HOW IT HAPPENED:
CF Jarred Kelenic went after the first pitch of the game, lacing a single and advancing to second base on an error from RF Bo Davidson. Two batters later, DH Logan O’Hoppe roped a double, scoring Kelenic for the game’s first run. LF Aaron Zavala followed with an RBI double, giving Round Rock an early two-run edge.
The River Cats answered with a run in the bottom of the frame after CF Turner Hill doubled and scored after two consecutive groundouts.
Sacramento took the lead in the second inning after scoring three runs. Davidson reached on an error and advanced to third following a single from 1B Will Brennan and a groundout. C Zach Morgan grounded out, but Davidson scored from third to tie the game at two. SS Aeverson Arteaga capped off the inning with a two-run home run to make it 4-2.
In the fifth, the Express trimmed the deficit to one after Kelenic walked and came around to score on 3B Diego Castillo’s RBI double.
The River Cats' offense exploded with a five-run sixth inning. Davidson and 2B Diego Velasquez both drove in runs with doubles. Hill followed with a two-run double. Sacramento held a 9-3 advantage entering the final three innings.
Round Rock loaded the bases to start the seventh after two singles and a walk. O’Hoppe drew a walk to start the inning, and Zavala followed with a two-run double. One batter later, 1B Trevor Hauver drove in Zavala with a single to pull the E-Train to within two.
Sacramento tallied a run in the seventh after Brennan recorded an RBI single to grow the lead to three.
Round Rock’s 2B John Taylor hit a two-run home run to make it a one-run game in the top of the eighth inning.
The Express threatened with two runners on in the ninth inning, but failed to score the tying run and fall in the series finale 10-9.
E-TRAIN EXCERPTS:
WHERE WE STAND: The Express fall in the series finale to split the series with the River Cats… just the 2nd series finale loss in the second half (Also, 7/5 vs ABQ)… Round Rock has won 3 of the last 5, and 7 of the last 10… Express maintain 2nd place in the PCL standings with 1st place SUG coming to town for a 6 G set starting on Tuesday… are -4.0 G behind SUG.
LHP MARCO GONZALES: (L, 5.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 3 SO, 1 HR, 64 pitches, 43 strikes) made his 5th start with the Express in his 2nd stint with the club… recorded his 1st win with the Express in his last appearance on 7/17 vs LV… back-to-back Triple-A outings where he has been charged for 1 ER… retired the final 8 batters to end his outing… has given up 9 HR on the year…was originally added to the Round Rock roster on 6/23 and had contract selected by TEX on 7/21… was designated for assignment on 7/31 after 2 appearances with the Rangers… resigned on 8/7 and added to roster today.
DH LOGAN O’HOPPE: reached base 3 times in Sunday’s finale… recorded an RBI double in the 1st and followed with a walk in the 3rd… the newly acquired catcher from LAA has reached base in 7 of his first 8 games with Round Rock… finished the SAC series slashing .292/.393/.458 with 6 RBI and 4 2B.
2B JOHN TAYLOR: belted a two-run home run in the top of the 8th to cut the deficit to one… ended a 22 G home run drought… last homered on 7/9 at RNO… 3 of Taylor’s 6 H this month have been for extra bases… 6 of his 7 HR this season have been recorded at over 100.0 mph… 5 of the 7 have come in road games this season… today’s 430-foot round-tripper was the 2nd longest of the season (437 feet at LV on 6/19).
NOTES: The Express allowed 5 R in the 6th inning… marks the 23rd time this season the E-Train have allowed 5 R or more in an inning this season… 1st time since July 18th against LV.
NEXT GAME: Tuesday, August 11 vs Sugar Land FIRST PITCH: 6:45 p.m. CT BALLPARK: Dell Diamond
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