Martinez Slices Cakes in 3-0 Express Win

METAIRIE, Louisiana - Fueled by yet another strong start by RHP Nick Martínez (4-0, 2.15), the Round Rock Express (57-66) avoided a series sweep at the hands of the New Orleans Baby Cakes (50-73) with a
3-0 victory in Friday night's finale.
Martinez picked up the win after blanking the Baby Cakes on just three hits in seven innings. The righty struck out eight without allowing a walk. With the performance, Martinez extended his season-long scoreless streak to 24 innings in a row. On the losing side, New Orleans LHP Mike Kickham (2-2, 6.14) gave up two runs on three hits and a walk in six innings.
Round Rock jumped ahead in the second inning. 3B Will Middlebrooks manufactured a one-out walk prior to a Ronald Guzmán single. In the next at-bat, DH Ryan Rua lined a double off the wall in center field, scoring both runners to put the E-Train up 2-0.
With a lead behind him, Martinez went to work, allowing just two singles over the next six innings. Neither baserunner advanced past first base. LHP Adam Loewen entered in the eighth inning, issuing a leadoff walk to SS Peter Mooney before retiring the side in order to preserve the shutout.
In the top of the ninth, LF Willie Calhoun connected on a Tayron Guerrero offering, lining the ball over the wall in right-center field for a solo home run that padded the Round Rock lead to 3-0.
E-Train RHP Tanner Scheppers took over in the bottom of the ninth, immediately striking out LF Steve Lombardozzi before hitting 1B Eury Pérez with a pitch and walking DH Moisés Sierra . The righty recovered to strike out 1B Cal Towey and force C Ramón Cabrera into a popout to preserve the 3-0 shutout win. Scheppers picked up his second save of the season with the scoreless ninth inning of relief.
Round Rock now returns home to Dell Diamond to open a four-game homestand against the Omaha Storm Chasers. E-Train RHP David Ledbetter (2-3, 4.14) is set to take the mound against Storm Chasers RHP Christian Binford (5-8, 7.66). First pitch at Dell Diamond is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
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