ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Iowa Cubs (18-27) held off the Round Rock Express (15-17) by a final score of 6-5 after a back-and-forth affair in Monday night's series opener at Dell Diamond. The I-Cubs capitalized on four E-Train errors to claim the narrow victory. Iowa starter RHP Alec Mills (2-4,
ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Iowa Cubs (18-27) held off the Round Rock Express (15-17) by a final score of 6-5 after a back-and-forth affair in Monday night's series opener at Dell Diamond. The I-Cubs capitalized on four E-Train errors to claim the narrow victory.
Iowa starter RHP Alec Mills (2-4, 4.26) picked up the win after holding Round Rock to two runs on four hits despite walking four in 5.0 innings of work. On the losing side, E-Train starter LHP Yohander Méndez (0-4, 6.00) surrendered five runs, only three of which were earned, on a total of six hits while striking out six in 4.1 frames.
Both teams traded runs in the third inning. Iowa CF Lane Adams collected a one-out single before advancing to third base on a pair of errors by Round Rock 1B Tommy Joseph . An ensuing Mark Zagunis sacrifice fly opened the scoring.
In the bottom of the frame, RF Scott Heineman was hit with a pitch to put the leadoff man aboard. The speedy outfielder stole second and third base in consecutive order before racing home on a Joseph sacrifice fly. The E-Train grabbed a brief lead in the fourth as 3B Nick Noonan tripled prior to a Tony Sanchez single.
However, Iowa unloaded for four runs in the top of the fifth to open a 5-2 advantage. 1B Bijan Rademacher opened the frame with a double, then 2B Chesny Young followed up with a single that put runners on the corners. A two-run Adams double put the visitors back on top 3-2. After SS Mike Freeman singled to score another run, E-Train SS Christian Lopes committed an error that moved the runner to second. An Efren Navarro single sent Freeman home to up the gap to 5-2.
Round Rock inched closer in the sixth. Sanchez singled but was erased at second base on a Heineman fielder's choice. Following a Willie Calhoun single, Lopes walked to load the bases. Back-to-back wild pitches by I-Cubs LHP Alberto Baldonado allowed a pair of runs to score, narrowing the gap to 5-4.
With rehabbing Texas Rangers RHP Tim Lincecum on the mound in the ninth, 1B Ryan Court singled and moved to second base on a balk. A Young single moved Court to third and chased Lincecum from the game. The righty allowed just one run on two hits and a walk while striking out two in 2.0 innings of work. With RHP Deolis Guerra now pitching, Court scored on a fielding error by Noonan, padding the Iowa lead to 6-4.
The Express rallied in the bottom of the ninth. Calhoun began the frame with a single off RHP Dillon Maples . After a wild pitch moved Calhoun to second, Lopes walked. Joseph then grounded into a double play that moved Calhoun 90 feet closer to home. An ensuing wild pitch sent the outfield racing to the plate. 2B Andy Ibáñez then walked and C Cameron Rupp singled to put runners on the corners with two outs. However, Maples recovered to strike out Noonan to end the game.
Round Rock and Iowa meet again on Tuesday night. E-Train RHP Yovani Gallardo (0-1, 4.44) is scheduled to face I-Cubs RHP Luke Farrell (0-2, 4.82). First pitch at Dell Diamond 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!
