MEMPHIS, Tennessee - The Memphis Redbirds (60-67) fought through an attempted comeback by the Round Rock Express (76-50) to secure a 5-3 victory on Tuesday night at AutoZone Park. LF Dylan Carlson made the difference for Memphis, falling a triple shy of the cycle in the win. Round Rock RHP
MEMPHIS, Tennessee - The Memphis Redbirds (60-67) fought through an attempted comeback by the Round Rock Express (76-50) to secure a 5-3 victory on Tuesday night at AutoZone Park. LF Dylan Carlson made the difference for Memphis, falling a triple shy of the cycle in the win.
Round Rock RHP Jose Urquidy (4-3, 5.04) suffered the loss after surrendering three runs, only two of which were earned, on six hits and two walks in a 5.0-inning start. On the winning side, Memphis RHP Daniel Ponce de Leon (7-4, 2.84) held Round Rock to only one run on five hits and four walks in 6.0 innings of work.
After two scoreless innings to open the game, Memphis dropped a three-spot in the third. Carlson led off the frame with a home run prior to a Rangel Ravelo single. 1B John Nogowski then grounded into a fielder's choice that erased Ravelo at second. CF Adolis García then stepped to the plate and hit a double to score Nogowski while a throwing error by E-Train SS Myles Straw allowed the runner to advance to third. The error ultimately burned the Express as Garcia later scored the Redbirds' third run on a RF Justin Williams sacrifice fly.
The Express finally struck after two more quiet innings. 1B Taylor Jones and CF Drew Ferguson each singled before 2B Nick Tanielu loaded the bases with a walk. With no outs, DH Lorenzo Quintana plated Jones for the first E-Train run on a sacrifice fly.
However, Memphis quickly got the run back in the home half of the inning. 3B Max Schrock , SS Edmundo Sosa and Carlson notched a series of singles, the third of which scored a run, to serve Round Rock a 4-1 deficit.
Round Rock attempted a furious comeback in the seventh as Straw hit a double into deep center field before 3B Abraham Toro jumped aboard on a single. RF Kyle Tucker loaded the bases after reaching on a 'Birds fielding error moments before Jones drove in Straw with an RBI single. Ferguson later worked a timely bases-loaded walk to bring the team within 4-3.
However, the comeback ultimately stalled when Schrock, who led off the eighth with a double and advanced on a flyout, converted on a wild pitch by E-Train RHP Dean Deetz to tack on an insurance run in the eighth. The 'Birds then sent out RHP Mike Mayers, who tossed a scoreless ninth inning to preserve the 5-3 win.
The Express hope to bounce back in Wednesday night's game three. Round Rock LHP Kent Emanuel (7-1, 4.08) is set to start opposite Memphis RHP Jake Woodford (8-7, 3.96). First pitch at AutoZone Park is scheduled 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 cCoast League.
