Drew Robinson's 15th-Inning Blast Gives Express 5-4 Win

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma - It took four hours and 50 minutes, but the Round Rock Express (55-60) finally completed a series victory over the Oklahoma City Dodgers (63-50) thanks to a Drew Robinson solo home run in the top of the 15th inning that pushed the E-Train to a 5-4 win on Sunday night.

Round Rock LHP Neal Cotts (2-2, 3.73) earned the victory after shutting out the Dodgers despite allowing two walks in the 14th inning of relief. OKC RHP Jeremy Kehrt (4-4, 4.14) suffered the loss after giving up Robinson's longball in the 15th, his only hit allowed of the evening. Kehrt also walked two and struck out four in four total innings of relief.

For the first time in this series, Oklahoma City scored the game's first run. LF Micah Johnson connected on E-Train starter RHP Nick Martinez' second pitch of the night, lining the offering onto the center field berm to give his team an instant 1-0 advantage. The inning continued as 2B Austin Barnes singled before RF Will Venable reached first safely after rehabbing Texas Rangers CF Drew Stubbs misplayed a fly ball and was charged with an error. DH O'Koyea Dickson then doubled to score Barnes and extend the OKC lead to 2-0.

The top of the second inning featured a new Round Rock Express franchise record. In the first at-bat of the frame, DH Jared Hoying blasted a solo home run to right field, giving him 68 career dingers with the Express, the most in franchise history. Hoying's longball broke a tie with former Round Rock infielder Brooks Conrad and sliced OKC's advantage to 2-1.

The home side added to their lead in the third inning. Venable started the frame with a single, then Dickson notched his second double in as many at-bats to put two runners in scoring position. An ensuing Corey Brown single scored Venable. 1B Zach Walters then grounded into a double play, however Dickson came scampering home during the relay, pushing the gap to 4-1.

Round Rock picked those two runs right back up in the top of the fourth. Just like Hoying in the second inning, 1B Joey Gallo launched a leadoff homer to right field. Hoying followed up with a single before RF Preston Beck reached safely on a throwing error by OKC 3B Drew Maggi. A Doug Bernier sacrifice fly to deep center field sent Hoying home to cut the deficit to 4-3.

After four scoreless frames from both teams, the E-Train rallied late to force extra innings. Beck sparked the comeback with a leadoff single in the top of the ninth. Matt Duffy, who replaced Hanser Alberto as a defensive replacement in the fourth, knocked a single to left to push the game-tying run into scoring position. Robinson then delivered with a clutch single that sent Beck home to knot the contest at four.

Oklahoma City pushed a runner into scoring position in the 12th, 13th and 14th innings, however Round Rock was able to break the tie first. With one out in the top of the 15th, Robinson stepped to the plate and launched a rocket just over the wall in deep left field to give the Express their first lead of the night. E-Train LHP Jimmy Reyes emerged from the bullpen to pitch the bottom of the inning, working around a two-out Barnes single to collect his fourth save of the season and give Round Rock the 5-4 victory.

The Express now return to Dell Diamond for a crucial four-game set against the division-leading Nashville Sounds. Sunday's series opener will feature E-Train LHP Michael Roth (9-3, 2.39) up against Sounds RHP Raul Alcantara (2-0, 0.44). First pitch on Latino Heritage Night at Dell Diamond is set for 6:05 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!