Pence, Express crown Royals

Hunter Pence went 3-for-4 with three RBIs as Round Rock pounded visiting Omaha, 9-2, on Thursday.

Following three singles to start the second inning, Mike Rodriguez drew a two-out walk with the bases loaded and Pence smacked a two-run single to give the Express a 3-0 lead.

Two innings later, Pence delivered an RBI single and scored on Brooks Conrad's two-run double as Round Rock jumped ahead 7-0.

Six batters had at least two hits for the Express (6-2), who outhit the Royals, 15-8. Pence and Rodriguez scored two runs apiece.

Round Rock starter Philip Barzilla (1-0) allowed one run on two hits and four walks while striking out three in five innings. Jared Gothreaux was charged with a run on six hits over four innings to notch his first save.

The Royals (2-6) scored in the fifth on Joey Gathright's RBI groundout and in the seventh on Andres Blanco's sacrifice fly.

Coming off a one-hit, five-inning performance on April 7, Omaha starter Tyler Lumsden (1-1) was tagged for seven runs on eight hits and three walks in just 3 1/3 innings. --Marc Jimenez/MLB.com