PAPILLION, Nebraska - The Round Rock Express (23-28) couldn't complete a late comeback attempt as the Omaha Storm Chasers (26-23) collected a 7-5 victory on Sunday night at Werner Park. The Express scored the last four runs of the game but ultimately couldn't overcome an early six-run deficit.Round Rock was
PAPILLION, Nebraska - The Round Rock Express (23-28) couldn't complete a late comeback attempt as the Omaha Storm Chasers (26-23) collected a 7-5 victory on Sunday night at Werner Park. The Express scored the last four runs of the game but ultimately couldn't overcome an early six-run deficit.
Round Rock was again done in by a rough outing from their starting pitcher. RHP Tyler Wagner (1-5, 8.19) surrendered seven runs on nine hits and three walks in just 4.2 innings of work. Conversely, Omaha starter LHP Onelki Garcia (1-0, 1.65) held the E-Train to just one unearned run on two hits and two walks in five innings of work.
Round Rock jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning as 2B Josh Wilson manufactured a two-out walk before a fielding error by SS Ramón Torres allowed Wilson to take second base. RF Preston Beck then notched a clutch single to send Wilson flying home with the game's first run.
Omaha wasted little time tying the game as 1B Ryan O'Hearn launched a leadoff home run in the bottom of the frame to level the contest at 1-1. The Storm Chasers took the lead in the next inning as CF Billy Burns walked but was eliminated at second base on a fielder's choice that left 2B Raul Mondesi at first. A single courtesy of Torres moved Mondesi 90 feet closer to home. In the next plate appearance, E-Train C Brett Nicholas threw an errant pickoff attempt into center field, allowing the speedy Mondesi to race home.
The home side extended their lead with a three-run fourth inning. 3B Dean Anna opened the frame with a walk before LF Terrance Gore followed up with a single. After a Bryan Pena sacrifice bunt moved both baserunners ahead, Burns grounded into a fielder's choice that resulted in Anna being tagged out by Wagner as he raced toward home. Mondesi then tripled to score both Gore and Burns. Torres sent his fellow infielder home with an RBI single in the next at-bat.
Wagner couldn't survive the fifth inning as the Storm Chasers tacked on two more runs. Anna lined a two-out single to center field prior to a Gore walk. With LHP James Dykstra on in relief, Pena walked then Burns sent both Gore and Pena flying home with a single, pushing the Omaha lead to 7-1.
Round Rock earned two runs back in the eighth inning. Stubbs kickstarted the inning with a single before DH Jason Martinson worked a walk. Two outs later, LF César Puello walked. RHP Malcom Culver then entered in relief, surrendering a two-run single to 2B Josh Wilson, trimming the deficit to 7-3.
In the ninth, 3B Luis Marté collected a one-out single, then Stubbs walked. A Jurickson Profar single two hitters later scored a pair of runs to bring the game-tying run to the plate. Nicholas recorded a two-out single to keep the dream alive, however Puello popped out to O'Hearn in foul territory to cut the rally short.
The two teams will celebrate Memorial Day with a 12:05 p.m. first pitch on Monday afternoon. Omaha RHP Josh Staumont (3-4, 3.54) is set to start against an Express pitcher yet to be announced.
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