Express Claim 3-0 Win Over Aviators in Record Time on Thursday

ROUND ROCK, Texas – The Round Rock Express (39-36) took down the Las Vegas Aviators (42-32) by a final score of 3-0 on Thursday night at Dell Diamond for their second shutout of the season.

Round Rock RHP Spencer Howard (3-2, 3.69) earned Thursday night’s winning decision after an impressive 7.0-inning start. The righty allowed one hit and one walk while recording a team-high 11 strikeouts. Las Vegas RHP Collin Wiles (5-6, 5.77) was tagged with the loss after his start saw all 8.0 innings, five hits, three runs and four strikeouts. Express RHP Spencer Patton earned his first save of the season with a scoreless 2.0 frames that included five punchouts out of the bullpen.

Along the Train Tracks:

• After three scoreless innings to start the night, Round Rock CF Bubba Thompson kicked off the scoring with a 419-foot solo home run in the fourth frame.
• The Express kept the scoring going in the fifth inning when LF Nick Solak hit a leadoff double before moving to third as 3B Andy Ibáñez grounded out. Solak tagged home when 1B Josh Sale hit into a fielder’s choice, despite Aviators C Shea Langeliers’ best efforts to tag the runner out.
• E-Train SS Ezequiel Duran recorded his first career Triple-A hit when he blasted a home run down the left-field line to put Round Rock ahead 3-0.

E-Train Excerpts:

• With 11 punchouts during his 7.0 innings on the bump, starter RHP Spencer Howard became the first Round Rock pitcher to toss 10 or more strikeouts in a single outing since July 30, 2019. RHP Framber Valdez reached 11 Ks versus Fresno during a 7.0-inning start.
• Howard and reliever RHP Spencer Patton combined to throw 16 strikeouts en route to Thursday’s shutout. The Express pitching staff has now recorded 10 or more strikeouts in 14 of their last 15 games.
• Round Rock SS Ezequiel Duran earned his first Triple-A hit and first Triple-A home run on Thursday night. The infielder is now 1-for-11 through three games with the Express.
• Thursday night’s game finished in one hour and 57 minutes, which marks the shortest nine-inning game of the year and second-shortest overall. The contest was the shortest full game that Round Rock has played since May 26, 2018 when the team played for 1:54 in Omaha. Thursday was the shortest nine-inning game that Dell Diamond has seen since exactly 13 years ago when the Express won 1-0 against Iowa on June 30, 2009 in 1:55.

Next up: Round Rock heads to Las Vegas for a set of three games at Las Vegas Ballpark starting Friday. Aviators LHP Jared Koenig (4-2, 2.21) is slated to start for the home team against Express LHP Kolby Allard (0-1, 4.35). First pitch is scheduled for 9:05 p.m. CT.

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