ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Round Rock Express (79-52) picked up a big doubleheader sweep over the New Orleans Baby Cakes (68-61) on Saturday night at Dell Diamond. The Express flew past the Baby Cakes 7-1 in game one before collecting a 5-4 win in game two. Round Rock OF
ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Round Rock Express (79-52) picked up a big doubleheader sweep over the New Orleans Baby Cakes (68-61) on Saturday night at Dell Diamond. The Express flew past the Baby Cakes 7-1 in game one before collecting a 5-4 win in game two. Round Rock OF Kyle Tucker became the fifth player in the 116-year history of the Pacific Coast League to record a 30-30 season with his 30th steal of the season in game one.
Because game one was the makeup of a July 21 postponement at the Shrine on Airline in New Orleans, Round Rock served as the visiting team. The E-Train struck first with a big second inning. 3B Taylor Jones kickstarted a one-out rally with a single prior to a two-run homer courtesy of DH Nick Tanielu , his second in as many games. CF Chas McCormick followed up with a solo home run of his own to pad the gap to 3-0.
The inning continued as C Garrett Stubbs worked a single prior to stealing second base and moving to third on a wild pitch. The backstop then raced home on an ensuing Alex De Goti sacrifice fly, giving Round Rock a 4-0 edge.
New Orleans' lone run of the game came in the bottom of the third on a solo Billy Fleming home run.
Round Rock put the game away for good with three more runs in the top of the sixth. RF Kyle Tucker worked a one-out walk before promptly stealing his historic 30th base of the season. Back-to-back walks by Tanielu and McCormick then loaded the bases before Stubbs stepped to the plate and lined a double down the left field line, clearing the bases to give the E-Train a 7-1 lead.
RHP Rogelio Armenteros (6-6, 4.71) was lights out for the E-Train, recording his first complete game of the season. The righty held New Orleans to just one run on six hits while striking out six in 7.0 strong innings. On the losing side, Baby Cakes RHP Cody Poteet (2-3, 5.68) allowed four runs on four hits in just 1.2 innings.
The nightcap began with a quick New Orleans run in the top of the first inning. CF Magneuris Sierra and 3B Eddy Alvarez opened the contest with back-to-back singles. A pair of groundouts moved the runners station-to-station, ultimately allowing Sierra to race home with the game's first run.
The E-Train rallied for a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to grab the lead. A two-out rally began with a Jack Mayfield single and was followed closely behind by a Tucker walk. Following a wild pitch that moved both runners 90 feet closer to home, Jones singled in a pair of runs to give Round Rock a 2-1 edge.
After a trio of scoreless innings, Round Rock added a big insurance run in the bottom of the fifth. C Jamie Ritchie led off the frame with a single before turning on the jets to score from first on a De Goti double. The E-Train put the game away for good an inning later as Jones walked before DH Lorenzo Quintana launched a two-run homer, his second in as many nights.
New Orleans attempted a late comeback in the top of the seventh. RF Gabriel Guerrero singled before Express reliever RHP Dean Deetz walked a pair to load the bases. Former Round Rock and current rehabbing Miami Marlins LF César Puello singled home two more runs to trim the deficit to 5-3. DH Rosell Herrera later singled in another run to bring the Baby Cakes within one, but RHP Ronel Blanco entered the game and worked out of the jam to earn his fourth save of the year.
E-Train RHP Carson LaRue (1-4, 5.76) earned his first career Triple-A victory after 5.0 strong innings. The righty permitted just one run on six hits while striking out six. New Orleans starter RHP Jordan Milbrath (1-2, 4.68) suffered the loss after giving up three runs on six hits in 4.2 frames.
Round Rock faces off against New Orleans on Sunday evening for the final time before the Baby Cakes franchise relocates to Wichita, Kansas following the season. E-Train RHP Cristian Javier (0-0, 0.00) is scheduled to make his Triple-A debut with a start against 'Cakes RHP Joe Gunkel (6-2, 4.22). First pitch in the series finale at Dell Diamond is set for 6:05 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.
