Round Rock Offense Stifled in Tacoma, 5-1

HOW IT HAPPENED:

After a scoreless first inning, the Rainiers grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the second on a solo home run from 1B Patrick Wisdom.

Wisdom followed his solo home run in the second with a three-run shot in the third inning to grow the Tacoma lead to four.

In the fifth, Wisdom hit his third homer of the game, giving Tacoma a 5-0 advantage.

SS Keyber Rodriguez provided the first hit and run of the game for the Express in the sixth with a solo home run, making it a 5-1 game.

The Express tallied a hit in each of the final four innings but fall 5-1 on Saturday night.

E-TRAIN EXCERPTS:

WHERE WE STAND: With the loss, Round Rock has dropped their 2^nd game of the series… still maintains control of the series… will go for their 5^th series win of the year tomorrow afternoon… guaranteed a series split with a victory on Friday night… have not won 3 consecutive G since 4/19-/23… are 3-2 to start the 2^nd half of the season… 4-6 in the last 10.

RHP NOLAN KINGHAM: (L, 4.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO, 2 HR, 87 pitches, 57 strikes) made his 3^rd start on the road trip… 6^th appearance of the campaign… allowed multiple home runs for the 2^nd time this season (2, 6/4 at OKC)… back-to-back outings of throwing 55+ strikes… generated an 86% (6/7) strike rate with his sinker… both strikeouts ended the inning in the 1^st and 2^nd.

INF KEYBER RODRIGUEZ: (1-for-3, HR, 2 SO) launched his 2^nd homer against TAC in the series… his 4^th on the season… his 388-foot round-tripper is his longest homer of the season with the Express…recorded 2 H so far this series against TAC… both homers.

RHP MICHEL OTAÑEZ: (ND, 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO, 26 pitches, 16 strikes) made his 3^rd outing since rejoining the Express after being designated for assignment on 6/13… 3^rd appearance this season to toss 2.0 innings… has not allowed a hit or run while striking out 9 batters over those 3 G… concluded the outing with back-to-back strikeouts to get Round Rock through the 8^th.

NOTES: The Express entered tonight ranked 9th in the PCL in batting average (.247), hits (272), runs (165), and OPS (.724) in games following a victory on the season… Round Rock ranks 2nd in batting average (.273) and OPS (.788), 3^rd in hits (105), and 4^th in runs scored (67) in June… 8^th time this season the Express have been held to 4 H or less… 0-8 in those contests.

NEXT GAME: Sunday, June 28 at Tacoma FIRST PITCH: 3:35 p.m. CT BALLPARK: Cheney Stadium

For more information about the Express, visit RRExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Subscribe to the E-Train email newsletter and keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram and X!