(4-5, T3rd–PCL American South)
Game Notes:
The Express started off the year in New Orleans with their first opening day win in RR’s 7-year history. On Friday night in Round Rock, they duplicate that feat as the Express win a home opener for the first time ever.
Brian Gordon swung the big bat in the 6-4 win over the Iowa Cubs. Playing for the first time in RR as a member of the Express, he came off the bench in the 4th to go 3-3 with a couple of doubles.
2B Brooks Conrad also had a couple of 2-baggers in the game.
Alan Zinter had a PH 3-run blast (#2) in the 5th.
Charlton Jimerson modeled the golden sombrero after his final whiff of the game in the 7th inning.
Roberto Giron got the start in lieu of the just-promoted Zeke Astacio and did a bang-up job, allowing a lot of baserunners but holding the I-Cubs to just 2 runs (1 earned) over 4.2 frames.
Dave Borkowski got his 3rd save with a scoreless 9th.
Other News and Notes:
(1) Travis Driskill was quickly re-signed by the Astros to fill the roster spot vacated by Astacio. Driskill entered the game in the 5th inning and retired the one batter he faced on a strikeout.
(4-4, T2nd–Texas League South)
Game Notes:
The Hooks had their 3-game winning streak snapped in the 9-3 loss as a result of their own shoddy defense and a robust Frisco hitting attack.
3B Jared Sandberg made a throwing error in the 5th (his 3rd miscue of the year) which led to 3 unearned runs. It was one of 3 CC errors in the game.
1B J.R. House was 3-4 with a solo shot (#2) to extend his hitting streak to 8 games.
Sandberg (single, double) and 2B Jonny Ash (double) had the lone remaining hits for the Hooks.
Mitch Talbot’s second AA start is unfortunately nowhere near as smooth as his first one (when he allowed just one run in 6 IP) as he gives up 7 hits, 3 walks and plunks a batter in just 4.2 innings. 3 of the runs were unearned thanks to Sandberg’s error.
Other News and Notes:
(1) Greg Rajan in the CC Caller-Times reports that Monte Mansfield, who pitched for the Hooks in 2005, remains in extended ST while working through some shoulder tendinitis. He may be back as soon as May 1. (2) OF Jorge Cortes remains without a base hit, now 0-19 after going 0-4 Friday with 2 whiffs.
(4-4, 3rd–Carolina League Southern)
Game Notes:
The Avalanche rally for 2 runs in the top of the 8th and another 2 runs in the top of the 9th to claim a 6-5 win over Wilmington.
LF Matt Cunningham led off the 9th with a double and was later brought home on a single by 2B Drew Sutton. With two men out and the score tied at 5-5, Sutton swiped second base (just his 1st SB of the season). DH Neil Sellers had the game-winner when his single to RF scored Sutton.
The Blue Rocks had a man on first with two outs in the bottom of the 9th when C Lou Santangelo picked him off to end the game.
The extremely hot-hitting Sellers overall was 3-5 in the game with a double as his BA climbs to .481.
Santangelo hit a 2-run dinger (#1) in the 1st inning and also walked twice.
RF Beau Torbert was 2-4 with 2 runs scored, also reaching on a plunk.
1B Scott Robinson had a single in the 8th which brought home both runs in that inning.
Starter Evan Englebrook got the job done with 5 innings of 2-run ball (only one of which was earned).
Reliever Rob Stiehl has an extremely rough outing for the 3rd appearance in a row, this time giving up 3 runs on 2 hits and 2 walks in 1.1 IP.
Rodrigo Escobar finished it out with 2.2 scoreless to pick up the win.
3B Billy Hart had a rough game, going 0-4 at the plate with 2 whiffs and making 2 errors in the field.
Other News and Notes:
(1) That’s Salem’s first road win of the season and breaks a 4-game losing skid.
(7-2, T1st–SAL Northern)
Game Notes:
The Legends unplug the Power as they go on the road for the first time this season and defeat the West Virginia club by a 9-2 margin.
2B Eric King, C J.R. Towles and 1B Ole Sheldon all had big nights to raise or maintain their batting averages above .400.
King (.407) was 4-5 with a couple of doubles and 3 runs scored.
Towles (.476) had 3 hits including a double and an RBI.
Sheldon (.400) was 2-4 with a longball (#1) and 2 RBIs. He also drew his 8th walk of the season.
Sean Walker was again impressive on the hill, throwing 6 innnings of shutout ball while K’ing 7.
Reliever Garrett Murdy hurled 1.2 scoreless, remaining blemish-free for the year.
RF Eli Iorg threw out a runner at second base (his 2nd assist this year).
SS Tommy Manzella committed his 4th error of the year.
4 Power errors (including 3 by their catcher) resulted in 3 of the Legends’ runs being unearned.