Chihuahuas Battle Back, Beat Express 7-6

EL PASO, Texas – The Round Rock Express (46-41) dropped game three of the series against the El Paso Chihuahuas (50-37) by a final score of 7-6 on Thursday night at Southwest University Park. The Chihuahuas have taken two of the first three games in the six-game series.

Round Rock reliever RHP Ryder Ryan (4-4, 3.50) went home with the loss after tossing 1.0 inning that saw one run on two hits. El Paso reliever RHP Evan Miller (3-3, 6.18) earned the win after 1.0 inning that saw zero runs, hits or walks and one strikeout. Chihuahuas RHP Grant Gavin earned his fourth save of the season by tossing a scoreless ninth inning despite allowing one hit with one strikeout.

Along the Train Tracks:

• Round Rock stung El Paso in the first inning for the third consecutive night. After a four-pitch walk to start the night for RF Steele Walker, CF Ezequiel Duran blasted a home run to left field and the E-Train led 2-0. DH Zach Reks came up next with a single and LF Nick Solak cranked a one-out, 403-foot home run to left field and the Express held a 4-0 advantage.
• El Paso had an answer in the home-half of the first frame. CF Taylor Kohlwey doubled and C Luis Campusano singled with two outs to trim the Round Rock lead to 4-1.
• The Express scored once more in the second inning and led 5-1. C Jack Kruger singled before Walker added another single. A fly out to right field for Duran allowed Kruger to advance to third base. Reks bounced into a force out and Kruger came home to score.
• In the bottom of the second inning, 2B C.J. Hinojosa and LF Luis Liberato each singled. After a walk for 1B Kyle Martin to load the bases, SS Eguy Rosario smacked a sacrifice fly and El Paso trailed 5-2.
• Solak and Sale singled to start the third frame for Round Rock. After a sacrifice bunt for 2B Nick Tanielu, SS Ryan Dorow was hit by a pitch. Kruger grounded into a force out to score Solak. The E-Train led 6-2.
• The Chihuahuas scored twice the fourth inning. DH Michael Cantu singled with two outs before Rosario doubled. Kohlwey came through with a single that scored two runs and cut the lead to 6-4.
• El Paso tied the game at six in the sixth inning. A double for Liberato started the inning. Cantu and Rosario walked with one out to load the bags. Kohlwey was hit by a pitch to score Liberato while RF Brent Rooker tied the game at six on a sacrifice fly that plated Cantu.
• The lead changed hands in the eighth inning. Martin roped a double for the Chihuahuas and advanced to third base on a fly out for Cantu. Rosario swatted a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Martin and El Paso took a 7-6 advantage. The Express threatened on a double from Walker to start the ninth but he was left stranded and the score stood final.

E-Train Excerpts:

• Express leadoff hitter RF Steele Walker along with LF Nick Solak each went 3-for-4. Walker scored one run while Solak scored twice and collected two RBI. 1B Josh Sale and DH Zach Reks had two hits apiece.
• The Express outhit the Chihuahuas 13-12 on Thursday. It’s just the seventh time Round Rock has lost a game despite outhitting their opponent. They are 42-7 in those games.
• RHP Seth Nordlin made his Triple-A debut and tossed 3.0 innings while allowing two earned runs on five hits, one walk and three strikeouts.

Next up: Round Rock and El Paso will square off again for the fourth game of the series on Friday night at Southwest University Park. Express LHP Cole Ragans (1-2, 4.26) is currently scheduled to start against Chihuahuas LHP Luke Westphal (2-1, 4.17). First pitch is slated 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!