Chihuahuas Down Express 9-4 on Tuesday

EL PASO, Texas – The Round Rock Express (45-40) dropped the series opener against the El Paso Chihuahuas (49-36) by a final score of 9-4 on Tuesday night at Southwest University Park.

Express starter RHP Tyson Miller (6-1, 5.93) was tagged with the loss. He went 1.0 inning and allowed five runs on two hits while issuing three walks with two strikeouts. Chihuahuas starter RHP Matt Waldron (1-2, 9.20) lasted 6.0 innings while allowing two runs on eight hits. He did not issue a walk and struck out seven.

Along the Train Tracks:

• Round Rock scored two runs after just two pitches. LF Bubba Thompson singled on the first pitch he saw before CF Ezequiel Duran homered on pitch number two of the night and the Express led 2-0.
• El Paso loaded the bases in the first inning thanks to three walks. 3B C.J. Hinojosa belted a two-out grand slam that traveled 403-feet and the Chihuahuas took a 4-2 advantage.
• The home team struck again in the second inning. C Michael Cantu led the second inning off with a solo home run that curled inside the left field foul pole and El Paso held a 5-2 lead.
• The third home run for the Chihuahuas came in the third inning LF Brett Sullivan doubled to start the frame and moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt from Hinojosa. 1B Kyle Martin hit a two-run home run that increased the lead to 7-2.
• The long ball bit Round Rock again in the sixth inning. This time it was RF Luis Liberato with a 388-foot solo home to extend the lead to 8-2.
• The E-Train tightened the score at 8-3 in the seventh. Thompson led the inning off with a single and advanced to second when Duran reached first base on a throwing error. With one out, DH Nick Solak was hit by a pitch to load the bases. 3B Andy Ibáñez came up with two outs and singled to score Thompson.
• Round Rock kept battling and scored one more in the eighth inning. With two outs, Thompson was hit by a pitch and showed off his wheels by scoring on a double from Duran and the Express trailed 8-4.
• El Paso plated one more run in the eighth inning. With one out, Liberato singled and stole second base. He came home to score on a single from DH Luis Campusano. The lead grew to 9-4 where the score stood final as the Chihuahuas grabbed the series opener.

* E-Train Excerpts:*

• 3B Andy Ibáñez led the way with a 5-for-5 night with one RBI at the plate. LF Bubba Thompson went 2-for-4 with three runs scored while CF Ezequiel Duran went 2-for-5 with three RBI and one run scored. The three combined for nine of Round Rock’s 12 hits.
• The Express offense went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left 12 men on base.
• RHP Chase Lee and LHP John King each tossed one scoreless inning out of the bullpen. They both allowed one hit and struck out two in their respective outings.

Next up: Round Rock and El Paso will play game two of the series on Wednesday night at Southwest University Park. RHP Kohei Arihara (2-5, 5.67) will make the start for the Express against LHP Ryan Weathers (4-5, 6.69) for the Chihuahuas. First pitch is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. CT.

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!