Round Rock Evens Series With 8-4 Win Over Sugar Land

ROUND ROCK, Texas – The Round Rock Express (29-25) took game four of seven on Thursday night at Dell Diamond in the defeat of the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (24-39) by a final score of 8-4 after the Express plated three runs in the first inning and never looked back.

Express reliever LHP Josh Dye (1-1, 7.50) picked up the win after 3.1 innings out of the bullpen where he allowed two hits and two runs with one walk and one strikeout. Space Cowboys starter RHP Misael Tamarez (0-1, 5.75) was tagged with the loss after going 3.2 innings and allowing the Express to score three runs on three hits, including C Sam Huff’s home run.

Along the Train Tracks

• Express CF Elier Hernandez led off the home half of the first inning with a single and was sent home via 3B Justin Foscue’s triple to put Round Rock on the board early. In the next at-bat, C Sam Huff smacked a two-run home run to extend the lead to 3-0.
• E-Train RHP Cole Winn loaded the bases on a double, walk and single in the fourth inning before Sugar Land DH Luke Berryhill grounded into a double play but sent a run home to cut the lead to 3-1.
• To lead off the bottom of the fifth inning, 1B Yoshi Tsutsugo launched a solo home run to keep Round Rock in front and make it a 4-1 game.
• In the sixth, the Express tacked on two more runs after an RBI double from LF Rafael Ortega brought Foscue home and RF Sandro Fabian followed with a sac fly that plated DH Blaine Crim to extend the lead to 6-1.
• Back-to-back hits had two Space Cowboys in scoring position and back-to-back groundouts from RF Bligh Madris and SS David Hensley plated two runs for Sugar Land in the top of the seventh inning.
• With bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, Huff grounded into a force out and scored a run to give the E-Train some insurance in the form of a 7-3 lead.
• Sugar Land CF Pedro Leon tallied a solo home run in the eighth inning to cut the lead to three, but in the home half, Round Rock took the run back after Ortega worked a walk then rounded the bases on a walk from Fabian, stolen base and Space Cowboys error.

E-Train Excerpts:

• E-Train C Sam Huff launched a two-run home run in the first inning that traveled 404 feet. It is his eighth of the season and he is now one shy of tying INF Davis Wendzel for the team lead at nine home runs.
• After two singles in Thursday’s game, Express CF Elier Hernandez is batting .583 (7-12) in the series against Sugar Land. Hernandez has also doubled, tallied four RBI, one run, one walk and three strikeouts.
• Express reliever RHP Chase Lee retired the first batter and went on to strike out three of the four batters he faced in the eighth inning, bringing his season total to 35 strikeouts in 26.2 innings. He has also retired 15 of the 19 first batters he has faced in his relief appearances.

Next up: Game five of the series will continue at Dell Diamond on Thursday with first pitch slated for 7:05 pm CT. Express RHP Kyle Cody (0-4, 7.32) is scheduled to take on Space Cowboys RHP Jairo Solis (0-1, 7.16).

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!