Express Tie Rainiers In Home Run Derby, Lose Game
ROUND ROCK, Texas - Both the Round Rock Express (62-65) and the Tacoma Rainiers (67-61) ate their spinach before coming to Dell Diamond Saturday, clubbing four home runs apiece. The Rainiers, however, did just enough to eclipse the E-Train in the scoring column 8-7 in game one of their four-game series.
With the loss, Round Rock has now dropped four in a row and nine of their last 10.
CF Jared Hoying got the Express started in the right direction Saturday by belting his team-leading 22nd home run in the bottom of the first. With SS Luis Sardinas on first and one out, Hoying jumped all over the first pitch he saw from Rainiers starter Erasmo Ramirez, depositing the right-hander's offering into the right-center field bullpen to give Round Rock an early 2-0 lead.
Tacoma got a run back in the second on a Ty Kelly RBI single before the Express extended their lead back out to a pair at 3-1 in the third. 3B Josh Wilson led off with a line drive base hit into right field and advanced to second when the ball was misplayed by a rehabbing Michael Saunders. After moving to third on a groundout, Wilson came across to score when DH Tomas Telis lined a single into center.
The Rainiers' response was greater in the fourth than it was in the second as the visitors went for three runs to take the lead and chase Round Rock starting pitcher RHP Luke Jackson (1-2, 9.10 ERA) from the game. With one out, Jackson issued a walk to 1B Ji-Man Choi ahead of DH Stefen Romero, who tied the game with a home run into the left-center field bullpen. After a strikeout, LF Nate Tenbrink took Jackson deep to right to give the Rainiers a 4-3 advantage.
Tacoma scored two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to stretch their lead out to 8-3. In the sixth, 3B Leury Bonilla scored both Rainier runs with a two-out, two-run base hit to right. In the seventh, Choi and Romero clubbed back-to-back two-out solo homers to push their club's lead to five.
Never ones to say die, the Express made things interesting down the stretch by putting on a home run display of their own. With one on and two outs in the eighth, C Brett Nicholas went the other way for his 10th home run of the season. 1B Chris Gimenez followed suit with a round tripper onto the left field berm to cut Round Rock's deficit to two at 8-6.
In the ninth, 2B Jason Donald decided to get into the long ball mix, leading off the inning with a solo jack of his own to bring the score to 8-7. Unfortunately, Donald's fourth home run alone was not be enough, as Rainiers RHP Todd Coffey proceeded to retire the next three batters in order to end the game and collect his ninth save.
Tacoma's Ramirez (4-5, 3.77 ERA) earned the win after allowed three runs on six hits over seven innings, striking out seven and walking none.
The Express and Rainiers will continue their series with game two Sunday evening at Dell Diamond. RHP Lisalverto Bonilla (3-1, 4.34 ERA) will go to the bump against LHP James Gillheeney (3-9, 6.30 ERA) of Tacoma. First pitch is scheduled 6:05 p.m.
Not only is Sunday H-E-B Kid's Day, it is also Spike's birthday, so head on out to the park and celebrate! For more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook and Twitter!