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 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express - Game Notes vs. Memphis Redbirds

May 4, 2012 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


GAME 29 | 4 MAY 2012 | 7:05 P.M. CDT | THE DELL DIAMOND | ROUND ROCK, TEXAS

ROUND ROCK EXPRESS (13-15) vs. MEMPHIS REDBIRDS (12-15)

RADIO: 104.9 FM The Horn ESPN"ˆAustin | ONLINE"ˆAUDIO: www.espnaustin.com

EXPRESS: RHP Neil Ramirez (2-2, 4.50 ERA) | ZEPHYRS: LHP Brad Hand (2-1, 3.18 ERA)

TONIGHT'S"ˆGAME

Round Rock continues an eight-game home stand tonight with the first of four games against the Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT at The Dell Diamond. The Express have won three straight, most recently capping a three-games-to-one series victory over the New Orleans Zephyrs with a 5-4 victory last night at The Dell Diamond. Round Rock is 6-4 over its last 10 games and currently trails Pacific Coast League American Southern Division leading Oklahoma City by four games. The Redbirds have won two straight, most recently winning three of four at home against the Iowa Cubs. Memphis is 7-3 in its last 10 games. The Express are 7-5 at home, while the Redbirds are 4-8 on the road. This is the first of 16 games between the teams this season.

BROADCAST"ˆINFORMATION

Tonight's game airs on 104.9 FM The Horn ESPN"ˆAustin. Online audio also is available at www.espnaustin.com. Express Director of Broadcasting Mike Capps handles play-by-play duties.

EXPRESS-REDBIRDS SERIES

This is the first of four series between the Express and Redbirds. Round Rock travels to Memphis May 29-June 1 and July 28-31. The Redbirds make a return visit to The Dell Diamond immediately following the All-Star Game break July 12-15. ... SERIES NOTES: Round Rock is 48-61 all-time against Memphis, winning season series in 2005 (9-7), 2007 (8-6) and last year (10-6). The Redbirds are 29-26 at The Dell Diamond, last winning a series Aug. 22-25, 2009 (3-1). There has never been a series sweep between the two franchises at The Dell Diamond with eight of the 14 series ending in 2-2 splits. Last year, the teams split four games in the Redbirds' first visit with the Express taking three of four in the second series. ... Joey Butler hit .382 (21-for-55) in 15 games last season with two homers, seven RBI, two doubles, 10 walks, two stolen bases and 13 runs scored. ... Matt Kata homered three times and drove in 15 runs, hitting .244 (11-for-45) in 12 games; more than half his hits went for extra-bases as he also had three doubles and a triple. Kata is 29-for-114 (.254) in 34 career games with the Express against Memphis with five homers, 20 RBI, four doubles, 15 runs scored and eight walks. ... Brad Nelson was 19-for-60 (.317) with three homers, 16 RBI, three doubles and eight runs scored in 15 games. ... Mark Hamburger was 0-1 with a 9.45 ERA (7 ER/6.2 IP) in four relief appearances. ... Derek Hankins was 1-0 with a 4.82 ERA (5 ER/9.1 IP) in three relief outings. ... Zach Jackson was 2-1 with a 5.66 ERA (13 ER/20.2 IP) in three starts and one relief appearance. ... Michael Kirkman made one start and three relief appearances but did not factor in a decision with a 4.50 ERA (6 ER/12.0 IP) and 15 strikeouts. ... Martin Perez was 1-1 with an 8.10 ERA (9 ER/10.0 IP) in two starts.

