Middlebrooks Homers Twice in 4-1 Express Win Over Cubs

ROUND ROCK, Texas - Fueled by a pair of home runs of the bat of 3B Will Middlebrooks and a quality start from just-promoted RHP David Ledbetter , the Round Rock Express (35-38) knocked off the Iowa Cubs (31-42) by a final score of 4-1 on Thursday night at Dell Diamond.
Just hours after being promoted from the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders, Ledbetter couldn't have led any better as the righty scattered just five hits and two walks 5.1 innings while picking up the win in his Triple-A debut. Iowa starter RHP Zach Hedges (0-2, 8.10) suffered the loss after allowing three runs on seven hits in five innings.
Round Rock jumped on the board in the second inning. LF Ryan Rua led off the frame with a single before RF Travis Snider followed up with a one-out knock of his own. 2B Drew Robinson then started the scoring with an RBI single that sent Rua to the plate.
In the third, CF Jared Hoying singled before Middlebrooks stepped to the plate and launched his 11th home run of the season, a two-run shot that cleared the wall in left field to extend the Express lead to 3-0.
Iowa's only run of the night came in the sixth inning. DH Jemile Weeks kickstarted the frame with a double prior to a Bijan Rademacher single that left runners on the corners for C Victor Caratini . The backstop poked a sacrifice fly into deep center field, allowing Weeks to score to cut his team's deficit to 3-1.
Middlebrooks led off the eighth inning with his second homer of the evening, a screaming line drive that crashed onto the berm in left field, ultimately giving the Express the 4-1 victory.
The E-Train bullpen did their part to preserve the win. RHP Jaye Chapman , RHP Sam Wolff , LHP Adam Loewen and RHP R.J. Alvarez teamed up to allow just two hits and a walk over the final 3.2 innings of play. Alvarez earned his second save of the year after blanking Iowa in the ninth.
The Express and I-Cubs continue their series on Friday night. E-Train RHP James Dykstra (0-1, 7.41) is set to take the mound against I-Cubs RHP Aaron Brooks (4-5, 6.10). First pitch at Dell Diamond is set for 7:05 p.m.
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