Round Rock Falls to Sacramento, 9-2
HOW IT HAPPENED: Sacramento grabbed an early lead with a run in the first. CF Jonah Cox started the inning with a double and advanced to third on a groundout. One batter later, Cox scored on an infield single from 3B Parks Harber for the game’s first run. The River
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Sacramento grabbed an early lead with a run in the first. CF Jonah Cox started the inning with a double and advanced to third on a groundout. One batter later, Cox scored on an infield single from 3B Parks Harber for the game’s first run.
The River Cats added another run in the third after DH Turner Hill doubled and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Harber. Sacramento held a 2-0 edge through the first three innings.
The Express cut the deficit to one in the fourth. C Logan O’Hoppe was hit by a pitch and 1B Diego Castillo doubled to put runners in scoring position. O’Hoppe scored from third on LF Aaron Zavala’s groundout.
Sacramento struck for three runs in the fifth to break the game open. Cox launched a solo home run to start the inning. The River Cats were not done in the inning, putting runners at first and second after a double and a walk. RF Bo Davidson delivered a bases-clearing double to make it a 5-1 advantage.
The River Cats added another run to their tally in the sixth after Cox recorded an RBI single. The Express trailed by five runs entering the final three frames.
In the eighth, 2B Cody Freeman drove in CF Jarred Kelenic with an RBI single to trim the River Cats' lead to four.
Sacramento added three insurance runs in the eighth to put the game out of reach. The Express fell on Saturday night by a final score of 9-2.
E-TRAIN EXCERPTS:
WHERE WE STAND: The Express will look to secure the series victory in tomorrow’s game… tonight’s loss snaps a 3-G winning streak… 13th time this season the Express have scored 2 R in a game… 0-13 in those contests… still hold sole possession of 2nd place in the PCL standings following losses by SUG and OKC tonight… Express are still 5-2 to start August.
RHP DAVID DAVALILLO: (L, 4.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R-ER, 2 SO, 1 HR, 73 pitches, 53 strikes) made his 7th start in his 8th outing this season with the Express… 4th start on the road this year… has taken the loss in 3 of his last 4 starts (also 6/13 vs ELP and 6/7 at OKC)… allowed a season-high 7 H on the night… 1st time this season he has not walked a batter in an outing… recorded a season-high 53 strikes despite throwing just 73 pitches, the third-fewest pitches he has thrown in a start this season… tallied 8 first-pitch strikes to 20 batters faced.
1B DIEGO CASTILLO: had 2 of Round Rock’s 5 H on the night… singled in the 2nd and followed with a double in the 4th… both hits were on the 2nd pitch he saw… 18 of Castillo’s 87 H this season have come on the 2nd pitch of the at-bat… Castillo continues to have success in road games this season, slashing .312/.387/.476 with 32 RBI and 17 2B… 17 2B is the most by any Express batter in road games this season.
2B CODY FREEMAN: drove in Round Rock’s 2nd run of the night with an RBI single in the 8th inning… marks his 5th RBI to start August and his 18th RBI with the Express this season… since rejoining the Express on 7/25, Freeman is leading E-Train batters with 16 H… the utility infielder is slashing .313/.370/.458 with 19 R and 9 BB.
NEXT GAME: Sunday, August 9 at Sacramento FIRST PITCH: 3:05 p.m. CT BALLPARK: Sutter Health 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!