SERIES"ˆINFORMATION

GAME"ˆ29 | FRIDAY, MAY 4 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: RHP Greg Reynolds (1-3, 4.45 ERA)

Redbirds: RHP Joe Kelly (1-1, 2.17 ERA)

GAME"ˆ30 | SATURDAY, MAY 5 | 7:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Zach Jackson (1-2, 5.02 ERA)

Redbirds: RHP Shelby Miller (3-2, 5.09 ERA)

GAME"ˆ31 | SUNDAY, MAY 6 | 1:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Michael Kirkman (1-1, 9.00 ERA)

Redbirds: LHP Nick Additon (0-2, 5.74 ERA)

GAME"ˆ32 | MONDAY, MAY 7 | 12:05 p.m. CDT

Express: LHP Martin Perez (2-2, 4.54 ERA)

Redbirds: RHP Brandon Dickson (2-1, 2.80 ERA)

EXPRESS STARTER

RHP GREG REYNOLDS (1-3, 4.45 ERA)

2012: Non-roster invite to Rangers spring training ... made two starts and two relief appearances, going 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA (5 ER/12.0 IP) ... logged eight strikeouts against one walk and held batters to a .205 average (9-for-44) ... started Express exhibition game vs. Rangers at The Dell Diamond (April 2) ... no-decision in April 8 series finale at Iowa, a 6-5 Express loss; left game in line for win (5-2) ... suffered loss in April 13 start vs. Iowa, a 6-5 Cubs win ... saddled with tough-luck loss in April 18 start vs. Omaha, a 4-0 Storm Chasers win; allowed four runs, only one of which was earned, on five hits and a walk over seven innings ... earned season's first victory in April 23 start at New Orleans, an 8-1 Express win; posted longest outing of season by an Express pitcher (eight innings) and did not allow a run until a two-out solo homer in the eighth.

LAST START: Suffered least effective start of season in a loss April 29 at Oklahoma City, a 9-4 RedHawks win ... allowed eight runs, seven earned, on 10 hits and two walks over 5.1 innings with two strikeouts ... six of eight runs scored in fifth inning, breaking a 1-1 tie ... left game trailing 7-2 ... one bequeathed runner scored ... used 77 pitches, 50 strikes.

2011 vs. MEMPHIS: With Colorado Springs, earned victory in lone start - a 7-5 SkySox win Aug. 10 at Colorado Springs ... surrendered five runs on six hits over 7.1 innings with one walk and seven strikeouts, at the time a season high.

CAREER vs. MEMPHIS: Also made a one relief appearance against Redbirds while with Colorado Springs in 2008 ... allowed one run on three hits over two innings with two walks and two strikeouts.

2011: Split season between Colorado Rockies and Triple-A Colorado Springs ... broke camp with Rockies before being optioned to Colorado Springs two weeks later ... returned to Denver for a spot start July 2, a one-outing stint in early August, and returned to the Rockies bullpen for September ... appeared in 13 games (three starts)"ˆwith Colorado, going 3-0 with a 6.19 ERA"ˆ(22 ER/32.0 IP) and 18 strikeouts against 10 walks ... major league batters hit .303 (40-for-132) against him ... no-decision in season's first start at Pittsburgh, going six innings and allowing two runs on three hits and two walks with two strikeouts ... won next start at New York (NL), allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over five innings with one strikeout ... won spot start July 7 vs. Kansas City despite allowing five runs on eight hits, including two homers, over five innings; struck out three, walked a batter and hit a batter ... posted a 8.47 ERA (16 ER/17.0 IP) in nine appearances (one start)"ˆat Coors Field but a 3.60 ERA"ˆ(6 ER/15.0 IP) in four road outings (two starts)"ˆ... made 19 starts with Colorado Springs, going 6-7 with a 6.81 ERA"ˆ(83 ER/109.2 IP) and 65 strikeouts against 32 walks ... PCL"ˆopponents hit .343 (160-for-466) with 10 home runs ... won each of first three decisions, including first two starts ... lost five of last six decisions, all coming a six-start stretch from July 15 to Aug. 21 ... 10 home runs allowed came in 10 different starts ... best outing was July 7 vs. Salt Lake, tossing seven scoreless innings on seven hits and a walk with seven strikeouts ... surrendered at least four runs in 14 of 19 starts, including season-high eight runs June 26 at Salt Lake ... did not face Round Rock ... posted a 3.32 first-inning ERA"ˆ(7 ER/19.0 IP) but a 7.54 ERA"ˆ(76 ER/90.2 IP) thereafter ... opponents were 4-for-8 with the bases loaded but did not homer.

