Isotopes Hand Express 5-3 Loss

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Round Rock Express (28-17) fell to the Albuquerque Isotopes (19-26) on Thursday night at Isotopes Park by a final score of 5-3. The Express were limited to just three runs on six hits.

Albuquerque reliever RHP Matt Dennis (2-3, 11.48) collected the win. He tossed 2.2 innings and allowed one unearned run on three hits while striking out one and walking one. Round Rock RHP Spencer Howard (0-1, 6.28) earned the loss after 4.0 innings and three earned runs on seven hits. He issued three walks and struck out five.

Isotopes RHP Chad Smith put together a scoreless 1.1-inning performance to earn his ninth save of the season.

Along the Train Tracks:

• Albuquerque scored the first run of the night in the first inning. LF Ryan Vilade reached base on a leadoff walk. A wild pitch and a groundout moved him to third base. 3B Elehuris Montero delivered a RBI single.
• In the fourth inning, a double for 1B Sean Bouchard and a single for CF Brett Boswell put runners on the corners. 2B Kyle Holder singled to score Bouchard and extend the lead to 2-0.
• C Dom Nunez led off the fifth inning with a single for Albuquerque. DH Tim Lopes drilled a two-run home run and the Isotopes led 4-0.
• The E-Train offense grabbed a run in the sixth inning. Doubles for 2B Josh Smith and 1B Zach Reks put runners on the corners. A fielding error allowed RF Steele Walker to reach base and Smith scored to make it a 4-1 game.
• After a wild pitch gave Albuquerque a 5-1 advantage, Round Rock scored twice in the seventh inning. CF Bubba Thompson tripled to score 3B Nick Tanielu. A Smith groundout scored Thompson and the Express trailed 5-3. Round Rock went scoreless in the final two innings and Albuquerque earned the 5-3 win.

E-Train Excerpts:

• Express RHP Yerry Rodriguez and RHP Dan Winkler went the final 2.1 innings and did not allow an earned run. Rodriguez went 1.1 frames while Winkler went 1.0 inning.
• 3B Josh Smith went 1-for-3 with a run scored, an RBI and a walk. CF Bubba Thompson had an RBI after a 1-for-5 night with a run scored.

Next up: Round Rock will play game four of the series on Friday night against Albuquerque from Isotopes Park. Express LHP Jake Latz (3-4, 4.79) is slated to take the mound. The Isotopes starting pitcher is TBD. First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 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!