Space Cowboys Hit Their Way to 11-6 Win Against Express

ROUND ROCK, Texas – The Round Rock Express (15-15 | 52-52) fell to the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (18-12 | 67-38), 11-6, at Dell Diamond on Friday night.

Round Rock starter RHP Bryan Chi (0-1, 16.50) took the loss after he gave up four runs, three of which were earned, on three hits and two walks with two strikeouts. Sugar Land reliever RHP Nick Hernandez (3-2, 2.08) earned the victory after tossing a perfect inning with two punchouts.

Along the Train Tracks:

• The E-Train jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first frame. 2B Justin Foscue led off with a walk before stealing second base. He scored on a hard-hit single by SS Jonathan Ornelas.
• In the top of the second, the Space Cowboys had seven baserunners reach to take a 4-1 advantage. After a walk, catcher’s interference and a double steal, RF Cooper Hummel drove in two runs on a triple into the gap. Back-to-back RBI singles from DH Omar Narváez and 2B Dixon Machado rounded out the scoring in the inning.
• Round Rock opened the bottom of the fourth with three straight hitters reaching base. 1B Blaine Crim scored on a fielder’s choice, which earned RF Trevor Hauver an RBI and cut the game to 4-2.
• Each team tallied once in the fifth frame to put the score at 5-3. 1B Zach Dezenzo blasted a solo homer for Sugar Land, while Foscue scored his second run of the night, this time on a double by CF Sandro Fabian.
• Sugar Land blew it open in the top of the sixth, striking for six runs. The inning was capped off by a grand slam off the bat of LF Jacob Melton to make it 11-3.
• LF Kellen Strahm scored the fourth run of the night for the Express in the bottom of the seventh on an infield single from C Andrew Knizner, which was followed by a Space Cowboys error.
• The Express made it 11-6 in the bottom of the eighth inning when 3B Jax Biggers and Foscue plated a pair of runs with base hits.

E-Train Excerpts:

• Round Rock 1B Blaine Crim recorded a 1-for-4 night with one run and one walk. Crim has now reached base in 26 consecutive games, which is the longest active streak in the Pacific Coast League. He also has a hit in 23 of his last 26 games.
• LHP Brock Burke and RHP Grant Anderson combined for 2.2 scoreless frames out of the Express bullpen.
• C Matt Whatley became the first Round Rock position player to pitch since INF Nick Tanielu did so on August 14, 2022. Whatley tossed a shutout ninth frame in his first professional appearance on the mound.

Next up: Round Rock and Sugar Land return to Dell Diamond for game five of the six-game series on Saturday for Flippin' Sweet Night with Jon Heder. Express RHP Adrian Sampson (8-6, 5.91) is scheduled to start up against Space Cowboys RHP A.J. Blubaugh (7-3, 4.10). First pitch is slated for 7:15 p.m. CT.

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