NASHVILLE, Tennessee - The Round Rock Express (54-68) snapped a 15-game winning streak by the Nashville Sounds (66-56) with a 3-1 victory on Wednesday night at First Tennessee Park. Express starter RHP Chris Rowley (1-3, 4.18) was an efficiency monster on the mound, needing just 83 pitches through 7.0 innings
NASHVILLE, Tennessee - The Round Rock Express (54-68) snapped a 15-game winning streak by the Nashville Sounds (66-56) with a 3-1 victory on Wednesday night at First Tennessee Park.
Express starter RHP Chris Rowley (1-3, 4.18) was an efficiency monster on the mound, needing just 83 pitches through 7.0 innings en route to earning the win. The right-hander turned in his second consecutive quality start after permitting just one earned run on eight hits and walk while striking out three. For the Sounds, reliever RHP Raúl Alcántara (4-4, 4.98) finished with the loss after surrendering the leading run in the sixth.
Nashville pulled ahead 1-0 in the first. RF Boog Powell and 1B Steve Lombardozzi started the side with back-to-back singles. Two batters later, DH Anthony García recorded a base hit to load the bases before 2B Franklin Barreto lofted a sacrifice fly to left that brought Powell home.
Round Rock came up with an immediate response in the top of the second as they leveled the score at 1-1. DH Tony Sanchez led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on C Juan Centeno 's single. With two outs, RF Nick Torres dropped a single into shallow right field to tie the game.
Both teams would exchange scoreless frames until the top of the sixth when the E-Train snagged a 2-1 lead. The first batter of the inning, 3B Andy Ibáñez , singled and later moved to third on a groundout and a wild pitch. On a 2-1 pitch from Alcantara, Centeno went the other way on an RBI double down the left-field line.
In the seventh, Round Rock padded their lead to 3-1 in loud fashion. Still searching for his first hit of the night, Express CF Drew Robinson connected on his 10th home run of the season. A solo shot to left off Sounds reliever RHP Ryan Dull that gave Round Rock some much-needed breathing room.
After reliver RHP Deolis Guerra held the Sounds hitless in the eighth, E-Train RHP Reed Garrett recorded his first Triple-A save in the final frame. The 25-year-old retired the first two hitters he faced on a groundout and a strikeout before Nashville LF B.J. Boyd singled up the middle to bring the tying run to the plate. On his second pitch of the at-bat, Garrett enticed Nashville C Bruce Maxwell into a groundout to third for the 27th out.
Round Rock can force a series split with a win in Thursday night's finale at First Tennessee Park. Express RHP Adrian Sampson (5-4, 4.24) is scheduled to face Sounds RHP Daniel Mengden (4-1, 3.82) on the mound. First pitch is set for 7:05 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!
