ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Round Rock Express (81-53) rode a dominant start by LHP Kent Emanuel (8-2, 3.90) to a 4-3 victory over the San Antonio Missions (78-56) on Tuesday night at Dell Diamond, increasing their lead in the Pacific Coast League's American Southern Division to three games with
ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Round Rock Express (81-53) rode a dominant start by LHP Kent Emanuel (8-2, 3.90) to a 4-3 victory over the San Antonio Missions (78-56) on Tuesday night at Dell Diamond, increasing their lead in the Pacific Coast League's American Southern Division to three games with just six left to play.
Emanuel was lights out in his 8.0 innings of work, blanking the Missions on just one hit while striking out six. The southpaw retired the final 21 batters he faced in the convincing victory. On the losing side, San Antonio RHP Thomas Jankins (10-5, 4.38) allowed all four Round Rock runs on five hits in 4.2 innings.
Following a pair of scoreless innings to open the game, Round Rock broke through with a three-run third. C Jamie Ritchie kicked off the frame with a single before SS Alex De Goti worked a walk. RF Chas McCormick then kept his bat red-hot with a two-run single, giving the E-Train a quick 2-0 edge. The inning continued as 2B Jack Mayfield sent McCormick home with a single of his own to pad the gap to 3-0.
In the fifth, Express DH Garrett Stubbs , CF Myles Straw and Mayfield combined for a trio of singles, the latest of which scored a run to give Round Rock a 4-0 edge.
Following Emanuel's eight-inning gem, San Antonio attempted a late comeback off Round Rock's bullpen in the ninth. With E-Train RHP Ronel Blanco on in relief, Missions SS Jake Hager singled prior to a Tuffy Gosewisch double that left a pair of runners in scoring position. An ensuing Ben Gamel walk loaded the bases. 1B Tyler Austin then lined an RBI double to left field to put the Missions on the board.
Express RHP Cy Sneed was called on to relieve Blanco, allowing a sacrifice fly to 3B Travis Shaw that pulled San Antonio within 4-2. A two-out RBI single off the bat of DH David Freitas trimmed the gap to one, but Sneed recovered to strike out 2B Nate Orf to end the game and preserve the 4-3 win for the Express.
Round Rock goes for a series victory over San Antonio on Wednesday night. The penultimate home game of the 2019 regular season is set to feature Express LHP Ryan Hartman (6-6, 5.33) up against Missions RHP Aaron Wilkerson (8-2, 3.34). First pitch at Dell Diamond is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
For more information on the Express, visit RRExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and join the conversation during our historic 20th season using #20STROng.
