Express Uses Extra Inning to Secure Series Win Over Skeeters

SUGAR LAND, Texas – The Round Rock Express (23-12) came out on top in its first extra-inning contest of the season, defeating the Sugar Land Skeeters (20-14) by a final score of 5-4 at Constellation Field on Monday. 1B Curtis Terry hit his 10th home run of the season and second in Sugar Land to push Round Rock to a 4-1 series lead.

Express reliever RHP Jake Lemoine (4-0, 1.53) earned his second win of the series with a scoreless 2.0 innings that included two strikeouts. On the losing side, Skeeters RHP Francis Martes (0-2, 6.75) allowed the game-winning run and two walks in 1.1 innings of relief.

Sugar Land scored first as 2B Alex De Goti drew a leadoff walk before advancing to second base on a single from SS Abraham Toro. Both runners scored thanks to a Bryan De La Cruz double, giving the Skeeters a 2-0 lead that held until the fourth inning.

Four of Round Rock’s five runs crossed home in the top of the fourth. 2B Andy Ib**áñ**ez and C John Hicks reached base on a walk and single, respectively. Terry followed Hicks with a three-run dinger to right field to plate the first Express runs of the night. 3B Charles Leblanc scored the fourth run of the frame, working a walk then advancing on a Carl Chester walk, Sugar Land wild pitch and scoring on a groundout from CF Delino DeShields.

The Skeeters tied the game at 4-4 in the fifth when Toro knocked a triple before scoring on a base hit from De La Cruz. Thanks to a passed ball, De La Cruz found himself in scoring position and ran home when 1B Colton Shaver recorded his solo hit of the night.

After working through four more scoreless innings, the two teams faced extras for the first time in the 2021 campaign. SS Yonny Hernandez started on second base for Round Rock and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from DH Leody Taveras. Martes intentionally walked Ibáñez, putting runners on the corners. Hernandez scored the tie-breaking run on a throwing error by Martes, who was attempting to pick off Ibáñez at first.

RHP Joe Barlow earned the save for the Express in the bottom of the 10th inning after Toro and LF Jose Siri found themselves occupying the corners. Barlow struck out C Michael Papierski for the final out, securing the game and series win for Round Rock.

The two teams face off in the six-game series finale on Tuesday night at Constellation Field. Express LHP Brock Burke (0-2, 10.19) is set to get the start against Skeeters RHP Chad Donato (1-1, 7.04). Tomorrow’s first pitch in Sugar Land is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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