ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Round Rock Express (40-26) battled for their 10th series win of the year as they topped the Reno Aces (28-38) by a 10-8 final score on Thursday night at Dell Diamond. Rehabbing Houston Astros C Max Stassi made his Express debut in the victory, going
ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Round Rock Express (40-26) battled for their 10th series win of the year as they topped the Reno Aces (28-38) by a 10-8 final score on Thursday night at Dell Diamond. Rehabbing Houston Astros C Max Stassi made his Express debut in the victory, going 1-4 with a double.
Round Rock RHP Justin Farrell (1-0, 10.13) earned the win after fanning two Aces hitters in a 2.1 inning relief appearance. On the losing side, Aces RHP Matt Koch (1-3, 7.71) allowed five runs on eight hits and two walks in a 5.0 inning start.
Reno opened scoring in the top of the first as SS Domingo Leyba doubled prior to a Yasmany Tomás RBI single.
Round Rock quickly fired back with a four-spot in the second inning. RF Kyle Tucker led off the frame with a base hit then advanced to second on a Taylor Jones walk. 3B Nick Tanielu followed closely thereafter with a single to score both Tucker and Jones. After LF Chas McCormick jumped aboard on a single, 2B Alex De Goti cleared the bases on a triple that widened the early lead to 4-1.
In the fourth, 1B AJ Reed smoked a leadoff double prior to advancing to third on a Tanielu fly out. Finally, Reed plated Round Rock's fifth run via a McCormick sacrifice fly. The E-Train tacked on another pair in the sixth as Reed worked a leadoff walk before Tanielu smoked a no-doubter home run that landed in Dell Diamond's Home Run Porch.
Reno attempted to spark a rally beginning with a Matt Szczur home run to open the seventh inning. The blast was followed by a Caleb Joseph walk, a Marty Herum fielder's choice and a Leyba walk that loaded the bases. Rehabbing Arizona Diamondbacks 3B Jake Lamb then worked a bases loaded walk to knock in another run.
The teams traded back-and-forth innings for the remainder of the game. In the home half of the seventh, Express DH Taylor Jones went yard, plating Tucker, who had previously walked.
However, Aces 2B Wyatt Mathisen recorded a two-run blast of his own in the eighth. In the bottom half of the frame, McCormick opened with a walk before being doubled home by C Oscar Campos , who entered the game as a defensive replacement for Stassi.
Reno poured on the pressure in the final frame to come within 10-8. CF Abraham Almonte and Lebya worked consecutive walks before scoring on a double and wild pitch, respectively. LF Matt Snider and Szczur worked back-to-back walks, before Snider scored on a Mathisen sacrifice fly to make it a two-run game, but a pair of McCormick impressive defensive plays at the wall helped Round Rock shut down Reno to secure a 10-8 victory.
Round Rock aims for their second series sweep of the season in game three on Friday night. Express RHP Jose Urquidy (3-0, 3.16) is scheduled to start opposite Aces RHP Taylor Widener (4-4, 9.64). 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.
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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 Coast League
