Express Romp to Saturday Night Victory Over Chihuahuas

ROUND ROCK, Texas – The Round Rock Express (62-54) earned back-to-back wins over the El Paso Chihuahuas (63-52) by a final score of 8-2 on Saturday evening at Dell Diamond. The Express lead the six-game series 3-2.

Round Rock reliever LHP John King (1-1, 7.62) earned the win after he tossed 2.0 innings of scoreless baseball without allowing a baserunner. El Paso reliever RHP Angel Felipe (1-0, 10.80) was tagged with loss after he didn’t record an out and allowed four earned runs on one hit and two walks in the sixth inning.

Along the Train Tracks:

• El Paso struck first in the third inning. CF Luis Liberato doubled to start the frame and C Cam Gallagher reached base on an error from SS Ryan Dorow. With runners on the corners, SS Eguy Rosario hit a sacrifice fly to right field and the Chihuahuas led 1-0.
• El Paso snagged a 2-0 advantage in the fourth inning. With one out, 3B Brett Sullivan and 2B C.J. Hinojosa singled. Liberato batted next and doubled down the right field line to extend the lead.
• The Express got on the board in the fourth inning and cut the Chihuahuas lead at 2-1. CF J.P. Martinez tripled to center field to start the inning and the throw to try and get him at third base went into the stands. Martinez was awarded home and the E-Train were on the board.
• Round Rock tied the game in the fifth inning. After 1B Nick Tanielu reached on an error, he advanced to second base on a ground out from 2B Diosbel Arias. SS Ryan Dorow came through with a two-out, broken bat single to score Tanielu from second.
• The E-Train broke the game open in the sixth inning. Walks to Martinez and C Sam Huff started the inning. DH Andy Ibáñez singled to load the bases and RF Sandro Fabian was hit by a pitch to give the Express a 3-2 lead. Tanielu was issued a bases loaded walk to score another run. 3B Davis Wendzel extended the lead to 5-2 when he scored Ibáñez on a single. Arias capped off the scoring in the inning with a single that brought home two runs and Round Rock held a 7-2 advantage.
• The Express plated one more in the seventh inning. After a leadoff walk for Martinez, he advanced to third base on two balks. Ibáñez singled up the middle to score Martinez and extend the lead to 8-2. The score stood final as the Round Rock bullpen did not allow a run in the final 5.0 innings.

E-Train Excerpts:

• CF J.P. Martinez had a 1-for-2 night that included two walks and three runs scored. The lefty also picked-up an outfield assist in the seventh inning when he gunned down CF Luis Liberato trying to score from third base.
• DH Andy Ibáñez and 3B Davis Wendzel each collected a multi-hit game. Ibáñez went 2-for-3 with a RBI, a run scored and walk. Wendzel went 2-for-4 with a RBI.
• The Express bullpen extended their scoreless inning streak to 16.1 innings on Saturday night. LHP John King tossed 2.0 innings without allowing a run before RHP Chase Lee, RHP Daniel Robert and RHP Nick Snyder each tossed one scoreless frame.

Next up: Round Rock and El Paso will get set for the series finale on Sunday night at Dell Diamond. Express RHP Kyle Cody (0-0, 5.40) will face Chihuahuas RHP Thomas Eshelman (1-1, 7.68). First pitch is slated for 6:05 p.m.

Single game tickets are available for purchase or bring your group to Dell Diamond. For more information on 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!