Round Rock Shuts Out Sacramento 14-0 in Sunday Showdown

SACRAMENTO, California – The Round Rock Express (31-33) plated at least one run in all but one inning on Sunday afternoon to earn a 14-0 shutout win over the Sacramento River Cats (27-36) at Sutter Health Park. Eight of the E-Train’s 12 hits earned extra bases, including five home runs.

Round Rock starter RHP Drew Anderson (4-5, 3.45) earned the win, throwing until the eighth inning for a scoreless outing that saw just three hits and two walks with five strikeouts. Sacramento RHP Akeel Morris (1-1, 11.08) was tagged with the loss after his 4.0-inning start saw seven runs, including two home runs, on six hits and three walks while he struck out five.

The first two innings saw two two-run home runs to give Round Rock an early 4-0 lead. LF Elier Hernandez sent the first pitch he saw out to left-center field in the first frame to score 3B Yonny Hernandez, who had been hit by a pitch before moving to second on a Leody Taveras sacrifice bunt. In the second, DH Charles Leblanc worked a one-out walk before C Jack Kruger brought him home on a two-run dinger of his own.

Round Rock increased its advantage to 6-0 in the third when Kruger drove two more runs in with a double. 1B Curtis Terry reached on a force out and was joined on base as Leblanc walked before both scored on Kruger’s hit.

2B Delino DeShields crossed home for the Express in the fourth frame after drawing a leadoff walk, moving to third on a double from Yonny Hernandez and scoring thanks to a sacrifice fly from Taveras. The run put Round Rock ahead 7-0 before RF Carl Chester hit the third E-Train home run of the contest in the fifth, bringing Kruger in with him after the catcher knocked a base hit.

The Express cracked double digits with two runs in the sixth inning. After working back-to-back walks to start the frame, Yonny Hernandez and Taveras both tallied runs for Round Rock. Yonny Hernandez was sent home on an Elier Hernandez double before Taveras was plated on a Terry sacrifice fly, giving the Express an 11-0 lead.

After a scoreless seventh frame, Round Rock scored two runs in the eighth and one in the ninth to ensure the afternoon’s victory. Elier Hernandez launched his second two-run homer of the day with a hit that also scored Taveras after the center fielder had reached base on a single. In the ninth, Kruger tallied his second home run, this time a solo shot for the eventual final score of 14-0.

RHP Scott Engler threw a scoreless ninth inning to join forces with Anderson in keeping the River Cats off the board for the team’s third shutout of the season. Sacramento totaled just four hits and two walks throughout the contest.

Round Rock and Sacramento are back in action on Monday night at Sutter Health Park. Express LHP Hyeon-Jong Yang (0-1, 5.48) is set to get the start against a River Cats pitcher to be announced. First pitch is set for 9:05 p.m. CT.

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