Round Rock Holds On for 6-5 Victory Over El Paso

EL PASO, Texas – The Round Rock Express (46-40) evened the series against the El Paso Chihuahuas (49-37) at one game apiece as the E-Train earned a 6-5 win on Wednesday night at Southwest University Park.

Express starter RHP Kohei Arihara (3-5, 5.47) went home with the win after tossing 5.0 innings that saw two runs, which were both on home runs, six hits, one walk and three strikeouts. Chihuahuas starter LHP Ryan Weathers (4-6, 6.83) was tagged with the loss after a 6.1-inning outing that included six earned runs, 11 hits and three strikeouts. Round Rock RHP Yerry Rodriguez earned his third save of the season by tossing a scoreless 1.1 innings to finish off the game and secure a win.

Along the Train Tracks:

• Round Rock jumped on the board in the first inning when RF Bubba Thompson launched the game’s first pitch into center field for a solo home run.
• The E-Train increased its lead to 3-0 with two additional runs in the second inning. LF Nick Solak knocked a leadoff double before 3B Nick Tanielu followed with a double of his own that sent Solak home. Tanielu scored as C Matt Whatley tallied his first career Triple-A hit with a two-out RBI single.
• El Paso made it a one-run game in the fourth when CF Taylor Kohlwey and RF Brent Rooker blasted back-to-back dingers in the bottom of the frame.
• 2B Diosbel Arias hit a double to start the sixth inning for Round Rock before the next two batters recorded outs. Tanielu then added to his RBI total with a two-run home run, making it a 5-3 game. A sixth run crossed home plate when DH Josh Sale hit a single, moved to second base on a wild pitch and scored thanks to a single from SS Ryan Dorow.
• The Chihuahuas earned one back in the bottom of the frame as 3B Brett Sullivan hit a one-out double then found home plate on an Eguy Rosario single.
• El Paso worked at a comeback, plating two in the eighth inning to cut Round Rock lead to 6-5. After Kohlwey worked a leadoff walk, Rooker hit his second home run of the night to score the pair. The Express worked to keep the Chihuahuas off the board for the remainder of the game to earn the victory.

E-Train Excerpts:

• Express C Matt Whatley made his Triple-A debut on Wednesday night and finished the game 1-for-4 with one RBI and one strikeout. The backstop recorded eight putouts, including one at home plate, and one assist as he helped catch Chihuahuas SS Eguy Rosario stealing second base.
• RF Bubba Thompson, CF Ezequiel Duran and 3B Nick Tanielu all recorded multi-hit outings with two hits apiece. Tanielu also added three RBI to his line thanks to a single and two-run home run.
• Thompson continued his quest for the franchise’s Triple-A stolen base record as he swiped his 41st bag of the season on Wednesday night. The speedster is now four stolen bases away from the top spot.

Next up: The two are set to face off in game three of the series on Thursday night at Southwest University Park. Express LHP Taylor Hearn (1-0, 4.50) is currently scheduled to start against Chihuahuas RHP Thomas Eshelman (0-1, 6.16). First pitch is slated for 7:35 p.m. CT.

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!