Round Rock Drops Fourth Of July Thriller in Extras to Nashville, 7-4
ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Round Rock Express (47-34) mounted a fierce comeback to force extra innings with the Nashville Sounds (38-45) in the series opener on Independence Day, but fell short before a crowd of 13,086 at Dell Diamond, 7-4. The attendance figure was the third-largest ever to watch an Express game at Dell Diamond. Round Rock is now 5-6 on the Fourth of July since becoming a Triple-A ball club in 2005.
Former Express OF Jake Smolinski welcomed himself back to Dell Diamond with a solo shot on the first pitch he saw from Round Rock starter Alec Asher that gave Nashville the 1-0 lead in the top of the second. Smolinski was selected off waivers by the Oakland Athletics on June 21 after seeing action with both the Texas Rangers and Express. Asher then gave up a single, but recovered with a strikeout to escape the second.
Nashville starter Zach Neal saw his no-hit bid come to an end in the bottom of the fourth as Express 3B Joey Gallo lined a double to left field with two outs. Gallo remained on second as LF Michael Choice grounded out to end the fourth.
Round Rock answered with a solo shot of its own thanks to a lead-off home run from 2B Tommy Field that ignited the sell-out crowd and evened the game at one. The run was the only spark of the inning as Neal collected two ground outs and a strikeout to close the fifth.
Asher's decline set in after collecting the first two outs of the sixth as Nashville RF Jason Pridie stepped in the box looking to revive the Nashville offense. Pridie only needed one pitch to put the Sounds in front with a towering shot to deep right center, making the score 2-1. One pitch later Nashville 1B Danay Viciedo left the park for the second Sounds homer in a row, extending the lead to 3-1. Asher's woes continued as 3B Max Muncy launched the third consecutive homer with a screaming liner that hummed over the right field fence, giving Nashville the 4-1 advantage. Pitching coach Brad Holman came out to calm the Triple-A rookie and help stop the bleeding. The meeting proved effective as Asher got Smolinski to fly out for out number three. Asher (2-4, 4.50) finished his night with 6.0 innings, eight hits, four runs (four earned) and struck out five.
ML rehabber Ross Ohlendorf came in for Asher to start the 7th and immediately collected a strikeout. The Round Rock reliever then hit Nashville SS Niuman Romero with a pitch and walked CF Craig Gentry to put two on with one out. Ohlendorf struck out 2B Joey Wendle, but threw another walk that loaded the bases for Pridie and brought Holman out once again. Ohlendorf completed the fourth outing of his rehab with a strikeout after sending Pridie down swinging. Ohlendorf finished with 1.0 inning pitched, one hit batter and two strikeouts.
Neal threw a 1-2-3 seventh to end his night after 7.0 innings pitched, allowing three hits, one run (earned) and garnered three Ks. RHP Arnold Leon took over for Neal and went manufactured two outs right from the start. However, the Nashville reliever began to unravel with back-to-back singles to Round Rock SS Beamer Weems and RF Ryan Strausborger that put two on for CF Jared Hoying. Hoying smacked a hard line drive for an RBI single that scored Weems to inch the Express closer, 4-2 with Gallo coming to the plate. The sell-out crowd gave a thunderous roar for the Rangers No. 1 prospect as he stepped into the box with two on. Gallo's six-pitch at bat kept the suspense high, but ultimately ended in a strikeout to wrap up the eighth.
LHP Will Lamb and RHP Roman Mendez were the final Express relievers to come out of the bullpen and each threw shutout innings to keep Round Rock close as the game went into the ninth.
The historically-large crowd inspired the Express batting order to keep the game alive and attack new Nashville pitcher Ryan Cook. A quick fly out from Choice put the first out on the board, but Field earned a walk to get aboard. DH Tomas Telis grounded out to put two down, but advanced Field to second and put him in scoring position. 1B Chris Gimenez supplied the fireworks that the crowd had been anxiously waiting for as the first baseman muscled his fifth homer of the season to dead center, tying the game at four. Weems was unable to keep the momentum alive, but Round Rock earned extra innings to give proof that the E-Train flag in center field was still there.
Nashville went to work quickly in the tenth inning after Express RHP Jon Edwards came in for Mendez. Muncy hit a one-out double and was brought in from second on Smolinski's second double of the night to break the tie and give Nashville the 5-4 advantage. The bombardment persisted as C Carson Blair knocked a RBI single to left, sending the score to 6-4. The run sent Edwards to the dugout and summoned LHP Alex Claudio. Claudio gave up the third Nashville double of the inning that saw Blair come home and tallied the seventh Nashville run of the night. The top of the tenth finally came to an end on a fly out, forcing Round Rock to find three runs in the bottom half to keep hope alive.
Sounds LHP Jim Fuller went to work in the tenth, looking to end the game before the dawn's early light. The southpaw threw a fly out and two Ks to retire the side in order.
The Express and Sounds continue Red, White & Blue Weekend with game three against the Nashville Sounds Sunday night. Round Rock sends out RHP Phil Klein (1-0, 1.50) to square off with Nashville RHP Cody Martin (NR). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
For tickets and more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Follow the Express on Facebook and Twitter!