Sacramento Edges Round Rock 4-3 in Series Opener

ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Sacramento River Cats (61-50) kicked off their four-game series against the Round Rock Express (65-45) with a narrow 4-3 victory on Friday night at Dell Diamond. Round Rock SS Jack Mayfield briefly tied the game with a two-run homer in the fifth, but Sacramento rallied to steal the win.
River Cats starter RHP Enderson Franco (6-5, 6.22) earned the win after holding the Express to three runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings. On the losing end, Round Rock reliever RHP Akeem Bostick (4-5, 7.15) suffered the loss after allowing the go-ahead run on two hits and a walk in 3.0 innings out of the bullpen.
The visitors pounced for a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. 2B Mauricio Dubón and CF Mike Gerber tallied back-to-back one-out singles before RF Jaylin Davis cleared the bases with a double that gave the River Cats a quick 2-0 lead.
Round Rock cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the frame as 1B Taylor Jones and LF Kyle Tucker each singled prior to an RBI double off the bat of DH Nick Tanielu . Tucker was thrown out at home attempting to score the game-tying run on the play.
Sacramento added another run in the top of the fifth thanks to a pair of doubles by Gerber and Davis. The E-Train rallied to level the game in the bottom of the inning. In his first start back with the team after a promotion from Double-A Corpus Christi, C Lorenzo Quintana collected a leadoff double. An ensuing two-run homer courtesy of Mayfield pulled the Express level at 3-3.
The tie proved to be short-lived thanks to a two-out Joey Rickard solo home run in the top of the sixth, a bomb that eventually proved to be the game-winner for the River Cats.
The Express threatened a comeback in the seventh as Quintana, 2B Alex De Goti and 3B Abraham Toro worked each walked to load the bases, but Round Rock failed to find the timely hit to drive in the game-tying run.
The E-Train looks to even the series on Saturday evening. Round Rock RHP Brandon Bielak (5-3, 4.45) is scheduled to start opposite Sacramento LHP Andrew Suárez (6-6, 5.46). First pitch at Dell Diamond is scheduled 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.