Express Tops Bees 8-2 For Early Series Lead
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Round Rock Express (12-8) defeated the Salt Lake Bees (9-11) by a final score of 8-2 at Smith’s Ballpark on Friday night, their seconds straight victory in the six-game series. Four Round Rock hitters tallied multi-hit games while the team combined for three home
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Round Rock Express (12-8) defeated the Salt Lake Bees (9-11) by a final score of 8-2 at Smith’s Ballpark on Friday night, their seconds straight victory in the six-game series. Four Round Rock hitters tallied multi-hit games while the team combined for three home runs, three doubles and a triple.
Express starter RHP Sam Gaviglio (2-1, 5.91) earned the win on the night with a 6.0-inning outing, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out two. LHP Thomas Pannone (1-2, 6.86) was tagged with the loss for the Bees with seven runs on ten hits, including three home runs, and one strikeout in 5.0 innings of relief.
Round Rock got on the board early with three runs in the second inning. 3B Charles Leblanc hit a three-run home run to bring 1B Andy Ib**áñez* and *RF Carl Chester* home for his first three RBI of the contest. In the top of the third, the Express increased its lead to 4-0 when *C Leody Taveras** hit a solo homer to left-center field.
Salt Lake’s first run came in the bottom of the third inning when 3B Jake Gatewood crossed home after reaching on a single, advancing to second on a single from CF Brennon Lund and scoring on a Brandon Marsh groundout.
The Express took a 5-1 lead when Chester hit a sacrifice fly to score Ibáñez in the fourth inning. An inning later, both teams put a runner across when Round Rock’s 2B Eli White hit a triple to bring Taveras in for a second time. Salt Lake’s Lund scored the team’s second run when C Max Stassi knocked a double to right-center field.
Round Rock sealed the night’s victory with a run in both the sixth and eighth innings. In the sixth, C Yohel Pozo hit his second home run in as many games for a 7-2 E-Train lead. Finally, Leblanc collected his season-high fourth RBI of the night with a double that scored Chester in the eighth.
Game three will take place at Smith’s Ballpark on Saturday with first pitch set for 7:35 p.m. CT. Round Rock RHP Jharel Cotton (1-0, 7.04) is scheduled to get the start against Salt Lake RHP Jake Faria (1-1, 6.32).
The Round Rock Express return home on Thursday, June 3 to open a six-game series against the El Paso Chihuahuas (San Diego Padres affiliate). 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!