PAPILLION, Nebraska - Despite a strong start by LHP Yohander Méndez (0-5, 5.18), the Round Rock Express (20-30) dropped a narrow 2-1 decision to the Omaha Storm Chasers (21-28) on Saturday night at Werner Park. Mendez suffered the tough-luck loss despite allowing just two runs on seven hits in 7.0 strong
PAPILLION, Nebraska - Despite a strong start by LHP Yohander Méndez (0-5, 5.18), the Round Rock Express (20-30) dropped a narrow 2-1 decision to the Omaha Storm Chasers (21-28) on Saturday night at Werner Park. Mendez suffered the tough-luck loss despite allowing just two runs on seven hits in 7.0 strong innings.
On the winning side, Omaha LHP Jonathan Dziedzic (2-5, 3.25) blanked Round Rock on only two hits in 6.0 magnificent innings. The lefty tallied six strikeouts without allowing a walk.
The Storm Chasers jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as CF Billy Burns doubled before racing to third on an Adalberto Mondesi sacrifice bunt. An ensuing Frank Schwindel groundout allowed Burns to score the game's first run.
Mendez recovered to retire 14 of the next 18 hitters to hold the gap at 1-0. The lefty was aided by a pair of double plays and managed to work around a two-out triple off the bat of 2B Humberto Artaega in the second inning. Mendez' luck ran out in the sixth as Mondesi connected on a 1-0 pitch, lining the offering over the wall in left field to double the gap to 2-0.
Round Rock's lone run of the evening came in the seventh inning as 1B Tommy Joseph blasted a solo home run of his own to trim the gap to 2-1. Joseph's longball was just the third hit of the night for the E-Train. 3B Andy Ibáñez singled and stole second in the first, but Dziedzic worked out of the jam. Round Rock's only other knock was a one-out Nick Noonan single in the sixth that was foiled by a Carlos Tocci double play.
Rehabbing Texas Rangers RHP Tim Lincecum tossed a scoreless eighth inning, allowing a walk to CF Billy Burns between strikeouts of C Parker Morin and Mondesi. Burns was picked off at first base by C Juan Centeno .
The Express look to turn things around in game three on Sunday. Round Rock RHP Yovani Gallardo (0-1, 4.55) is scheduled to start against Omaha RHP Heath Fillmyer (3-3, 4.80). First pitch at Werner Park is set 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!
