Z's Drop Another Extra-Inning Game To Express

The New Orleans Zephyrs and Round Rock Express played their third consecutive extra-inning game on Sunday, with the Express coming up with a 6-5 win in 10 to earn a series split.

Tommy Manzella hit a high chopper over Gookie Dawkins' head and Yordany Ramirez scored from third base to give the Express a 6-5 win in the bottom of the 10th at the Dell Diamond. Manzella and Reggie Abercrombie each had three hits for the Express, and Casey Daigle worked two innings to get the win. Levale Speigner suffered the loss.

New Orleans overcame a 5-2 deficit to tie the contest in the eighth inning on a Michael Ryan solo home run. The Z's loaded the bases in the top of the 10th, but John Lindsey grounded into a double play to derail the rally.

The Zephyrs continue the nine-day road trip on Tuesday in Des Moines with their first meeting of the season with the Iowa Cubs.

Game Notes: Z's fall to 3-4 in extra innings ... Pitcher Tim Wood was promoted on Sunday to the Florida Marlins. Brad Stone and Carlos Vasquez each joined the team from Double-A Jacksonville.

Coming Up: The Zephyrs and and I-Cubs meet on Tuesday night at 7PM. New Orleans will start RH Clay Hensley against Esmailin Caridad. Radio: WIST 690 AM

June 20 - Round Rock 5, Zephyrs 4

Through 10 innings on Saturday, neither the New Orleans Zephyrs or Round Rock Express could score a run. The 11th inning brought an entirely different turn of events.

The Zephyrs scored four times in the top of the 11th, only to see the Express answer with five runs in the bottom half, giving Round Rock an improbable 5-4 victory before 9,906 fans at the Dell Diamond.

Round Rock snapped a four game losing streak while handing the Zephyrs just their second defeat in the last eight contests.

The pitchers duel matched Z's starter Rick VandenHurk against Express hurler Bud Norris. The two impressed, limiting both offenses. Norris didn't allow a hit for 5 1/3 innings, and both bullpens continued the same success until the 11th.

Manny Mayorson slapped a base hit into shallow right field, scoring Dave Matranga to break the scoreless tie in extras. Gaby Sanchez then drilled a mammoth home run to left to lift the Z's to a 4-0 lead.

But the Express sent nine batters to the plate in the bottom of the frame, helped by two Zephyrs throwing errors, including one on the game-deciding play after Round Rock had tied the score.

In his third inning of relief, Chris Mobley ran into trouble after allowing a one-out home run to Mark Saccomanno and a single to Jason Smith. Zephyrs third baseman Gaby Sanchez unleashed a wild throw on a ground ball, and Mobley followed by walking J.R. Towels to load the bases and prompt Nate Field to enter the game.

John Gall and Chad Spann tied the game with base hits, and with the bases loaded and one out, Tommy Manzella hit a soft roller to the mound. Field threw home for the second out, and Brett Hayes attempted to complete the double play, but his throw to first sailed high and into right field, allowing the runner from second base to score the winning run.

Field suffered the loss while Geoff Geary was credited with the win.

Game Notes: Z's reliever Nate Field has now allowed 10 of his 13 runs this season to Round Rock.

Coming Up: The Zephyrs and Express meet in the final game of the four game series on Sunday night. New Orleans will start LH Willie Collazo against RH Yorman Bazardo. Radio: WIST 690 AM

June 19 - Zephyrs 7, Round Rock 6

Cameron Maybin reached base in all six at bats and drove home the go-ahead run in the top of the 11th inning to deliver the New Orleans Zephyrs a wild 7-6 win over the Round Rock Express on Friday.

The Z's scored three times in the top of the 11th to hold off the Express, which scored a pair in the bottom of the inning in front of 9,417 fans at the Dell Diamond.

Former Tulane star Brian Bogusevic drilled two home runs with four RBI in the Express defeat. The New Orleans offense pounded out 12 hits, including 10 singles, and won despite leaving 14 men on base in the game, compared to just three for Round Rock.

Gookie Dawkins and Maybin led the way for the Z's with three hits each, with Maybin also drawing three walks. Nate Field pitched the final two innings for the win. Casey Daigle allowed three runs and suffred his first loss of the season.

With their sixth win in the last seven games, the Zephyrs closed to within a half-game of first-place Albuquerque.

Game Notes: Z's added reliever Jay Buente from Class AA Jackosnville ... The Z's have won 9 of the 14 games this season against Round Rock ... New Orleans improved to 29-1 when leading after six innings.

Coming Up: The Zephyrs and Express meet in the third game of the four game series on Saturday night. New Orleans will start RH Rick VandenHurk against RH Bud Norris. Radio: WIST 690 AM

June 18 - Zephyrs 11, Round Rock 4

Jai Miller had three RBI and the New Orleans Zephyrs pounded the Round Rock Express 11-4 on Thursday night at the Dell Diamond.

The Zephyr offense pounded out 15 hits, including multi-hit efforts from six different players.

Leadoff hitter Cameron Maybin reached base in five of his six at-bats to set the pace for the Z's offense. John Koronka pitched into the sixth inning and earned his fourth win of the season. New Orleans scored four in the second inning and won for the fifth time in six games.

Jeremy Johnson suffered the loss, allowing 10 runs on 11 hits. The Z's remain a game and a half back of division leading Albuquerque.

Game Notes: Z's pitcher Hayden Penn was placed on the temporary inactive list ude to a death in the family. He will miss his start on Sunday in Round Rock ... The Z's have won eight of the 13 games this season against Round Rock.

Coming Up: The Zephyrs and Express meet in the second game of the four game series on Friday night. New Orleans will start RH Jarrett Santos against LH Josh Muecke. Radio: WIST 690 AM