METAIRIE, Louisiana - The Round Rock Express (17-26) and New Orleans Baby Cakes (22-20) traded haymakers all night long as the two teams split a doubleheader with the E-Train claiming game one 15-4 before the 'Cakes rebounded for a 10-8 victory in game two. In the first contest, reliever LHP Brady
METAIRIE, Louisiana - The Round Rock Express (17-26) and New Orleans Baby Cakes (22-20) traded haymakers all night long as the two teams split a doubleheader with the E-Train claiming game one 15-4 before the 'Cakes rebounded for a 10-8 victory in game two.
In the first contest, reliever LHP Brady Feigl (1-0, 0.00) earned the victory in his Express debut after limiting the Baby Cakes to just one hit in 1.2 scoreless innings of relief. New Orleans starter RHP Ben Meyer (2-3, 3.71) suffered the loss after giving up seven runs on seven hits and two walks in just 2.1 innings.
The home side jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first as RF Isaac Galloway reached via a fielding error by 3B Nick Noonan . Following an Eric Campbell single, SS J.T. Riddle singled home Galloway to open the scoring. An ensuing Tomás Telis fielder's choice doubled the Baby Cakes lead to 2-0.
Round Rock responded with a run in the second. 2B Cliff Pennington worked a walk in his first plate appearance as a member of the Express, then DH Destin Hood put the E-Train on the board with an RBI single.
The Express unloaded for seven runs in the third. The big inning began with three straight singles from Noonan, CF Jose Cardona and SS Christian Lopes that promptly loaded the bases. RF Scott Heineman gave Round Rock the lead with a two-run single in the next at-bat. A Tommy Joseph double then extended the gap to 4-2. Following a Pennington walk, C Juan Centeno blasted a grand slam to deep center field, putting the E-Train up 8-2.
Pennington's hot debut carried over into the fifth as the second baseman opened the frame with a double off RHP Jacob Turner . After a Centeno walk, Noonan drove in a run with a double. A Hood sacrifice fly extended the gap to 10-2, then Lopes drove in the team's third run of the frame with an RBI single.
A Joseph homer off RHP Severino González followed by back-to-back doubles courtesy of Hood and Noonan padded Round Rock's lead to 13-2 in the sixth. The E-Train tacked on two more runs for good measure in the seventh as LF Willie Calhoun singled prior to a Heineman double. After a Joseph sacrifice fly sent Calhoun home, Pennington singled home Round Rock's 15th run of the evening.
New Orleans gained two runs back off Express RHP Connor Sadzeck in the seventh. 3B Cristhian Adames singled, moved to second on a passed ball, then raced to third on a wild pitch. After walking DH Jon Rodriguez, Sadzeck hit Galloway to load the bases. An ensuing Magneuris Sierra fielder's choice plated a run. The last run of the night came via a Sadzeck wild pitch that allowed Rodriguez to sprint home from third.
In the nightcap, Round Rock RHP Tyler Wagner (0-2, 4.50) suffered the loss after giving up two runs, only one of which was earned, on three hits and three walks in an inning of relief. New Orleans reliever RHP Tyler Kinley (2-0, 0.00) earned the win following 2.0 shutout innings.
Round Rock jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning. Heineman singled before Calhoun doubled to put a pair of runners in scoring position for Lopes. The infielder delivered with a two-run single that gave his team a quick 2-0 lead. Joseph doubled home Lopes in the next at-bat to make it 3-0.
However, New Orleans responded with a six-spot in the bottom of the frame. After recording two quick outs, starter RHP David Ledbetter walked Campbell before a Telis single and a Rafael Ortega walk loaded the bases. C Chad Wallach then walked to drive in a run. After a game-tying two-run double off the bat of Adames, Rodriguez stepped to the plate and blasted a three-run homer that gave his team the lead at 6-3.
A Wallach double followed by an Adames RBI single in the third gave New Orleans a 7-3 advantage, but Round Rock responded with a five-run fourth inning. DH Tony Sanchez opened the frame with a solo home run. 2B Andy Ibáñez then singled before Cardona collected a home run of his own, narrowing the gap to 7-6. New Orleans starter RHP Joe Gunkel 's night ended after he allowed six runs on eight hits in 3.1 innings. With LHP Sean Burnett on in relief, Heineman singled prior to a two-run Calhoun homer that put Round Rock back on top 8-7.
Baby Cakes SS Cito Culver opened the bottom of the fourth with a game-tying solo home run. Ledbetter finished the game having allowed eight runs on eight hits and four walks in 4.0 innings of work.
New Orleans took the lead for good in the eighth. RF Austin Dean opened the inning with a single, then Galloway reached via a fielding error by Lopes. After a Campbell walk, Telis singled in a pair of go-ahead runs. Round Rock's hot offense couldn't rally in the seventh as New Orleans held on to claim the 10-8 decision, forcing a split in the doubleheader.
The Express and Baby Cakes conclude their series on Sunday afternoon. Round Rock LHP David Hurlbut (0-3, 6.23) is scheduled to face RHP Trevor Richards (2-0, 1.77). First pitch at the Shrine on Airline in Metairie, Louisiana is set for 1:00 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!