NOTABLE: Gregory Adam Reynolds ... drafted second overall by Colorado in 2006 ... acquired by Rangers following 2011 season in trade that involved former Express first baseman Chad Tracy ... went 13-10, 4.11 (94 ER/206.0 IP) in 51 games/28 starts over a three-year career for the Stanford Cardinal ... is the highest-draft pick in school history ... in final season, led team in wins, ERA, strikeouts, innings and starts ... prior to the 2006 draft, was rated by Baseball America as the fourth-best pitcher and fifth-best draft prospect overall ... tossed complete games in three consecutive starts ahead of the draft, April 30-May 12, besting Cal's Brandon Morrow (drafted fifth overall by Seattle) May 5 and Washington's Tim Lincecum (10th overall by San Francisco) May 12 ... aided in Stanford's win at Austin Regional, tossing complete-game victory in the Cardinal's 7-2 win June 2 over North Carolina State ... earned NCAA All-Regional honors for that effort ... was named All-Pac 10 honorable mention in 2006 ... ... took loss in championship game of 2005 NCAA"ˆWaco Regional at Baylor Ballpark, striking out 10 batters over 11.0-plus innings of 4-3 loss ... pitched in Cape Cod League in summers of both 2004 and 2005 ... in his senior year (2003) at Terra Nova [Calif.] High School, was named Gatorade California Baseball Player and Bay Area Athlete of the Year, also earning all-state, first-team All-San Mateo County and Peninsula Athletic League Player of the Year honors after going 4-3 with a 0.91 ERA (85.0 IP) ... was recruited by several D-I schools as a quarterback ... played three summers (2000-2002) with Pacifica Joe DiMaggio team ... was drafted by Philadelphia out of Terra Nova High School in the 41st round of the 2003 June draft but did not sign.

RANGERS ACQUIRE SPILBORGHS

The Texas Rangers announced Friday the acquisition of outfielder Ryan Spilborghs from Cleveland in exchange for cash considerations. Spilborghs has been assigned to Triple-A Round Rock and is not on the 40-man roster. He will be active with the Express for Saturday's game. Round Rock will make a corresponding move prior to Saturday's game. Spilborghs, 32, has spent the season with Triple-A Columbus, batting .250 (18-for-72) with one homer, 13 RBI and 12 runs in 21 games. He hit safely in 10 of his last 12 games with the Clippers at .310 (13-for-42) with six walks and 10 RBI. Spilborghs has seen action in left and right field, and has been the designated hitter in 4 contests. This is Spilborghs' first season outside the Colorado organization, as he was with the Rockies from the 2002 June draft through 2011. He was a non-roster invitee to the Indians major league spring training camp, but has spent the year at Triple-A. Spilborghs is a career .272 hitter with 42 home runs and 218 RBI over 619 major league games with Colorado (2005-11), also appearing in 13 postseason games for the Rockies in that span.

AL CHAMPIONSHIP RING PRESENTATION TONIGHT

Texas Rangers General Manager Jon Daniels will present American League Championship rings to members of the Round Rock Express in an on-field, pregame ceremony tonight. Players honored with be those who were on the Rangers active roster at any point during the 2011 season - Julio Borbon, Mark Hamburger, Michael Kirkman and Leonys Martin. Manager Bobby Jones and the Express field staff also will be presented rings along with Express President Dave Fendrick and General Manager George King.

SOLARTE STREAK CONTINUES

Yangervis Solarte is riding a 14-game hitting streak; it is Round Rock's fourth streak of at least 10 games this season and one of two currently active. The streak is tied for the third-longest in the PCL this season and is the second-longest by an Express player (Joey Butler, 15 games). Solarte's streak is the PCL's longest active streak. He is hitting .421 (24-for-57) during the streak with four homers, 10 RBI, four doubles and 10 runs scored. Last night's two-hit effort was his seventh multiple-hit outing during the streak and third straight. Solarte has reached safely in 17 straight games, and he has gone hitless in consecutive games only twice this season with no three-game skids.

