Still no place like home
Express haven’t lost a series in Round Rock yet.
The way to finish atop the standings at the close of the marathon 144-game Pacific Coast League baseball season is to win series. So far, so good this spring for the Express.
Entering this weekend’s four-game series against Albuquerque, Round Rock had captured seven of its 10 season series, including all four played at home. On Sunday, the Express needed to win both games of a rain-forced doubleheader to split the series and keep its unbeaten home streak intact, and they did just that, beating the Isotopes 5-4 in the opener before winning the nightcap 3-0.
Round Rock was rolling a week ago, having won before heading to Colorado Springs. The Express saw that momentum interrupted by four weather-related postponements over a sixday stretch. They have played two doubleheaders — one May 17 in Colorado Springs and one Sunday at Dell Diamond — and had another twinbill postponed.
“There are times when we are going to scuffle a little bit, and this team is experienced enough to understand that,” said Express manager Jason Wood. “We have been playing well overall, but we might have lost a little momentum with the rainouts and the scheduling challenges we had over the past week. These guys needed a day like this and a couple of wins.”
The victory in the opener snapped a threegame losing streak. Ryan Strausborger walked on four pitches with the bases loaded in the sixth to drive home Michael Choice. The deciding run was scored off Albuquerque reliever Simon Castro (4-2), who entered in the fourth inning after Isotopes starter Jair Jurrjens left with an injury.
Rougned Odor had two hits (one a long home run in the first inning) to lead the Express in the opener. Brett Nicholas added a two-run home run in support of Round Rock starter Jerad Eickhoff (4-2), who hurled six innings and surrendered four runs on six hits. Closer Jon Edwards retired all three batters he faced in the seventh to earn his 12th save in 13 opportunities.
In the second game, the Express used an RBI triple by Carlos Arroyo and a run-scoring single by Hanser Alberto to grab a 2-0 lead in the second inning.
Round Rock (27-15, and leading the PCL’s American Southern Division by six games) expanded its advantage in the fifth on a solo homer by Strausborger. Those runs were plenty for Express starter Stolmy Pimentel and relievers Jimmy Reyes, Luke Jackson and Spencer Patton, who allowed a combined three hits.