Home Run Porch in left field, completing the first cycle in Round Rock Express history. CF Drew Robinson notched a one-out walk, but Culver responded by striking out Carlos Arroyo then forcing Nicholas into a flyout to end the game.

The two American Conference foes resume their four-game set on Thursday night. RHP Scott Carroll (0-0, 0.00) is set to make his Round Rock debut while the Storm Chasers have yet to announce their starting pitcher. First pitch at Dell Diamond is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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!