MEMPHIS, Tennessee - The Round Rock Express (55-69) couldn't keep pace with the division-leading Memphis Redbirds (76-48) on Friday night at AutoZone Park, dropping the series opener in Memphis by a final score of 7-4.Round Rock starter RHP Tyler Wagner (1-6, 5.53) took the loss in a short outing after
MEMPHIS, Tennessee - The Round Rock Express (55-69) couldn't keep pace with the division-leading Memphis Redbirds (76-48) on Friday night at AutoZone Park, dropping the series opener in Memphis by a final score of 7-4.
Round Rock starter RHP Tyler Wagner (1-6, 5.53) took the loss in a short outing after he allowed seven runs, all earned, on six hits and two walks over 1.2 innings. The Express bullpen had better luck against Memphis' offense, tossing 6.1 scoreless frames while permitting just two hits. Earning the win, Redbirds RHP Jake Woodford (4-3, 4.13) hurled 7.0 innings while surrendering three earned runs on six hits.
Wagner found himself in the lead before throwing a pitch after his offense plated a run in the opening side. 2B Nick Noonan , who came through with a decisive two-run triple in last night's win at Nashville, put himself in scoring position with a double to left before moving to third on a wild pitch. With one out, 3B Andy Ibáñez lifted a sacrifice fly to right that gave Round Rock a quick 1-0 edge.
However, the E-Train wouldn't hold the lead for long as Memphis responded with a three-run rally in the bottom half of the frame. Leadoff man 2B Tommy Edman singled to center and moved up to second on a groundout. Following a walk by C Carson Kelly , the Redbirds rattled off three straight two-out RBI singles to pull ahead 3-1.
The second inning of play saw more back and forth scoring as Round Rock tied the game at 3-3 before the Redbirds surged out to a 7-3 lead. The Express did their damage in the top half on a two-run homer off the bat of RF Hanser Alberto that traveled well over the fence in left field. Alberto's sixth longball of the season brought DH Juan Centeno home after he reached base on a single.
For Memphis, 3B Ramón Urías and Edman started the side with back-to-back singles. The next batter, CF Lane Thomas , chopped a bouncing ball back to the mound that Wagner fielded and committed a throwing error on when he attempted to retire the lead runner at second base. Urias scored on the play, and Kelly worked his second walk of the evening in the following at-bat to load the bases. Consecutive hits from DH Justin Williams and 1B Adolis Garcia extended Memphis' lead to 6-3 prior to a run-scoring double from SS Wilfredo Tovar that pushed the gap to 7-3 and ended Wagner's night on the mound.
Round Rock received 4.1 shutout innings of relief from RHP Tayler Scott and RHP Richelson Peña before chipping away for a run in the seventh. A pair of singles from LF Christian Lopes and Alberto put runners on the corners with two outs for CF Nick Torres . Extending his season-high hitting streak to six straight games, Torres cut the Redbirds lead to 7-4 on an RBI single up the middle. But, the Express would go hitless in the next two frames as Memphis held on for the win.
Round Rock will return to AutoZone Park for game two of the three-game set on Saturday night. The E-Train will send RHP Chris Jensen (1-2, 5.83) to the mound against Redbirds RHP Kevin Herget (8-9, 4.50). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. CDT.
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!
