Express Use Early Runs to Defeat Chihuahuas 3-2

ROUND ROCK, Texas – The Round Rock Express (3-3) rode a two-run first inning to a 3-2 victory in Sunday afternoon’s series finale against the El Paso Chihuahuas (3-3) at Dell Diamond.

Round Rock starter LHP Jake Latz (1-1, 3.00) claimed his first win of the season with a 5.0-inning outing that saw just one run on four hits with four punchouts. The loss went to El Paso starter RHP Reiss Knehr (0-1, 6.23), who allowed three runs on four hits with three strikeouts during 4.1 innings on the mound.

Along the Train Tracks:

• Round Rock took an early lead when the first two E-Train batters scored. LF Bubba Thompson knocked a leadoff single before CF Josh Smith blasted a 404-foot home run to score the pair.

• The Chihuahuas trimmed the Express lead to 2-1 in the fifth inning when C Brett Sullivan and SS Matthew Batten tallied back-to-back doubles that scored Sullivan.

• Thompson responded for Round Rock in the bottom of the fifth frame when he hit a double, stole second base then came home thanks to a double from RF Zach Reks.

• El Paso put one more run on the board when Sullivan scored a second in the seventh inning. The catcher knocked a leadoff single then found third on a Batten double and finally scored as 2B Domingo Leyba hit a sacrifice fly. The run made it a 3-2 contest, which went on to be final.

E-Train Excerpts:

• CF Josh Smith made his first career start in the outfield as the team’s center fielder. Smith also hit his first Triple-A home run, which came one game after recording his first hit at the Triple-A level.

• Express RHP Jesus Tinoco earned the day’s save after throwing a hitless ninth inning.

• RHPs Ryder Ryan and Justin Anderson also recorded hitless outings of relief as they each threw one inning. Anderson recorded one strikeout while on the mound.

• Round Rock had four players record multi-hit games with LF Bubba Thompson, RF Zach Reks and 1B Elier Hernandez all finishing with two.

Next up: Round Rock starts its first road series of the season on Tuesday, April 12 in Sugar Land. RHP Kohei Arihara (0-1, 9.00) is scheduled to start up against a Space Cowboys pitcher to be announced. First pitch at Constellation Field is set for 7:05 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!