Express Take Down Space Cowboys in Series Opener 

SUGAR LAND, Texas – The Round Rock Express (23-17 | 67-47) took the series opener by a final score of 6-3 over the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (14-26 | 47-68) at Constellation Field on Tuesday night.

Round Rock reliever RHP Marc Church (4-0, 3.25) earned the win by tossing 2.0 innings and allowing one hit with three strikeouts. Sugar land starter RHP Ronel Blanco (4-2, 4.50) took home the loss after 4.0 innings that saw six hits, five runs, one walk and two strikeouts. Express LHP Jake Latz earned his sixth save of the season after inheriting two runners in the ninth and going on to retire all three batters he faced.

Along the Train Tracks:

• Round Rock opened the first inning with a 2-0 lead after CF Elier Hernandez singled and SS Jonathan Ornelas brought them both home with his two-run home run.
• In the third inning, four straight hits from Hernandez, Ornelas, 3B Davis Wendzel and 1B Blaine Crim brought home two more runs and the Express led 4-0.
• Sugar Land cut the lead to 4-2 in the home half of the third inning thanks to a two-run jack from LF Michael Brantley after 3B Rylan Bannon drew a two-out walk.
• Express C Matt Whatley smacked a two-out solo shot in the fourth to take a run back and keep Round Rock in front, 5-2.
• The Round Rock lead was extended to 6-2 after Ornelas had singled in the seventh inning and Wendzel reached on a fielding error by CF Pedro León which allowed Ornelas to score.
• The Space Cowboys opened the bottom of the ninth inning with three straight singles from RF Joey Loperfido, León and SS Shay Whitcomb which pulled them within three runs. LHP Jake Latz came in and retired three straight batters and the 6-3 score stood final.

E-Train Excerpts:

• In his first game back with Round Rock since he was optioned by the Texas Rangers yesterday, SS Jonathan Ornelas went 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI, three runs scored, one walk and one strikeout.
• With Tuesday’s 6-3 win, the Express have tied their season-long winning streak at seven games. It’s the third time this season that Round Rock has tallied a seven-game winning streak. The previous two times came June 15-23 and July 6-16.

Next up: The Express will face the Space Cowboys in game two of the series at Constellation Field on Wednesday, August 16. Round Rock RHP Robert Dugger (6-8, 4.46) will face off against Sugar Land RHP Spencer Arrighetti (1-3, 5.82). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT.

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 Twitter!