Express Rally to Top Cubs 13-9 in Wild Series Sweep

DES MOINES, Iowa - The Round Rock Express (62-44) outlasted the Iowa Cubs (57-50) 13-9 in a wild series finale on Sunday afternoon at Principal Park. The comeback victory capped off a three-game series sweep for Round Rock, the team's third of the 2019 season.
E-Train reliever RHP Ralph Garza (7-1, 4.45) picked up the win despite allowing a run on two hits and a walk while recording four strikeouts in 2.0 innings. On the losing side, I-Cubs LHP Danny Hultzen (0-1, 2.25) suffered the loss after his leadoff walk in the ninth turned into the go-ahead run to seal his 1.1-inning relief outing.
Round Rock jumped all over rehabbing Chicago Cubs LHP Cole Hamels in the first inning. 2B Jack Mayfield started the frame with a double before LF Drew Ferguson blasted a two-run homer to deep center field. In the very next at-bat, 1B Kyle Tucker tagged his team-leading 27th home run of the season to give the E-Train a quick 3-0 lead.
However, the Cubs set the tone for the afternoon with a frenetic three-run bottom of the first that promptly tied the game. 2B Dixon Machado started the rally with a solo home run before 3B Phillip Evans followed up with a single. After a Mark Zagunis double put a pair of runners in scoring position, 1B Jim Adduci added a run with an RBI single. An ensuing P.J. Higgins sacrifice fly then leveled the game at 3-3.
Iowa scored three more runs in the third to take their first lead of the day. Machado led off the inning with a walk before back-to-back doubles by Evans and Zagunis plated a pair of runs. Following an Adduci single, Higgins grounded into a double play that left time for Zagunis to race home with the Cubs' sixth run.
Round Rock wasted little time beginning their comeback effort as DH Alex De Goti collected his 10th home run of the season with two outs in the top of the fourth. The inning continued as C Jamie Ritchie singled before scoring on an ensuing Austin Dennis double, his first career Triple-A RBI.
The E-Train later stormed ahead with a three-run sixth inning. De Goti walked before Ritchie singled to put runners on the corners. Dennis then sent De Goti home with a sacrifice fly before SS Josh Rojas gave his team the lead thanks to an RBI double. Ferguson tacked on another run with an RBI single to make it 8-6.
The back-and-forth affair continued into the bottom of the inning as Iowa tied the game once more with a pair of runs. CF Donnie Dewees sparked a two-out rally with a single prior to a booming two-run, game-tying home run courtesy of Machado.
Both teams traded solo runs in the eighth. In the top of the inning, Ritchie collected Round Rock's 12th double of the series then raced to third on a Rojas groundout. Mayfield scored the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly, however Iowa quickly responded to reset the score at 9-9. Dewees led off the home half with a single and sprinted to the plate on a one-out Evans double.
The Express finally outlasted the Cubs bullpen in the top of the ninth. CF Chas McCormick worked a one-out walk to chase Hultzen from the contest. With RHP Dillon Maples on in relief, 3B Nick Tanielu singled to put runners on the corners. After an RBI double by De Goti, Tanielu raced home on a Maples wild pitch. Maples then walked Dennis, Rojas and Mayfield in consecutive order to force in another run. Round Rock padded the lead to 13-9 as Dennis scored on Maples' second wild pitch of the frame.
E-Train RHP Felipe Paulino worked around a walk and a single in the bottom of the ninth inning to preserve the 13-9 victory and the series sweep.
After a league-wide off-day on Monday, the Express return home to host the Fresno Grizzlies (Washington National affiliate) in a three-game series. Round Rock LHP Framber Valdez (1-2, 3.12) is scheduled to face Fresno LHP Ben Braymer (0-3, 8.33). First pitch at Dell Diamond is set for 7:05 p.m.
For more information on the Express, visit RRExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and join the conversation during our historic 20th season using #20STROng.