PAPILLION, Nebraska - The Round Rock Express (19-13) combined for 15 hits, including another Yordan Alvarez home run, to secure a 9-7 win over the Omaha Storm Chasers (14-19) on Wednesday night at Werner Park. With the win, E-Train Manager Mickey Storey collected his 100th career managerial victory. Round Rock
PAPILLION, Nebraska - The Round Rock Express (19-13) combined for 15 hits, including another Yordan Alvarez home run, to secure a 9-7 win over the Omaha Storm Chasers (14-19) on Wednesday night at Werner Park. With the win, E-Train Manager Mickey Storey collected his 100th career managerial victory.
Round Rock RHP Dean Deetz (2-0, 9.00) notched his second win of the year after holding Omaha to two hits and one run while punching out four in a 3.0 inning relief appearance. Express LHP Reymin Guduan earned his first hold of the year after relieving Deetz in the sixth inning. To top it off, LHP Kent Emanuel held the Storm Chasers to only two hits in the final 2.0 innings to collect the save. On the losing side, Omaha RHP Scott Blewett (2-3, 6.95) surrendered six runs on 11 hits and three walks.
The E-Train opened scoring in the first inning thanks to a leadoff double from SS Alex De Goti , who was singled home by CF Derek Fisher in the next at-bat. After advancing into scoring position on an Alverez base hit, Fisher raced home on a Kyle Tucker line drive single.
Omaha gave Round Rock a taste of their own medicine in the home half of the inning, tying the game with a two-run homer by 2B Nick Lopez. The following Storm Chasers batter, 3B Erick Mejia, worked a walk before eventually scoring from first base on a Bubba Starling double. The next inning, the home team added to their lead with a Lopez single that scored C Nick Dini, who had walked prior to the hit, making the score 4-2.
Round Rock would come within one run in the fourth after 2B Nick Tanielu smoked a single to center field prior to a double by 1B AJ Reed . Fisher then drove Tanielu home with an RBI single of his own. In the fifth, DH Taylor Jones and Tanielu teamed up for a pair of singles to tie the game at four. Not to be outdone, Starling fired off his second RBI in the bottom of the fourth to take back the Storm Chasers lead.
A four-run sixth inning would eventually push the E-Train past the Storm Chasers for good. C Garrett Stubbs opened the frame with a walk then touched home on a Fisher sacrifice fly that tied the game yet again after a De Goti double. Next up, 3B Jack Mayfield gave the Express the lead after sending De Goti home with a single. Desperate to get in on the hitting party, Alvarez did what he does best, launching a no-doubt two-run home run into right center field to widen the gap to 8-5. As icing on the cake, Reed lined a double into the outfield before trotting home on a De Goti single, his fourth hit of the night, in the ninth inning to extend the lead to 9-5.
Omaha gave a comeback their best shot, collecting a run on a Jecksson Flores sacrifice fly in the sixth, followed by Sterling's third RBI of the evening in the seventh, a single that scored 3B Erick Mejia. Despite the effort, the comeback proved to be out of reach for the home side as Round Rock held on to take the 9-7 decision.
Round Rock and Omaha are set to face off in game three on Thursday night at Werner Park. E-Train RHP Brady Rodgers (3-0, 2.75) is slated to start opposite Storm Chasers RHP Josh Staumont (0-1, 3.00). First pitch at Werner Park is set for 6.35 p.m.
For more information on the Express, visit RRExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and join the conversation during our historic 20th season using #20STROng.
