ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Round Rock Express (59-43) rode a strong start from LHP Kent Emanuel (5-1, 4.26) to a shutout 3-0 victory over the Omaha Storm Chasers (47-56) on Wednesday night at Dell Diamond. Emanuel held the Storm Chasers scoreless on just three hits while striking out five
ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Round Rock Express (59-43) rode a strong start from LHP Kent Emanuel (5-1, 4.26) to a shutout 3-0 victory over the Omaha Storm Chasers (47-56) on Wednesday night at Dell Diamond. Emanuel held the Storm Chasers scoreless on just three hits while striking out five in 7.0 strong innings of work.
On the losing side, Omaha starter LHP Eric Skoglund (1-3, 6.64) allowed all three Round Rock runs, only two of which were earned, on five hits in 6.0 innings. The lefty racked up six strikeouts to only two walks.
After a trio of scoreless innings to open the game, the Express broke through in the fourth as 2B Jack Mayfield led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a fielding error by Omaha LF Jorge Bonifacio . After alertly swiping third base, Mayfield raced home on a Kyle Tucker groundout to open the scoring.
An inning later, rehabbing Houston Astros SS Carlos Correa tallied a two-out single before LF Josh Rojas blasted a two-run homer into the right field berm to put the E-Train up 3-0. Correa finished the game 1-2 with two walks and a run scored in his sixth rehab start with the team.
Omaha tallied just seven baserunners in the entire contest with only two advancing into scoring position. In the seventh, RF Erick Mejia and 1B Ryan O'Hearn each collected a single, however, Emanuel was able to escape the two-out jam unscathed to help preserve the shutout victory.
Round Rock RHP Felipe Paulino earned his team-leading sixth save of the season after working around a pair of walks in the ninth inning.
The Express go for the series victory in Thursday night's finale. Round Rock RHP Carson LaRue (0-2, 7.36) is scheduled to face Omaha RHP Arnaldo Hernandez (2-7, 7.73). First pitch at Dell Diamond is set for 7:05 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.
