Rainiers Offense Dismantles Express En Route to 10-2 Win

ROUND ROCK, Texas – Saturday night saw the Round Rock Express (8-5) fall 10-2 in game five of their series against the Tacoma Rainiers (7-6) at Dell Diamond.

Express starter RHP Kyle Cody (0-1, 5.79) got the night’s loss after allowing two runs on four hits and one walk with four strikeouts over 3.2 innings. Rainiers reliever LHP Tayler Saucedo (2-0, 0.00) earned the win, tossing two shutout frames that included just one walk and two punchouts.

Along the Train Tracks:

• After three scoreless innings, Tacoma broke things open in the fourth with three runs. DH Mike Ford hit a leadoff triple then scored on a Colin Moran SS Mason McCoy and 2B Kean Wong also came home during the inning thanks to a walk and three consecutive singles.
• The Rainiers doubled their lead in the fifth inning when LF Jake Scheiner, Moran and McCoy all scored on a double from Wong. CF Cesar Hernandez rounded the bases in the sixth to give the visitors a 7-0 lead.
• Tacoma reached double digits with three runs in the seventh inning. A one-out single from Wong followed by a single from 1B Pat Valaika and Round Rock error loaded the bases before a Zach DeLoach walk scored Wong. Ford doubled to plate Valaika and Hernandez, increasing the advantage to 10-0.
• Round Rock avoided the shutout when 3B Davis Wendzel launched a two-run home run in the eighth inning that scored LF Clint Frazier, who had reached base on a leadoff single. The Express put one more runner on base as SS Jonathan Ornelas drew a walk, but the next six batters were retired in order as the 10-2 score held final.

E-Train Excerpts:

• Express DH J.P. Martinez recorded the team’s lone multi-hit performance as he went 2-for-4. Martinez also stole his sixth base of the season and now sits in the No. 2 spot in the Pacific Coast League.
• 3B Davis Wendzel earned multiple RBI thanks to his first home run of the season.
• Round Rock reliever RHP Zack Littell was the only pitcher that did not allow a run on Saturday night. The righty recorded two strikeouts during his ninth-inning showing.

Next up: Round Rock and Tacoma close out the six-game series on Sunday afternoon at Dell Diamond. Express RHP Robert Dugger (0-1, 14.73) is slated to start against Rainiers RHP Jose Rodriguez (--). First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. CT.

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!