Express Offense Cooled in 6-1 Loss to 51s

LAS VEGAS, Nevada - The Las Vegas 51s (27-38) managed to cool off a red-hot Round Rock Express (29-35) offense on Monday night, collecting a 6-1 victory that thwarted a potential series sweep by the E-Train. A Round Rock offense that dropped 69 runs on 94 hits in the last six games was limited to just one run on six knocks in the team's final game ever at Cashman Field.
E-Train starter LHP David Hurlbut (2-5, 5.54) suffered the loss after giving up three runs on 10 hits while striking out six in 4.2 innings. On the winning side, Vegas RHP Corey Oswalt (4-3, 5.30) blanked Round Rock on five hits in 6.0 frames. Oswalt struck out six while walking just two.
Las Vegas scored solo runs in the second, third and fourth innings to open a quick 3-0 lead. 51s DH Johnny Moniell opened the second inning with a double before moving to third on a Patrick Biondi groundout. An ensuing Colton Plaia double scored the first run of the evening. An inning later, LF Zach Borenstein homered to double the Las Vegas lead to 2-0. Plaia blasted a solo shot of his own in the fourth inning, extending the gap to 3-0.
The Round Rock offense totaled just seven baserunners in the first seven innings. The team's biggest scoring threat came in the third when DH Scott Heineman and LF Willie Calhoun collected back-to-back two-out singles. After an Andy Ibáñez walk loaded the bases, Oswalt recovered to entice 1B Tommy Joseph into an inning-ending flyout.
The E-Train finally jumped on the scoreboard in the eighth inning as Calhoun launched a solo home run off LHP Ian Krol . The longball marked Round Rock's only offensive output of the night.
Las Vegas put the game away in the bottom of the eighth. With RHP Tayler Scott out for his second inning of work, 3B Cody Asche and Moniell collected consecutive walks to open the frame. A Biondi single loaded the bases, then Plaia continued his hot night with a two-run single. With RHP Ricky Rodriguez on in relief, 2B Christian Colón singled home Biondi to extend the Las Vegas lead to 6-1.
Following a league-wide off-day on Tuesday, the Express return home to Dell Diamond to open a quick three-game series against the Sacramento River Cats. E-Train LHP Yohander Méndez (0-6, 5.26) is scheduled to start against River Cats RHP Taylor Hill (0-1, 7.45). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 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!