New Orleans Edges Round Rock 2-1 in Opening Day Pitcher's Duel

METAIRIE, Louisiana - The New Orleans Baby Cakes (1-0) narrowly defeated the Round Rock Express (0-1) by a final score of 2-1 in Friday's Opening Day contest at the Shrine on Airline. New Orleans pitchers combined to rack up 17 strikeouts while not allowing a Round Rock hit until the top of the ninth inning.
Express RHP Cy Sneed (0-1, 3.86) suffered the defeat after giving up both Baby Cakes runs on a total of two hits in 2.1 innings of relief. On the winning side, New Orleans reliever LHP Jarlin García (1-0, 0.00) picked up the win following a perfect eighth inning of relief in which he struck out the side on 10 pitches. Baby Cakes RHP Tommy Eveld earned the save.
Both starting pitchers looked sharp as Round Rock RHP Brady Rodgers worked around six hits and three walks while striking out five in 5.0 shutout frames. New Orleans RHP Zac Gallen set a new career high with 11 strikeouts in 7.0 dominant innings.
Neither team could find their rhythm in the first seven frames as the two American Southern Division foes headed into the eighth inning locked in a scoreless draw. However, New Orleans broke through in the bottom of the frame. CF Isaac Galloway opened the inning with a leadoff double down the left field line prior to an Isan Díaz walk. An ensuing Austin Dean flyout to deep right field allowed Galloway to advance to third. LF Harold Ramirez then lined a shot to E-Train SS Alex De Goti , who bobbled the offering for an error that allowed the go-ahead run to score. A Sneed wild pitch in the next at-bat sent Diaz racing home from third, doubling the New Orleans advantage to 2-0.
Round Rock entered the ninth inning without a base hit. The team's only baserunner in the first eight frames came in the form of a Matt Snyder fielding error that allowed Express C Garrett Stubbs to reach first base in the third inning. Leading off the ninth, 2B Jack Mayfield put any ideas of a no-hitter to bed with a no-doubter home run to deep center field. However, Eveld recovered to strike out the final three batters to preserve the narrow 2-1 win.
The E-Train looks to bounce back in Saturday's doubleheader at the Shrine on Airline after Thursday's contest was postponed due to rain. Round Rock RHP Akeem Bostick is slated to face New Orleans RHP Héctor Noesi in game one, then Express RHP Corbin Martin is set to line up against Baby Cakes RHP Nick Neidert in game two. First pitch in game one is set for 5:00 p.m. Game two will follow approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one. Both contests will be seven innings in length.
The Express kick off the home portion of their historic 20th anniversary season on Tuesday, April 9 for a five-game series against the Nashville Sounds (Texas Rangers affiliate) at Dell Diamond. Single game tickets, season memberships and flex plan ticket packages are on sale now.
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 anniversary season using #20STROng.