Round Rock Takes Series Opener Over Oklahoma City 

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The Round Rock Express (56-50) snapped a four-game losing streak and won the series opener over the Oklahoma City Dodgers (62-44) at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark by a final score of 8-5 on Tuesday night.

Round Rock RHP Yerry Rodriguez (3-1, 4.54) secured the win with one inning out of the bullpen. He allowed one run on four hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Oklahoma City reliever RHP Dellin Betances (0-3, 11.08) was tagged with the loss. His 0.2-inning performance saw four runs on one hit along with three walks. RHP Jesus Tinoco grabbed his 12th save of the season after entering with one out in the ninth inning. He struck out two and walked one.

Along the Train Tracks:

• After the game was delayed 57 minutes because of rain, Express LF Nick Solak brought home the first run of the night in the third frame when he tattooed a baseball to deep center field. His 446-foot solo home run gave the E-Train a 1-0 advantage.
• Round Rock RHP Tyson Miller was unable to secure a shutdown inning in the home-half. With one out, back-to-back singles for 3B Edwin Rios and LF Miguel Vargas put runners on the corners. 2B Michael Busch tied the game at one after he singled to score Rios, while Vargas moved to third base.
• The third inning continued to unravel as the Dodgers took a 2-1 lead. A passed ball moved Busch to second before RF Jason Martin grounded out to score Vargas, while Busch advanced to third base on the play. After a walk for 1B Ryan Noda, DH Tomas Telis singled and Oklahoma City extended their lead to 3-1.
• The Express took over in the seventh inning. With one out, three consecutive walks to RF Josh Sale, 1B Nick Tanielu and Solak loaded the bases. After CF J.P. Martinez grounded out to score Sale, 3B Josh Jung smacked a three-run home run down the left field line and the E-Train snagged a 5-3 lead.
• The two-out rally continued in the seventh inning and the Express held a 7-3 lead. After the Jung home run, C Sam Huff walked and 2B Mark Mathias doubled. SS Davis Wendzel singled to score both runners.
• The Dodgers had an answer in the home-half. Busch and Martin singled to start the frame. Noda capitalized with a third consecutive single that scored Busch and cut the Express lead at 7-4.
• Round Rock earned the run back in the eighth inning. DH Andy Ibáñez walked, stole second base and earned third base after a balk. Sale walked and Tanielu provided a sacrifice fly that pushed the E-Train lead to 8-4.
• Oklahoma City wouldn’t quit. Vargas and Busch singled to start the ninth inning and the Dodgers quickly had men on first and third base. Martin grabbed a sacrifice fly that trimmed the lead to 8-5. RHP Jesus Tinoco entered and picked up two strikeouts to secure the final two outs as Round Rock took home the 8-5 win.

E-Train Excerpts:

• 2B Mark Mathias had the lone multi-hit night for Round Rock. He finished 2-for-5 with a run scored. The E-Train had two members collect multiple RBI. 3B Josh Jung had three RBI while SS Davis Wendzel added two.
• Jung made his 2022 debut with the Express after he had surgery on his torn left labrum in February. Jung went 1-for-3 with a run scored, a home run, three RBI, two walks and two strikeouts.
• Oklahoma City outhit Round Rock 13-6 but lost by three runs. The Dodgers finished 3-for-15 with runners in scoring positions and they left 12 men on the bases.

Next up: Round Rock will prepare for game two of the series at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark on Wednesday against Oklahoma City. Express RHP Kohei Arihara (3-6, 5.10) is scheduled to start on the mound against Dodgers RHP Jon Duplantier (4-3, 5.98). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. CT.

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