Round Rock Hangs On For 5-4 Win Over El Paso
EL PASO, Tex. - BOX SCORE HOW IT HAPPENED: Round Rock RF Marcus Smith made a loud entrance with a solo home run in his first at-bat with the Express in 2025. Smith’s 407-foot homer gave the E-Train a 1-0 lead in the third. The Chihuahuas answered with a run
EL PASO, Tex. - BOX SCORE
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Round Rock RF Marcus Smith made a loud entrance with a solo home run in his first at-bat with the Express in 2025. Smith’s 407-foot homer gave the E-Train a 1-0 lead in the third. The Chihuahuas answered with a run in the bottom of the inning. El Paso put runners on with a pair of walks and DH Tirso Ornelas sent an RBI single into left to tie the score at 1-1.
In the sixth, El Paso grabbed a 2-1 advantage as C Luis Campusano drew a walk and scored on 1B Connor Joe’s two-out single over the head of Round Rock SS Jonathan Ornelas.
The Express put up three runs in the seventh to steal a 4-2 lead. 3B Cody Freeman opened the inning with a double and CF Kellen Strahm got aboard with a walk. DH Chad Wallach scorched a double to left that would score two. LF Alex De Goti sent the next pitch through the right side for a single and Wallach came home.
El Paso’s response came with two runs in the bottom of the seventh. The Chihuahuas put two on with a 3B Mike Brosseau double and a SS Clay Dungan walk. With two down, LF Trenton Brooks sent a high fly ball that evaded 2B Justin Foscue. Brosseau and Dungan came around on the Foscue error and the game was tied 4-4 after seven.
Strahm led off the ninth with a single then stole his second bag of the night. The centerfielder moved to third on a RHP David Morgan balk. De Goti launched a sacrifice fly to right field allowing Strahm to tag and score the go-ahead run. De Goti’s second RBI of the night sent the Express to a 5-4 victory.
E-TRAIN EXCERPTS:
HOUSER’S HEAT: RHP Adrian Houser threw five innings of one-hit baseball in his seventh start of the season. He allowed a run, four walks and struck out eight batters on Thursday night. Among Pacific Coast League pitchers, Houser ranks seventh in strikeouts (33), ninth in opposing batting average (.230) and 10th in WHIP (1.30).
CAN’T TOUCH CURVELO: RHP Luis Curvelo earned his first save of the season on Thursday night. Curvelo shut the door with two strikeouts in a three-up, three-down ninth frame. He has not allowed a hit or a run in his last four outings and 4.1 innings for the Express.
MASHING IN MAY: 3B Cody Freeman continued his tear with a double and a run in Thursday’s victory. In the month of May, Freeman leads the PCL in hits (12), batting average (.429) and doubles (5). He has a hit in seven consecutive games and a run in each of his last five.
NEXT GAME: Friday, May 9 at El Paso FIRST PITCH: 7:35 p.m. CT BALLPARK: Southwest University Park
For more information about the Express, visit RRExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Subscribe to the E-Train email newsletter and keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram and X!