Express Top Skeeters in 10-8 Thriller Behind Leblanc’s Blast

SUGAR LAND, Texas – The Round Rock Express (21-12) jumped into first place in the Triple-A West League with a wild 10-8 victory over the Sugar Land Skeeters (20-12) at Constellation Field on Saturday night. The two teams combined for 18 runs on 21 hits in a game that saw three lead changes and three ties. E-Train 3B Charles Leblanc played the role of hero with a go-ahead solo home run in the top of the ninth inning to break an 8-8 tie.

Round Rock reliever RHP Jake Lemoine (3-0, 1.72) earned the win after a shutout eighth inning out of the bullpen that featured a pair of strikeouts. On the losing side, Sugar Land RHP Hector Velazquez (1-1, 0.77) allowed two runs, only one of which was earned, on two hits in the ninth inning. Express starter RHP Tyson Miller made his Round Rock debut, allowing three runs, only two of which were earned, on three hits while striking out three in 3.0 frames.

The busy night began in the very first inning as the E-Train surged out to an early 6-0 lead. DH Delino DeShields began the game with a leadoff walk before a Yonny Hernandez double put both runners in scoring position for LF Andy Ibáñez, who recorded a two-run double to begin the scoring. After 1B Curtis Terry was hit with a pitch, RF Elier Hernandez singled to score Ibáñez.

The inning continued as C Yohel Pozo worked a walk to load the bases, then Leblanc and 2B Trace Loehr each tallied RBI singles to extend the gap to 5-0. Sugar Land RHP Michael Kelly then entered to relieve starter RHP Brett Conine, promptly walking Yonny Hernandez with the bases loaded to force in another run.

Sugar Land’s first run of the evening came in the bottom of the first as 3B Alex De Goti recorded a leadoff triple before scoring on a wild pitch by Miller. Round Rock picked the run right back up in the second as Ibáñez doubled, moved to third on an Elier Hernandez fielder’s choice and scored on an ensuing Pozo single.

The Skeeters mad comeback began in the bottom of the second. CF Jose Siri recorded a one-out single then moved to third on an Express error before scoring on a Michael Papierski groundout. An inning later, De Goti hit a solo home run to pull the home team within 7-3.

Sugar Land knotted the game at 7-7 with a four-run fourth inning. LF Bryan De La Cruz and 1B Colton Shaver worked back-to-back walks off Round Rock reliever RHP Jason Bahr. The righty then committed a throwing error during Siri’s at-bat, allowing De La Cruz to score as both Shaver and Siri moved into scoring position. After E-Train RHP Luis Ortiz entered the game, a Papierski sacrifice fly scored a run. Sugar Land’s big blow then came in the form of a game-tying, two-run homer off the bat of SS Miguelangel Sierra.

The Skeeters took a brief 8-7 lead in the fifth inning as DH Abraham Toro and De La Cruz teamed up for consecutive doubles. However, Round Rock rallied to tie the game once again in the top of the sixth on a solo homer by Ibáñez.

After a scoreless seventh and eighth innings, the only frames that didn’t feature a run by either team, Round Rock plated a pair of runs in the top of the ninth to seal the victory. Leblanc gave the E-Train the lead with a leadoff homer. The Express added an insurance run as Yonny Hernandez reached second on a Skeeters error, then CF Leody Taveras singled his shortstop home to extend the final score to 10-8.

Round Rock RHP Joe Barlow worked around a one-out double in the bottom of the ninth inning by striking out the side to earn his sixth save of the season and help give the Express the best record in the Triple-A West at 21-12.

The two teams face off again on Sunday evening at Constellation Field. Express RHP Drew Anderson (3-2, 2.70) is scheduled to face Skeeters RHP Carson LaRue (2-0, 1.50). First pitch in Sugar Land is scheduled for 6:05 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!