METAIRIE, Louisiana - The Round Rock Express (16-25) tallied a pair of home runs, but it proved to not be enough as the New Orleans Baby Cakes (21-19) held on for a 3-2 victory in Thursday night's series opener at the Shrine on Airline. Rehabbing Texas Rangers RHP Tim Lincecum (1-1,
METAIRIE, Louisiana - The Round Rock Express (16-25) tallied a pair of home runs, but it proved to not be enough as the New Orleans Baby Cakes (21-19) held on for a 3-2 victory in Thursday night's series opener at the Shrine on Airline.
Rehabbing Texas Rangers RHP Tim Lincecum (1-1, 7.11) suffered the loss after giving up the go-ahead New Orleans run on two hits and a walk while striking out one in a season-high 2.0 innings of relief. The righty threw 28 pitches, with 16 landing in the strike zone. On the winning side, Baby Cakes RHP Sandy Alcantara (2-1, 3.52) shined, holding the Express to two runs on five hits while striking out three in 8.0 frames.
New Orleans found the game's first run in the second inning as 1B Tomás Telis blasted a solo home run off Round Rock starter RHP Yovani Gallardo . The E-Train leveled the game at 1-1 in the seventh thanks to a solo Nick Noonan home run, his second in the last three games.
However, in the bottom of the frame, New Orleans 2B Eric Campbell roped a one-out double to left field, chasing Gallardo from the contest. Rehabbing Texas Rangers RHP Ricky Rodriguez entered in relief, allowing an RBI single to Telis that put the home side back on top 2-1. Gallardo finished having allowed a pair of runs on five hits and a walk in 5.1 innings.
The resilient Express tied the game once again in the seventh via a Christian Lopes solo home run. After a perfect 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh, Lincecum allowed a leadoff walk to RF Isaac Galloway to open the eighth. Back-to-back singles by CF Magneuris Sierra and Campbell allowed the go-ahead run to score.
New Orleans closer RHP Jumbo Díaz retired the side in order in the ninth to seal the narrow 3-2 victory for the Baby Cakes.
The two teams meet again on Friday night. Express RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx (2-3, 4.04) is scheduled to take the mound against Baby Cakes RHP Ben Meyer (2-2, 2.40). First pitch at the Shrine on Airline in Metairie, Louisiana is set for 7:00 p.m.
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!
