Las Vegas Beats Round Rock 7-5 in Series Opener

ROUND ROCK, Texas – The Round Rock Express (44-31, 0-1) fell 7-5 against the Las Vegas Aviators (35-40, 1-0) in the series opener from Las Vegas Ballpark on Wednesday night.

Express starter RHP Robert Dugger (3-5, 4.68) earned the loss after allowing five earned runs on six hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Aviators RHP Chase Cohen (2-0, 13.15) collected the win following one inning of scoreless baseball with two hits and one strikeout. RHP Chad Smith earned a save after he threw one inning and allowed one run on one hit with one strikeout.

Along the Train Tracks

• Las Vegas got the bats working in the first frame. With SS Nick Allen and C Tyler Soderstrom aboard, 2B Zack Gelof doubled to score Allen and advance Soderstrom to third base. RF Cody Thomas and 3B Jordan Diaz each came up with a ground out to score a run and the Aviators led 3-0.
• Express SS Jonathan Ornelas tacked on the first runs of the night for Round Rock in the second inning. With 1B Blaine Crim aboard after a walk, Ornelas smacked a home run to cut the Las Vegas lead to 3-2.
• Diaz made his presence felt in the fourth inning with a solo homer of his own as the Aviators took a 4-2 advantage.
• In the sixth inning, LF J.P. Martinez belted a solo home run and pulled Round Rock within a run at 4-3.
• The long ball continued to be the theme of the night as Thomas connected for a solo shot and Las Vegas took back a two-run advantage at 5-3.
• In the seventh inning, Soderstrom blasted a two-run home run to left center field and the Aviators held a 7-3 lead.
• The Round Rock offense wouldn’t quit and 2B Justin Foscue delivered a run for the E-Train in the eighth inning. After a one-out walk for Martinez, Foscue ripped a double to cut the Las Vegas lead at 7-4.
• In the ninth inning, the Express were down to their last out. DH Brad Miller hammered a solo home run. Round Rock trailed 7-5 but PH Sandro Fabian struck out to end the game.

E-Train Excerpts:

• Express RF Elier Hernandez went hitless and snapped his 26-game hitting streak on Wednesday night. His hitting streak is the longest in professional baseball this year. Hernandez went 0-4 and it’s the first time he hasn’t recorded a hit since May 23. The righty hit .422 (49-116) with 10 doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 39 RBI, 31 runs scored and 10 walks during his hitting streak.
• 2B Justin Foscue had the lone multi-hit game for Round Rock and went 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI. Wednesday marked the first game for Foscue since he went on the 7-Day Injured List on June 11.

Next up: Round Rock will play game two against the Las Vegas Aviators (Oakland Athletics affiliate) on Thursday night from Las Vegas Ballpark at 9:05 p.m. CT. Express RHP Owen White (0-0, 3.60) will take the mound against Aviators RHP Adam Oller (3-3, 6.75).