Walker Walk-Off Gives Express 7-6 Win Over River Cats

ROUND ROCK, Texas – The Round Rock Express (51-45) trailed 6-4 in the eighth inning and battled back for a 7-6 walk-off victory over the Sacramento River Cats (42-54) by a final score of 7-6 on Thursday night at Dell Diamond. RF Steele Walker singled with the bases loaded to end the night.

Round Rock RHP Josh Sborz (3-0, 0.42) earned the win after 1.0 inning of scoreless baseball in the ninth frame that saw one hit and one strikeout. Sacramento RHP Kervin Castro (0-4, 4.94) was tagged with the loss after not recording an out in the ninth inning and allowing one run on three hits.

Along the Train Tracks:

• With two outs in the first inning, River Cats 1B Jason Krizan and 3B Jason Vosler each singled before LF Austin Dean was plunked. With the bases loaded, 2B Isan Díaz lined a single into right field that hit off the glove of Express RF Steven Duggar and all three runners scored to give Sacramento a 3-0 lead.
• The Round Rock offense came to life in the fifth inning. LF Bubba Thompson started the action when he was hit by a pitch with one out. CF J.P. Martinez followed with a single to put men on first and second base. RF Steele Walker delivered a two-out single that scored Thompson before C Sam Huff drilled a three-run home run and the E-Train held a 4-3 advantage.
• The River Cats stole back the lead in the eighth inning. Krizan led the inning off with a single then LF Austin Dean singled with one out and moved Krizan to second base. After Díaz flew out, Dean stole second base. C Andrew Knapp drilled a three-run home run and Sacramento took a 6-4 lead.
• Round Rock answered in the bottom of the eighth. Huff led the inning off with a single before back-to-back lineouts set the scene for 1B Josh Sale to pinch-hit. He smacked a two-run home run to tie the game at six.
• Thompson led the ninth inning off with a double before Martinez singled and Ibáñez reached base on an error. With the bases loaded, Walker was the hero with a single into left field that sent Thompson home as Round Rock collected a 7-6 walk-off win.

E-Train Excerpts:

• Round Rock 1B Josh Sale hit his second pinch-hit home run of the season. Both home runs have come with two outs. On July 9 against Albuquerque, Sale tied the game on a pinch-hit three-run home run in the ninth inning. Round Rock won the game in extra-innings. Sale now has eight home runs this season.
• RHP Kohei Arihara delivered his third start of 6.0 innings this year. The right-hander retired 15 consecutive batters after allowing three runs in the first inning. He did not allow another hit until there were two outs in the sixth inning when he surrendered a single.
• Express LF Bubba Thompson, CF J.P. Martinez, DH Steele Walker and C Sam Huff each posted two hits. Huff collected three RBI while Walker added two.
• Thursday marked the fourth walk-off victory of the season for Round Rock and their second of the homestand. On Sunday, C Sam Huff delivered the final blow on a walk-off single with the bases loaded.

Next up: Round Rock and Sacramento are back at Dell Diamond for game four on Friday night. Express LHP Cole Ragans (2-2, 3.62) is scheduled to start against a River Cats pitcher to be determined. First pitch for Pretzel Day (Did we stutter?!) is set for 7:05 p.m.

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!