Express Drop 5-1 Contest to Dodgers on Saturday Night 

ROUND ROCK, Texas – The Round Rock Express (20-15) couldn’t climb out of a 3-0 first-inning deficit as the Oklahoma City Dodgers (21-13) won by a final score of 5-1 on Saturday night at Dell Diamond.

Oklahoma City RHP Jon Duplantier (2-0, 2.45) collected the win out of the bullpen with 2.0 innings that saw just one run. He also tallied two strikeouts and walked one batter. Round Rock RHP Tyson Miller (2-1, 3.81) was tagged with the loss after he allowed three runs on five hits. The starter struck out nine and did not issue a walk during 5.0 frames. Dodgers RHP Carson Fulmer earned the save, tossing one scoreless inning.

Along the Train Tracks:

• Oklahoma City scored three times in the first inning. Back-to-back singles from SS Zach McKinstry and 3B Miguel Vargas started the action before CF Kevin Pillar singled to score McKinstry. The Dodgers kept the traffic coming when RF Ryan Noda hit into a fielder’s choice, allowing Vargas to score as Pillar was taken off the bases. Noda then stole second base before 2B Eddy Alvarez doubled off the wall in left field to extend the lead to 3-0.
• Round Rock scratched a run across in the third inning. A one-out walk for 2B Nash Knight was followed by a bunt single from LF Bubba Thompson. CF Leody Taveras sent Knight home with a single up the middle as the Express trailed 3-1.
• The Dodgers grabbed an insurance run in the sixth to take a 4-1 lead. A leadoff walk for Pillar and single from Noda put runners on the corners before Alvarez placed a bunt down the first base line to score Pillar from third base.
• Oklahoma City scored a run in the ninth for good measure. PR Drew Avans took over for C Tony Wolters, who had knocked a leadoff single, before stealing both second and third base then scoring as a throw from Express C Meibrys Viloria went into left field. The run for Avans extended the Dodgers lead to 5-1.

E-Train Excerpts:

• Round Rock RHP Tyson Miller set a new career high with nine strikeouts. Miller finished with five innings of work and allowed all three of his runs in the first inning. The previous career high for Miller came on September 20, 2021 against Oklahoma City when he tallied eight strikeouts.
• LF Bubba Thompson swiped his 17th base of the season during the fifth inning. Thompson leads all of Triple-A in stolen bases this season.
• The loss for the Express marks the first time that Round Rock has lost a series this season. Saturday was also the fourth consecutive loss for the Express, the team’s longest losing streak of the season.

Next up: Round Rock and Oklahoma City return to Dell Diamond on Sunday afternoon for the final game of the series. Express RHP Spencer Howard (0-0, 2.45) is scheduled to start against Dodgers RHP Andre Jackson (**0-1, 3.65**). First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. CT.

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