Dodgers Surge Back Once Again for 4-3 Victory Over Express

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The Oklahoma City Dodgers (44-26) used a seventh-inning home run to defeat the Round Rock Express (36-34) for the second consecutive game, this time by a final score of 4-3, at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark on Friday night.

Round Rock reliever RHP Jesus Tinoco (1-2, 2.66) was tagged with the loss after allowing the winning run to score during his 1.1-inning outing. The righty also struck out two during his time on the mound. Oklahoma City reliever RHP Sam Gaviglio (5-3, 6.45) earned the win, tossing 4.1 frames that saw one unearned run and five strikeouts. Dodgers RHP Carson Fulmer claimed his second save in as many games with a scoreless ninth inning.

Along the Train Tracks:

• Round Rock jumped on the board first when C Sam Huff blasted a solo home run that tagged the scoreboard in left field during the second inning.
• CF Elier Hernandez gave the Express a 2-0 lead when he led the third inning off with a solo dinger of his own that flew into center field.
• The Dodgers plated their first run of the night in the fourth frame when CF Drew Avans knocked a leadoff double before moving to third as Express LHP Kolby Allard threw a wild pitch. After SS Andy Burns worked a two-out walk, Avans scored on a throwing error from Allard, who had attempted to pick Burns off.
• Oklahoma City evened the game at 2-2 in the fifth inning as 1B Ryan Noda sent a pitch into center field for his first home run of the night.
• The Express jumped out to a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth when LF Zach Reks scored on a wild pitch from Dodgers RHP Sam Gaviglio. Oklahoma City quickly tied the contest back up in the bottom of the frame as a single from Burns sent 3B Miguel Vargas across home plate.
• The seventh inning provided Oklahoma City the winning runs for the second night in a row. This time, it was Noda who blasted the ball out of the park as the solo home run marked his second of the game and pushed the Dodgers ahead for a 4-3 lead which held to be final.

E-Train Excerpts:

• Express starter LHP Kolby Allard allowed two runs, one of which was earned, during his 4.1 innings to start Friday’s contest. The lefty allowed three hits and two walks while totaling six strikeouts.
• The Round Rock pitching staff tossed 15 total strikeouts on Friday with Allard’s six leading the way. Both RHP Demarcus Evans and RHP Jonathan Hernández tallied two as they each tossed 0.2-inning outings. RHP Jesus Tinoco punched out two over 1.1 innings and RHP Chase Lee struck out all three of the Oklahoma City batters he faced during his one inning.
• Round Rock posted its first multi-home run game since June 17 when the team hit two dingers versus Sugar Land. The E-Train has only hit more than one home run in six contests during June compared to 10 during the month of May.

Next up: Round Rock looks to close the series gap as they face Oklahoma City at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark for game five of the six-game set on Saturday night. Express RHP Spencer Howard (0-2, 4.91) is scheduled to make the start up against RHP Beau Burrows (4-3, 5.22) with first pitch slated for 7:05 p.m.

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