HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Isotopes quickly jumped out to an early edge with a four-run first inning. Albuquerque’s first six batters of the night reached base, highlighted by a two-run double from 1B Charlie Condon and an RBI single from DH Vimael Machín. The Isotopes also plated a run on a passed ball from C Cooper Johnson to hold a 4-0 advantage after one.
Albuquerque added three runs in the top of the fourth behind a bases-clearing double from Machín, extending the lead to seven. The Express responded with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning after SS Keyber Rodriguez doubled home a run. CF Orlando Martinez drove another in on a groundout, and Johnson capped off the inning with an RBI single. Round Rock trailed 7-3 entering the fifth inning.
The visitors tacked on a run in the sixth with an RBI single from Condon to make it a five-run advantage. Round Rock answered in the bottom of the eighth when RF Aaron Zavala drove in a run with his 28th double of the year.
The Isotopes tacked on an insurance run in the ninth to put the game out of reach. The Express fell on Wednesday night 9-4.
E-TRAIN EXCERPTS:
WHERE WE STAND: Round Rock saw their 4-G winning streak end with the loss on Wednesday night… also snapped a 5-G winning streak over the Isotopes… are still 4-1 in their last 5 G and 7-3 in their last 10 G… the Express own a +25 R differential with 4 G remaining in August… also own a +42 R differential in the second half which is the 3rd highest positive run differential in the league… the E-Train fall to -4.0 G under .500 and are -4.0 G behind 1st place SUG with 22 G to play.
RHP RYAN LOBUS: (ND, 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 SO, 1 BB, 32 pitches, 16 strikes) was the 1st man out of the bullpen on Wednesday night and retired the final batter to end the 1st inning… marks the longest outing for the right-hander this season with Round Rock… made his 17th appearance this season and his 5th against ABQ… has faced ABQ more than any other club this season…11 of his 17 outings this season have been scoreless… in 7 appearances at Dell Diamond, the right-hander owns a 2.57 ERA (2 ER/7.0 IP) as compared to a 4.63 ERA (6 ER/11.2 IP) on the road…his 31.8 whiff % is the 3rd best among Round Rock relievers this month.
INF KEYBER RODRIGUEZ: finished the night going 1-for-3…has a hit in 9 of his last 10 G… owned a 9-G hitting streak that ended on Tuesday night … is batting .410 (16-for-39) with 5 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI and 5 BB during that span.
RHP JACK LEITER: (ND, 1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R-ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 34 pitches, 21 strikes) made his 2nd rehab appearance with Round Rock this season and his 3rd since being placed on the injured list on 6/21… had his rehab assignment transferred to the Express today from Double-A Frisco… back-to-back outings (8/20 w/ Frisco) of allowing multiple runs after tossing 2.2 scoreless innings in his 1st rehab appearance with Round Rock on 8/13.
INF JONAH BRIDE: recorded Round Rock’s lone multi-hit night with singles in the 2nd and 6th innings…is now slashing .327/.470/.481 with hits in 10 of 14 games with the E-Train this month…Bride has struck out 3 times in August, which is the least among the 202 Triple-A batters with 60 plate appearances in August.
NEXT GAME: Thursday, August 27 vs Albuquerque FIRST PITCH: 6:45 p.m. CT BALLPARK: Dell Diamond
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