Dodgers Out-Slug Express 9-3 on Monday Night

ROUND ROCK, Texas – The Round Rock Express (37-40) fell for the second straight contest against the Oklahoma City Dodgers (40-37) as the visitors earned a 9-3 victory on Monday night at Dell Diamond. Eleven of the night’s 12 runs were scored thanks to home runs as the two teams combined to hit five.

Round Rock LHP Brock Burke (1-5, 7.21) was tagged with the loss after a 3.0-inning start that saw seven runs, only three of which were earned, on three hits while striking out five. Dodgers RHP Ryan Pepiot (1-0, 3.60) earned the night’s win after allowing two runs on two hits and three walks with seven strikeouts in 5.0 innings to start the game.

Oklahoma City took a lead that it never lost as RF Steven Souza, Jr. blasted a grand slam into left field during the second inning. The home run scored DH Yoshi Tsutsuo, who had reached on an error, 3B Cristian Santana, who singled, and 2B Omar Estevez, who worked a walk, giving the Dodgers a 4-0 lead.

The Express cut the Dodgers’ lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the frame when DH John Hicks sent a solo dinger onto the right field berm with one out. After 1B Elier Hernandez was hit by a pitch, Charles Leblanc took over at first base, advanced to second on a Yonny Hernandez walk then third as SS Ryan Dorow grounded into a force out before finally scoring on a Pepiot wild pitch.

The visitors responded in the next half inning as they sent three runners in on a home run from SS Sheldon Neuse. 1B Matt Davidson and LF Zach Reks scored along with their shortstop after working a walk and being hit by a pitch, respectively, for a 7-2 lead. Burke went on to retire the next three batters, all via strikeout.

Round Rock plated its third run when C Yohel Pozo sent a solo home run of his own out of the park in the sixth.

Neuse tallied his second home run of the night in the eighth frame, this time sending a two-run shot onto the center field shed to score Reks after the outfielder had drawn a walk. The home run put Oklahoma City ahead 9-3 before LHP Justin Bruihl and RHP Yasiel Sierra combined to keep Round Rock scoreless in the final two innings.

The Red Dirt Rumble foes close out their six-game series on Tuesday night at Dell Diamond. Express LHP Wes Benjamin (2-3, 8.27) is set to start against Dodgers RHP Andre Jackson (--) with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Single game tickets as well as full season and mini season membership plans are on sale now. For more information about 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!