Express Tops RedHawks in Slugfest

Round Rock, Tex. - One night after being held to no runs and one hit, the Round Rock Express erupted for 11 runs and 15 hits as they defeated the Oklahoma City RedHawks 11-8 before 7,563 at Dell Diamond Tuesday night.

In a departure from Monday's series opener, Tuesday's game featured a ton of offense. The RedHawks also notched 17 hits, falling one shy of their season high.

Oklahoma City (49-42) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, featuring a two-run homer by George Springer beyond the Round Rock bullpen in left-center field. 

With the RedHawks in front 4-0 in the second inning, the Express got on the board for the first time in the series when Jim Adduci connected on a three-run homer to cut the lead down to one.

Springer blasted another home run in the top of the third, sending another two-run shot over the batter's eye in center field to extend the lead back to 6-3.

In the bottom of the inning, Manny Ramirez answered with his first home run since joining the Express. His two-run dinger pulled the Express within one run again.

Springer would plate his fifth run of the night in the top of the fourth. Although he stayed in the park, he lined an RBI triple to right-center field to push the lead to 7-5.

The center fielder finished 4-for-5 and recorded his second multi-home run game in his past three contests. He tallied 12 total bases-the most by a RedHawk in a game this season.

The difference in the game came in the bottom of the fourth inning, when the Express (52-41) rallied for six runs. They tallied six hits in the frame, and eight of the first nine batters reached base safely. Greg Miclat put the Express in the lead for good with an RBI single. He led the Express with three hits, going 3-for-5.

Trailing 11-7 in the sixth inning, the RedHawks notched a run after Round Rock left fielder committed an error following a single by Brandon Laird to score Marwin Gonzalez. Laird stood at third with none out, but the RedHawks could not bring him home.

Still down by three runs in the eighth inning, the Redhawks put the first two men on base. Laird then lined into a tough-luck double play, started with a tremendous catch by Miclat at second base. The RedHawks would not recover and were held scoreless in the inning.

Although they did score eight times, Oklahoma City was only 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position Tuesday.

Despite allowing seven runs (five earned) and 11 hits over five innings, Round Rock starting pitcher Evan Meek earned the win. Meek (3-4) struck out four with no walks.

In his second start with the RedHawks, Wade LeBlanc had a tough night, allowing nine runs and 11 hits in 3.1 innings of work. LeBlanc (0-1) registered six strikeouts with no walks.

Round Rock reliever Wilmer Font retired the RedHawks in order in the ninth inning to earn his first save since getting promoted to Triple-A.

The RedHawks and Express play the rubber match of their three-game series Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. Live coverage begins at 6:35 p.m. on AM 1340 "The Game," 1340thegame.com, or through the free IHeartRadio mobile app.