Ragans Leads Express to 2-0 Shutout Over Aviators

ROUND ROCK, Texas – The Round Rock Express (49-43) collected a 2-0 victory over the Las Vegas Aviators (49-42) on Saturday night at Dell Diamond. It was the fourth shutout of the year for Express pitchers.

Round Rock starter LHP Cole Ragans (2-2, 3.62) finished after 6.0 innings of scoreless baseball while allowing only two hits, two walks and eight strikeouts after 93 pitches. Las Vegas starter RHP Adrian Martinez (4-5, 5.52) got the loss after allowing one run on six hits during his 6.0 innings. RHP Yerry Rodriguez made the shutout a reality when, despite allowing a leadoff single in the ninth inning, he came back to retire the side and collected two strikeouts.

Along the Train Tracks:

• Neither team scored in the first five frames. After Las Vegas LF Luis Barrera doubled to start the sixth inning, LHP Cole Ragans retired the side, including two strikeouts. 3B Andy Ibáñez doubled to open the home-half for Round Rock before RF Steele Walker singled to score Ibáñez and the E-Train led 1-0.
• The Express threatened in the seventh inning. 2B Diosbel Arias singled to start the inning and SS Ryan Dorow followed it up with a walk. After C Matt Whatley put down a sacrifice bunt, Thompson bounced into your typical 6-3-4-2-6-3-5 double play that ended the inning.
• Ibáñez added an insurance run in the eighth inning. His solo home run traveled 432-feet out to center field and the E-Train led 2-0. The score stood final as RHP Yerry Rodriguez closed out the ninth inning.

E-Train Excerpts:

• CF Bubba Thompson stole his 45th base of the season during the third inning on Saturday night and became the franchise’s single-season Triple-A leader. Infielder Esteban German set the record at 44 stolen bases during the 2011 season.
• 2B Diosbel Arias, DH Sam Huff and 3B Andy Ibáñez each collected a two-hit night for the Express. Ibáñez also had an RBI and two runs scored.
• Round Rock hurlers RHP Tyson Miller, RHP Chase Lee and RHP Yerry Rodriguez each provided one scoreless inning out of the bullpen. Miller and Rodriguez each allowed one hit while Miller struck out two in his solo frame while Rodriguez added two strikeouts.

Next up: Round Rock and Las Vegas will kick off the series finale on Sunday evening at Dell Diamond, with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Express LHP Kolby Allard (1-1, 4.25) is slated for the start up against Aviators RHP Collin Wiles (7-6, 5.23). The Express will look for a three-game sweep with a win.

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