Aces Hang On For 2-1 Victory Over Express

ROUND ROCK, Texas – The Round Rock Express (12-6 | 56-36) fell by a final score of 2-1 to the Reno Aces (9-9 | 53-40) on Thursday night at Dell Diamond as the Express collected only two hits.

Round Rock reliever RHP Spencer Howard (1-1, 5.40) was tagged with a blown-save loss after he allowed two runs over 3.0 innings with two hits and five strikeouts. Reno starter LHP Blake Walston (7-5, 4.63) went home with the win after 6.0 innings and only one earned run on two hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

Along the Train Tracks:

• The Express tacked a run on the board in the first inning. 2B Justin Foscue reached base on a walk to start the frame. After a wild pitch advanced him to second base, 1B Blaine Crim singled and put runners on the corners. RF Elier Hernandez delivered an infield single to score Foscue and give the E-Train a 1-0 lead.
• The Aces tied the game at one apiece in the sixth when RF Pavin Smith blasted a solo home run to left field.
• Reno went back to the long ball in the seventh inning. DH Ali Sánchez delivered another solo blast and extended the Aces lead to 2-1. Round Rock could only muster up two hits on the evening and eventually fell 2-1.

E-Train Excerpts:

• Express starter RHP Seth Nordlin tossed 5.0 innings of scoreless baseball and allowed five hits with three strikeouts. Over the last two seasons, Nordlin has gone 5.0 innings in an outing only twice and both appearances have come this year.
• Round Rock 1B Blaine Crim finished 1-for-3 with one walk and continued his hot month of July. The infielder is hitting .359 (14-39) on the month and has recorded two doubles five home runs and eight RBI in 12 games.

Next up: Round Rock and Reno will play game four of the series at Dell Diamond on Friday, July 21 at 7:05 p.m. CT. Aces RHP Slade Cecconi (4-7, 6.82) will take the mound against a Round Rock starter to be announced.

Single game tickets as well as full season and mini season membership plans are on sale now. 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!