Express Score Nine Runs in the Eighth Inning En Route to Sweep Over Isotopes

ROUND ROCK, Texas – The Round Rock Express (22-17 | 66-47) bludgeoned the Albuquerque Isotopes (19-20 | 46-68) thanks to a nine-run seventh inning at Dell Diamond on Sunday evening. The E-Train took home a 9-6 win and collected their first six-game series sweep since 2021.

Round Rock reliever RHP Ian Kennedy (1-0, 4.08) earned the win after he went 1.1 innings and allowed two runs on two hits with one strikeout. Albuquerque reliever LHP Evan Justice (0-1, 8.10) took home the loss after his 0.1-inning outing included four runs on four hits with one walk and two hit batsmen. Express LHP Jake Latz earned the save after a scoreless ninth inning that saw two hits.

Along the Train Tracks:

• Albuquerque struck first in the second inning. C Hunter Goodman blasted a solo home run to straightaway center field and the Isotopes held a 1-0 advantage.
• The Isotopes tacked another run on the board in the fifth inning. After 3B Aaron Schunk led the frame off with a double and advanced to third base on a bunt from RF Roman Quinn. A sacrifice fly from 1B Jonathan Morales pushed the lead to 2-0.
• The lead was doubled in the sixth inning for Albuquerque. With the bases loaded, Goodman came to the plate and ripped a double into right field to score DH Charlie Blackmon and LF Sean Bouchard as the Isotopes built the lead to 4-0.
• The E-Train loudly took the lead in the eighth frame. SS Davis Wendzel blasted a solo home run with the first pitch of the inning and collected Round Rock’s first hit of the game. The solo blast sparked a massive inning as the Express went on to score nine runs on five walks, two hit batsmen, three singles and a home run.
• Albuquerque C Hunter Goodman made it a multi-homer night with a blast to center field in the eighth inning. After 2B Coco Montes doubles, Goodman went deep and cut the Express lead to 9-6. Albuquerque threatened in the ninth inning but LHP Jake Latz retired Blackmon to end the game.

E-Train Excerpts:

• Round Rock collected their first six-game sweep in Dell Diamond It’s the first sweep for the Express since May 27-June 1 at Salt Lake. It is also just the ninth six-game sweep in Pacific Coast League history since the format changed to six-game series in 2021.
• CF Elier Hernandez saw his 17-game hitting streak come to a close. Hernandez has had a 17-game streak and a 26-game hitting streak this year. The righty finished 0-for-3 with an RBI and a walk.

Next up: The Express will take on the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Houston Astros affiliate) in a six-game series at Constellation Field beginning Tuesday, August 14. Sugar Land RHP Ronel Blanco (4-1, 3.79) will get the start against a Round Rock starter to be announced. 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!