Express Rally Again to Sting Bees 10-5 in Sunday Thriller

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – For the second game in a row, the Round Rock Express (14-8) staged a late rally to top the Salt Lake Bees (9-13), this time by a final score of 10-5 on Sunday afternoon at Smith’s Ballpark. Round Rock overcame an early 4-0 deficit with LF Leody Taveras putting the E-Train ahead via a two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning before SS Anderson Tejeda stung the Bees with a ninth-inning grand slam.

Express LHP James Jones (2-0, 4.26) earned his second victory of the young season thanks to a shutout sixth inning of relief. On the losing side, Salt Lake RHP Zac Ryan (1-1, 7.15) gave up three runs on five hits in his inning of relief. Round Rock starter RHP Luis Ortiz allowed just one hit while striking out two in his 2.0-inning assignment.

Salt Lake dropped a four-spot in the third inning to grab an early lead. 3B Jake Gatewood led off the frame with a triple prior to a two-run homer off the bat of 1B Preston Palmeiro. The inning continued as C Max Stassi worked a walk, then LF Jo Adell launched his 11th homer of the year, opening a 4-0 Bees lead.

Round Rock’s comeback began an inning later as 1B Curtis Terry smoked a solo home run to put the E-Train on the board. In the fifth, C Jack Kruger tallied a leadoff single before racing home on an ensuing Delino DeShields base hit. After DeShields stole second, the speedy outfielder came home on an Eli White single, trimming the Express deficit to 4-3.

The E-Train gained the lead for good in the top of the seventh inning. DeShields sparked a one-out scoring rally with a single before Taveras put Round Rock ahead with a two-run homer, his third of the season. The inning continued as 2B Andy Ibáñez and Terry tallied back-to-back singles. 3B Charles Leblanc continued his hot streak with an RBI single to give Round Rock a 6-4 edge.

The Bees pulled within one in the bottom of the frame thanks to a CF Brandon Marsh leadoff walk and an RBI triple courtesy of SS Luis Rengifo.

Round Rock put the game away for good with Tejeda’s ninth-inning grand slam. Terry was hit by a pitch with one out before RF Carl Chester reached base on a fielder’s choice. Following a Kruger walk that loaded the bases, Tejeda stepped to the plate and launched his first grand slam of the season to left field, giving the Express a 10-5 lead that held to be the final score.

The Express and Bees meet again for a Memorial Day matinee on Monday afternoon. Round Rock RHP Collin Wiles (1-0, 1.76) is scheduled to face Salt Lake LHP Packy Naughton (1-0, 3.31). First pitch at Smith’s Ballpark is set for 2:05 p.m. CT.

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). 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!