Sugar Land Takes Series Finale Over Round Rock 11-9

ROUND ROCK, Texas – The Sugar Land Skeeters (31-22) defeated the Round Rock Express (27-27) by a final score of 11-9 in Tuesday night’s series finale at Dell Diamond. Facing a 7-3 deficit entering the bottom of the eighth inning, Round Rock dropped a six spot, only to see Sugar Land rally for four runs in the top of the ninth.

Round Rock reliever RHP Ryder Ryan (1-3, 6.20) was tagged with the blown save loss after allowing four runs, only three of which were earned, on two hits and a walk without recording an out. Sugar Land reliever RHP Ronel Blanco (1-1, 5.00) picked up the rare blown save win, throwing 0.2 innings that saw two runs, one earned, on three hits with two strikeouts.

Skeeters CF Bryan De La Cruz kicked off the high-scoring contest with a two-run homer in the first inning, bringing in SS C.J. Hinojosa, who had reached first on an Express error from RHP Drew Anderson. Sugar Land increased its lead to 3-0 in the third as RF Jake Meyers drew a walk, stole second and scored on a De La Cruz single.

Round Rock put its first two runs on the board in the fourth frame when SS Ryan Dorow drew a two-out walk before scoring thanks to a double from 3B Charles Leblanc. The third baseman later moved to third on a wild pitch from RHP Peter Solomon and scored on a Carl Chester single, pulling the E-Train to within 3-2.

Both teams scored in the fifth as the Skeeters hit two home runs, a solo shot from 2B Miguelangel Sierra and a two-run dinger from Hinojosa that also scored Meyers. In the bottom of the inning, LF Jason Martin drew a leadoff walk then crossed home for the Express thanks to a Yohel Pozo double, making it a 6-3 ballgame.

After Sugar Land added another run in the top of the eighth, the Express took its first lead of the night in the bottom of the frame, scoring six runs to take an 11-9 advantage. After Leblanc, Chester and 2B Delino DeShields loaded the bases on two straight walks and a Skeeters error, Round Rock hit four straight singles two score the first five runs of the inning. CF Leody Taveras notched the sixth run thanks to Sugar Land’s second error of the inning.

The Skeeters rallied to claim the win thanks to four runs in the top of the ninth. Sugar Land loaded the bases as Sierra was hit with a pitch before De Goti reached on an error. Following a Meyers walk that loaded the bases, Sierra scored on a passed ball, then 3B Alex De Goti and Meyers each scored on a Hinojosa double. Hinojosa then came home on a Jose Siri sacrifice fly to extend the final score to 11-9.

Round Rock is back in action on Thursday, July 8 as the Express open a six-game series against the Albuquerque Isotopes (Colorado Rockies affiliate). Express LHP Hyeon-Jong Yang (0-0, 2.92) is set to get the game one start up against Isotopes LHP Ian Clarkin (0-4, 7.91) with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m.

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