Game Preview: Express vs. Iowa (April 10)

GAME PREVIEW
ROUND ROCK EXPRESS (1-2) vs. IOWA CUBS (2-1)
GAME 4 | 10 APRIL 2011 | 1:05 P.M. CDT
THE DELL DIAMOND | ROUND ROCK, TEXAS

TODAY’S GAMES
Round Rock continues its season-opening, eight-game home stand with the finale of a four-game series against the Iowa Cubs (Chicago-NL). First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. CDT at The Dell Diamond.

PROMOTIONS
H-E-B Kids Day — pre and postgame activities for kids ages 12 and under. ... Express Kids T-shirts for all kids ages 12 and under compliments of of RockSports.

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Today’s game airs on 104.9 FM The Horn ESPN Radio Austin. Online audio also is available at www.espnaustin.com. Express Director of Broadcasting Mike Capps provides play-by-play alongside color analyst Jerry Grote.

EXPRESS-CUBS SERIES
Iowa leads the series 2-1. The Cubs won each of the first two meetings before Round Rock’s 13-9 victory Saturday night. Today’s game is the fourth of 16 regular-season meetings between the Express and Cubs.

GAME 1  |  THURSDAY, APRIL 7
Cubs 12, Express 9
WP:  Caridad (1-0).  LP:  Kirkman (0-1).  SV:  Maine (1).

GAME 2  |  FRIDAY, APRIL  8
Cubs 6, Express 4
WP:  Carpenter (1-0).  LP:  Tucker (0-1).  SV:  Maine (2).

GAME 3  |  SATURDAY, APRIL  9
Express 13, Cubs 9
WP:  Jackson (1-0).  LP:  Coello (0-1).  SV:  Eppley (2).

GAME 4  |  SUNDAY, APRIL  10  |  1:05 p.m. CDT
Express:  RHP Brett Tomko (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Cubs:  LHP J.R. Mathes (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

STARTING PITCHERS
EXPRESS: RHP Brett Tomko (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
2010: Saw limited action due to injury ... Split season between AZL Athletics (rookie), Stockton Ports (A-Advanced) and Sacramento River Cats (AAA) ... Combined 2-3 record with a 7.18 ERA in 14 outings, all starts; tallied 50 strikeouts against 16 walks in 62.2 innings.
Notable: Los Angeles Dodgers 20th-round draft pick in 1994 out of El Dorado High School in Placentia, Calif., but did not sign ... Cincinnati Reds second-round draft selection in 1995 out of Florida Southern ... Named Reds top prospect by Baseball America prior to the 1996 season ... Most MLB service of any current Express pitcher (389 games) ... MLB debut May 27, 1997 with Reds vs. Phillies ... Traded to Mariners in Ken Griffey Jr. deal prior to 2000 season ... Signed minor league Feb. 19, 2011, with Rangers, his 10th organization ... Celebrated 38th birthday on Opening Day.
Career Stats (MiLB): 37-21, 4.02 ERA ... 105 games, 85 starts ... 515.1 innings ... 493 strikeouts, 131 walks
Career Stats (MLB): 100-102, 4.65 ERA ... 389 games, 266 starts ... 1798.1 innings ... 1195 strikeouts, 572 walks

CUBS: LHP J.R. Mathes (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
2010: Pitched entire season with Iowa before being placed on disabled list Aug. 23 ... 9-8 with a 5.44 ERA in 23 starts.
Notable: Cubs 16th-round draft pick in 2004 out of Michigan ... 2009 Iowa Cubs Pitcher of the Year, going 12-8 with a 3.62 ERA ... 2008 PCL All-Star ... Fifth season with Iowa Cubs ... Has won at least nine games each of last six seasons, reaching double figures four times.
Career Stats (MiLB): 65-45, 4.38 ERA ... 169 games, 152 starts ... 902.0 innings ... 545 strikeouts, 190 walks
Career Stats (MLB): none

HOMERUN BARRAGE
Round Rock tallied six home runs Saturday night against Iowa, a Dell Diamond record and the second-most homers in a game in club history. The Express had seven home runs at Albuquerque in 2006. … 3B Chris Davis led the onslaught with three homers, becoming the fourth player in Express history to accomplish the feat. He joins Morgan Ensberg (vs. Shreveport, 2000), Charlton Jimerson (at Albuquerque, 2005) and Luke Scott (vs. Salt Lake, 2006) as the only Express players to hit three home runs in a game.

NEXT SERIES
The Express continue a season-opening, eight-game home stand with a four-game series against the Omaha Storm Chasers. The series runs Monday through Thursday at The Dell Diamond with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT each day. Monday’s series opener pits Express right-hander Derek Hankins (0-0, 0.00 ERA) against Omaha southpaw Everett Teaford.