NASHVILLE, Tennessee - The Round Rock Express (28-19) bats sparked a thrilling 11-5 win over the Nashville Sounds (19-29), combining for four dingers, two of which plated multiple runs, on Saturday night at First Tennessee Park. E-Train 1B AJ Reed continued a hot streak notching a home run and three
NASHVILLE, Tennessee - The Round Rock Express (28-19) bats sparked a thrilling 11-5 win over the Nashville Sounds (19-29), combining for four dingers, two of which plated multiple runs, on Saturday night at First Tennessee Park. E-Train 1B AJ Reed continued a hot streak notching a home run and three RBI in the victory.
Express LHP Kent Emanuel (3-1, 4.75) earned his third win of the year after holding the Sounds to two runs on five hits while fanning five in a 3.2 inning appearance out of the bullpen. Nashville RHP Ronald Herrera (0-4, 15.34) suffered the loss, allowing seven runs on five hits and two walks in a 3.2 inning start.
After opening the contest with two scoreless innings, the E-Train silenced the Sounds when 2B Nick Tanielu led off with a base hit prior to two-run opposite-field longball off the bat of C Garrett Stubbs. Nashville DH Zack Granite quickly cut the Express lead in half after smoking a triple, and hustling home on a passed ball.
Round Rock answered in the fourth when Reed went yard after CF Drew Ferguson was struck on the hip by a Herrera pitch. The shot sparked a high-scoring inning for the E-Train as LF Taylor Jones notched a double followed by a Tanielu RBI single. After a brief mound visit, Stubbs worked the first of four walks, two of which would drive in runs, to extend the lead to 7-1.
Nashville began a rally in the home half, beginning with an Andy Ibáñez lead off walk that would advance to second on a Hunter Cole single. Ibanez ultimately made his way home when CF Carlos Tocci and 2B Nolan Fontana each grounded into force outs. The Sounds continued in the fifth when rehabbing Texas Rangers LF Scott Heineman singled prior to racing home on an Eli White triple that would add the Sounds fourth run via a ground out.
The E-Train muted a potential Sounds comeback in the 7th when 3B Alex De Goti and RF Kyle Tucker teamed up for back-to-back solo shots. Reed then extended the Round Rock lead to 11-5, plating DH Yordan Alvarez who had previously singled and advanced to third on a pair of Sounds' wild pitches.
As a last-ditch effort to fuel a comeback, Nashville SS Eli White sent a home run into left field, but the six-run deficit proved to be too much for the Sounds to overcome.
The Express continue their series with the Sounds as they meet for game two on Sunday night. Round Rock RHP Rogelio Armenteros (1-3, 4.91) is set to start while Nashville plans to counter with RHP Philips Valdez (0-6, 5.50). First pitch at First Tennessee Park for 6:35 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.
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Round Rock Express Baseball, owned and operated by Ryan Sanders Baseball, LP, is the proud Triple-A Affiliate of the Houston Astros and a member of the Pacific Coast League
