Red Hot Redbirds Sink Express 11-6

ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Memphis Redbirds (3-0) kept their foot on the gas on Saturday night, collecting an 11-6 victory over the Round Rock Express (0-3). Each Memphis batter collected at least one hit, with six recording multi-hit performances.
E-Train starter LHP Yohander Méndez (0-1, 13.50) suffered the loss after giving up five runs on seven hits in 3.1 innings. The lefty struck out three and walked three. Memphis reliever RHP Arturo Reyes (1-0, 9.00) collected the win despite allowing two runs on three hits in two innings out of the bullpen.
Round Rock grabbed their first lead in the series in the bottom of the first inning as C Isiah Kiner-Falefa worked a one-out walk before promptly stealing second base. Three hitters later, DH Destin Hood lined a single into right field, sending Kiner-Falefa flying around third with the first run of the game.
However, the Redbirds went on to score five unearned runs. In the third, RF Adolis Garcia, 3B Patrick Wisdom and C Carson Kelly teamed up for three straight one-out singles, the latest of which scored a run. Following an Alex Mejia RBI groundout, Mendez balked twice, allowing Mejia to trot home. An inning later, DH Tyler O'Neill recorded his third two-run homer in the last two games, upping the gap to 5-1.
In the bottom of the fourth, Express RF Michael O'Neill left a mark on his Triple-A debut, recording an RBI double that sent 1B Trevor Plouffe to the plate.
The two American Southern Division rivals each scored a pair of runs in the sixth and the eighth. Garcia doubled home a pair of runners in the top of the sixth, making it 7-2. Round Rock answered with two runs of their own, coming on a wild pitch and a Hanser Alberto RBI single. Two innings later, Wisdom recorded a two-run single, then Alberto and 3B Christian Lopes both scored on a fielding error by SS Wilfredo Tovar .
Memphis tacked on two more runs in the ninth as E-Train RHP R.J. Alvarez skipped a wild pitch past Kiner-Falefa that allowed Mejia to score. Wilfredo capped off the scoring by singling home CF Oscar Mercado .
The Round Rock Express transform into the Round Rock Chupacabras on Sunday afternoon as part of MiLB's Copa de la Diversion campaign. The Chupacabras host the Memphis Redbirds at 1:05 p.m. Round Rock RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx (0-0, 0.00) is set to start opposite Memphis RHP Jack Flaherty (0-0, 0.00).
For more information on the Express, visit RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter!