Early Scoring Helps Round Rock to 7-3 Victory Over Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Round Rock Express (59-56) cruised to a 7-3 victory over the Oklahoma City Dodgers (59-56) in game two of their series at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark on Friday night. The win helped the Express extend their series lead to 2-0 and tied the two teams for second place in the Triple-A West League’s East Division.

Round Rock starter RHP Collin Wiles (7-2, 4.21) got the win after a 6.0-inning performance that saw two runs on just four hits with five total strikeouts. Oklahoma City starter RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx (10-6, 4.94) suffered the loss after allowing seven runs, six earned, on nine hits during his 3.1 frames on the mound.

The Express jumped on the board in the first for an early 2-0 lead as 3B Josh Jung blasted a two-run home run into left field to score himself along with LF Steele Walker, who had hit a single in the previous at-bat.

Oklahoma City responded with a run of its own in the bottom of the frame when SS Zach McKinstry hit a solo dinger to cut Round Rock’s lead in half, 2-1.

The good guys pulled away 6-1 with a big fourth inning. Express RF Elier Hernandez and C Jack Kruger started the action with back-to-back singles with one runner out. 2B Charles Leblanc followed with a double that sent Hernandez home for the first run of the frame before Kruger scored on a Ryan Dorow groundout. Walker sent Leblanc home with a single before he rounded the bases and scored thanks to consecutive singles from Jung and DH Domingo Leyba.

Round Rock kept things going as they added another run in the fourth. After hitting a leadoff double, Leblanc moved to second as Walker grounded out and scored on an Oklahoma City fielding error.

The Dodgers plated two more runs throughout the contest as CF Drew Avans scored on a Sheldon Neuse groundout in the sixth before LF Zach Reks was plated in the ninth when DH Cristian Santana doubled.

Express RHP Blake Bass entered in relief during the ninth frame and recorded the final out of the game to secure a 7-3 win and earn the save for Round Rock.

Round Rock and Oklahoma City continue their six-game set with game four on Saturday night. Express RHP Chase Anderson (0-1, 3.60) is set for the start up against Dodgers LHP Mike Kickham (0-3, 5.19). First pitch at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT.

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!