Express Drop Series Finale to Memphis 10-9

ROUND ROCK, Texas - Tyler Greene's two-run triple keyed a four-run eighth inning as the Memphis Redbirds eclipsed the Round Rock Express 10-9 in Sunday night's Pacific Coast League series finale at The Dell Diamond. The Express (52-38) and Redbirds (48-42) split the four-game series. Memphis leads the season series four games to three. Each of the seven meetings has been decided by three runs or fewer, including four one-run games.

The Redbirds tallied six consecutive one-out hits in the game-deciding inning, snapping a 6-6 tie. Jim Rapoport started the scoring with an RBI single, and Greene followed with the two-run triple. Nick Stavinoah capped the inning with an RBI single.

Round Rock made things interesting in its next two at bats. Matt Kata delivered a two-out, two-run triple in the bottom of the eighth, and Esteban German's one-out solo homer in the ninth cut it to a one-run deficit. Joey Butler followed with a walk, but Victor Marte retired the next two batters to close the game.

That made a winner of Chuckie Fick (4-1), who allowed two runs on one hit and two walks with three strikeouts over 1.2 innings of relief. Starter Brandon Dickson lasted 4.1 innings; he surrendered six runs - four earned - on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts. Marte recorded his 17th save.

Mark Hamburger (3-4) yielded all four runs in the eighth and took the loss. Starter Scott Feldman allowed six runs - three earned - on 10 hits over 5.0 innings with one walk and three strikeouts.

The Redbirds scored three unearned runs in the top of the second. Round Rock overcame that deficit thanks to Brad Nelson's solo homer in the bottom of the second and a four-run third. The Redbirds tied the game 5-5 with a two-run fourth, and the teams exchanged solo spots in the fifth.

Memphis out-hit Round Rock 19-9 as every Redbird starter hit safely and seven had multiple-hit outings. Bryan Anderson was 4-for-5 with two RBI, while Mark Hamilton was 3-for-5. Rapoport, Greene, Aaron Brown, Freddie Bynum and Adron Chambers all had two-hit games.

Kata (2-for-4) and Leonys Martin (2-for-4) had the lone multiple-hit games for the Express. German and Kata both had two RBI, and Martin scored twice.

Both teams have a three-day break for the Triple-A All-Star Game, which is Wednesday at Spring Mobile Park in Salt Lake City; first pitch is 8:05 p.m. CDT, and the game will be broadcast live on the MLB Network. The Express and Redbirds open a four-game series Thursday at Memphis with a 7:05 p.m. CDT first pitch.