Round Rock Suffers 6-5 Walkoff Loss in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - The Nashville Sounds (65-55) scored two runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to claim a 6-5 walkoff win over the Round Rock Express (53-67) on Monday night at First Tennessee Park.
Express RHP R.J. Alvarez (3-4, 4.17) was saddled with the loss after surrendering the game-tying and winning runs in the ninth. For the Sounds, LHP Dean Kiekhefer (8-0, 3.35) was awarded the win for tossing a scoreless frame in the top of the ninth.
Nashville got out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. CF Dustin Fowler started the side with a walk and advanced to third when 1B Steve Lombardozzi singled to right. The third batter of the frame, 2B Franklin Barreto lofted a sacrifice fly to deep center that brought Fowler in easily.
In the top of the third, Round Rock leveled the score at 1-1. After SS Nick Noonan and RF Nick Torres got things started with back-to-back one-out singles, CF Drew Robinson worked a walk to loads the bases. 2B Christian Lopes then reached on a fielder's choice as Noonan raced home to score the tying run.
The E-Train would use the longball to break the tie and pull ahead 4-1 in the fifth. C Carlos Pèrez and Torres each reached on singles to put runners on the corners. With one out, Robinson blasted a three-run homer over the wall in right for his ninth round-tripper of 2018.
With Round Rock still in control at 4-1 in the seventh, Robinson used his legs to add an insurance run to the Express lead. Following a two-out walk, the outfielder swiped second to put himself in scoring position for Lopes, who punched a line drive single up the middle to push the gap to 5-1.
After going without a run since the first, the Sounds offense went through a resurgence in the eighth as they narrowed the Express lead to 5-4. Fowler got the ball rolling with a single off Round Rock reliever RHP Connor Sadzeck . Following a one-out single by Barreto, LF Anthony García plated Fowler on a ground ball single to left. Two batters later, 3B Sheldon Neuse drove another run home when he reached on an error by Lopes at second base. Sadzeck was replaced on the hill by E-Train reliever LHP Brady Feigl before Nashville RF B.J. Boyd finished off the rally with the second RBI single of the frame.
Still trailing by a run in the bottom of the ninth, Nashville surged for two runs to steal a 6-5 win. SS Jorge Mateo was issued a leadoff walk from Alvarez. The Express closer would retire the next two batters before Barreto ripped a game-tying double to left-center. In the following at-bat, Boyd scooted a single down the line in left as Barreto trotted home representing the walkoff run.
Round Rock will look to rebound on Tuesday night at First Tennessee Park. Express RHP Chris Tillman (0-2, 6.75) is scheduled to face Nashville RHP Frankie Montas (3-5, 4.47) 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!