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(512) 255-2255

Express Beat Storm Chasers 3-2 After Delay

Round Rock Conquers Omaha to Take Game Three
By Joe Clarke
May 6, 2015

OMAHA, Nebraska - The Round Rock Express (17-9) shook off a 1:47 rain delay at Werner Park in Omaha Wednesday afternoon to defeat the Omaha Storm Chasers (14-12), 3-2. The E-Train used six pitchers in the effort and the staff only surrendered three hits.

Both starting pitchers retired the side in the first as Omaha's RHP Joe Blanton picked up two strikeouts in the top half and Round Rock's RHP Phil Klein tossed three straight groundouts in the bottom.

Express CF Jared Hoying earned a lead-off walk to start the second inning and looked to pierce Blanton's hot start. C Chris Gimenez flew out for the first out and Hoying was picked off by a quick-throwing Blanton for the second out. After DH Ed Lucas tallied the second Round Rock walk of the day with two outs, 1B Brett Nicholas flied out to end the inning.

Omaha SS Ryan Jackson provided the first run of the game with a solo home run to left center in the third inning on a 2-0 pitch from Klein. The homer marked Jackson's first of the season and was the first allowed by Klein in 2015. Klein pitched well to complete the inning and kept the Omaha lead at 1-0.

Gimenez whacked a single to right field for the first Round Rock hit of the day off Blanton with two outs in the fourth in hope to spark the Express bats. Lucas struck out swinging to end the inning, but the Express offense began to show life.

Nicholas kicked off the fifth inning with his first home run of the season. The first baseman launched a 1-0 pitch off of Blanton to right field to tie the game at 1-1. Nicholas hit his last home run on August 16, 2014 against the Tacoma Rainiers. 3B Guilder Rodriguez collected his first hit with the Express this season to keep the pressure on Blanton in the fifth, but 2B Hanser Alberto grounded into an inning-ending double play to stop the Round Rock momentum.

Klein's day came to an end after 4.0 innings allowing one hit, one run (one earned), two walks and totaled two strikeouts while receiving a no decision. RHP Ross Wolf (4-1, 6.55) took over for Klein in the fifth and gave up a quick single to DH Casey Kotchman. Kotchman remained stranded on first as Wolf settled and retired the next three Omaha batters to finish the inning. Wolf ended up receiving the win for Round Rock.

Hoying supplied sixth-inning heroics with a two-run blast that gave Round Rock a 3-1 lead. The center fielder jettisoned the first pitch he saw from Blanton to deep left center field with RF Michael Choice on first to pick up two RBIs and his fourth home run of the year.

RHP Tanner Scheppers came in for Wolf in the sixth and walked LF Reymond Fuentes to start his outing. The Round Rock defense then turned a double play to ease Scheppers' third Express appearance of the season. The righty got Omaha RF Moises Sierra to ground out and close the inning with the E-Train still on top, 3-1.  

Blanton (2-2, 3.74) kept laboring into the seventh and baffled the Round Rock seven, eight and nine hitters. Nicholas and LF Trever Adams both struck out swinging and Rodriguez was sent down looking. Blanton's final line was 7.0 innings pitched, five hits, three runs (three earned), three walks, two home runs and seven strikeouts as he picked up his second loss of the season.

The bottom of the seventh inning was halted by rain just after Express LHP Edwar Cabrera struck out Omaha 1B Matt Field for the first out. Cabrera made his first appearance since April 14 after a stint on the disabled list.

Play resumed after a 1:47 delay with LHP Sam Freeman taking over for Cabrera. The lefty threw a walk to start, but made Kotchman pop out for the second out. Another walk from Freeman initiated a mound visit, but was ineffective as C J.C. Boscan ripped a single to center field and brought in the second Omaha run of the day. Freeman calmed after the Storm Chaser surge and struck out 2B Whit Merrifield looking to end the seventh with the lead still in Round Rock's favor, 3-2.

Express RHP Jon Edwards made his way out of the bullpen in the ninth and provided the stability Round Rock needed to end the game. The closer went fly out, pop out, fly out to send the Omaha batters down in order and snag the first victory of the series for the E-Train.

The Express and Storm Chasers meet tomorrow for the series finale at 6:35 p.m. with RHP Anthony Ranaudo (2-0, 1.77) taking the hill for the Express and RHP Clayton Mortensen (2-2, 5.49) representing the Storm Chasers.

For tickets and more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook and Twitter!