Oklahoma City Takes Game Three in Round Rock, 9-5 

ROUND ROCK, Texas – The Round Rock Express (21-14) fell to the Oklahoma City Dodgers (25-11) for the third night in a row as the Dodgers won 9-5 on Thursday night at Dell Diamond.

Round Rock LHP Jake Latz (1-2, 9.42) went home with a blown-save loss after he didn’t record an out during his relief outing that saw three walks and one grand slam. Oklahoma City reliever RHP Justin Hagenman (2-0, 4.02) earned the win after tossing 2.0 shutout innings and recording two strikeouts in the process.

Along the Train Tracks:

• The Dodgers made it a 2-0 game in the third inning with one swing of the bat. A two-run bomb courtesy of RF Bradley Zimmer lifted Oklahoma City to the early advantage.
• Round Rock battled back in the home-half of the frame. After a two-out single from C Matt Whatley kept the inning alive, RF Rafael Ortega belted his fourth home run of the season to right field and tied the score at two.
• The Dodgers answered in the fourth inning when a single for SS Luke Williams, followed by a double from 1B Ryan Ward, put men on second and third base. Back-to-back walks to 2B Jahmai Jones and LF Steven Duggar allowed one run to score. After CF Ben DeLuzio was retired, Zimmer walked to extend the lead to 4-2.
• The Express didn’t wait around in the bottom of the fourth. DH Justin Foscue walked and CF Elier Hernandez singled to put runners on the corners. A sacrifice fly for 1B Yoshi Tsutsugo cut the lead to 4-3 before 3B Dio Arias belted a two-run homer to left field and gave Round Rock their first lead of the night at 5-4.
• For the third straight game, Oklahoma City plated four runs in the seventh inning. DH Drew Avans, 3B Yonny Hernández and C Hunter Feduccia loaded the bases on walks before Williams cleared them with a grand slam. DeLuzio hit a leadoff homer in the eighth to increase the Dodgers’ advantage to 9-5.

E-Train Excerpts:

• Express 3B Dio Arias launched his first home run of the season during the fourth inning. The infielder finished the game 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored. C Matt Whatley joined Arias with a multi-hit performance as he also hit 2-for-4.
• LHP Josh Dye made his Round Rock debut after signing with Texas and being assigned to the Express on Thursday afternoon. Dye tossed one inning and retired the side in order on a flyout, popout and groundout.

Next up: The Express and Dodgers get set for game four on Friday night at Dell Diamond. Express RHP Robert Dugger (1-1, 4.63) is scheduled to start up against Dodgers RHP Matt Andriese (2-2, 6.54). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. CT.

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