NELSON STREAKING, AS WELL

Brad Nelson has hit safely in 10 straight games since snapping a 1-for-18 skid; it is his second streak of at least nine games this season. He is hitting .429 (18-for-42) during the current hitting streak with one home run, five RBI, two doubles and 11 runs scored, crossing the plate at least once in seven of the 10 games. Nelson also has produced multiple hits in seven of the 10 games during the streak, including a three-hit outing April 24 at New Orleans.

SCHEPPERS ROLLING ALONG

Tanner Scheppers has converted each of his last four save opportunities over a nine-appearance span, posting a 0.93 ERA (1 ER/9.2 IP) over that time. He currently has a 6.2-inning scoreless streak over his last six outings, surrendering only two singles and a double in that time with nine strikeouts and no walks and facing four batters over the minimum. Scheppers has retired 13 consecutive batters faced, eight of which were by strikeout. Nine of his last 17 outs recorded were via strikeout. Scheppers is tied for fifth in the PCL with five saves and leads the league with 12 games finished.

BUTLER BREAKS OUT OF RARE "SLUMP"

Joey Butler is 5-for-11 (.455) over his last three games after a two-game skid without a hit. It was the first time he had gone hitless in consecutive games since June 16-17, 2011, a 94-game stretch. The only other time he was held hitless in consecutive games during his Triple-A career was in his fourth and fifth games at the level (April 17-18, 2011). Butler has gone hitless in three consecutive games only five times in his professional career, and only once has he gone four straight games without a hit - June 4-9, 2009, with Class A-Advanced Bakersfield.

PITCHER'S BEST FRIEND

Round Rock has turned 33 double plays, second in the league behind only Tucson (35). The Express are fifth in the PCL with a .979 fielding percentage and were error-free in six of their last eight games with three total errors in the other two games. That comes on the heels of a nine-game stretch in which Round Rock committed 15 errors with at least one defensive miscue in seven of the nine games.

DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE

Round Rock has at least one double in every game since the season opener - a 27-game run. The Express clubbed at least two doubles in 18 of those games, collecting three or more eight times, four or more five times and a season-best five doubles April 22 at New Orleans. Round Rock is seventh in the PCL with 56 doubles. Joey Butler is tied for fifth in the league with 10 two-baggers.

"HOME" RUNS SCARCE

In stark contrast to last season, The Dell Diamond has not been a launching pad for the Express. Round Rock is averaging 0.75 homers per game through 12 home dates this season while averaging 1.25 homers in 16 road games. Last night's three-homer outing was just the second multiple-homer game at The Dell Diamond this season for the Express (two April 14 vs. Iowa). Last season, the Express averaged 1.46 home runs per game at The Dell Diamond and 0.97 homers per game on the road. Tommy Mendonca became the first Round Rock player with two homers at The Dell Diamond when he blasted a two-run shot Wednesday night. Last season, that feat was accomplished in the season's third game when Chris Davis clubbed his second, third and fourth homers, while Doug Deeds and Esteban German both hit their second homers. Teams have combined to score 9.25 runs per game at The Dell Diamond this season as opposed to the 11.90 average in 2011.

BULLPEN STEADY

Express relievers boast a 3.50 ERA (42 ER/108.0 IP) and have not lost a game since April 11 (Tanner Scheppers at Omaha). The bullpen has allowed 26 earned runs in 80.1 innings (2.91 ERA) over the last 21 games since a ninth-inning blown save April 11 at Omaha. Round Rock relievers have allowed more than one earned run in a game only five times in that span, including a 13-inning game and a five-run, seven-inning night April 28 at Oklahoma City. Wednesday night's win by Ben Snyder was the first decision by a Round Rock reliever since Derek Hankins' win April 20 vs. Omaha.

ONE-RUN GAMES NOW RARE

Round Rock's 5-4 win in last night's New Orleans series finale was its first one-run game since a 2-1 victory April 20 against Omaha. The Express are 5-6 in one-run games, winning three straight; seven of the one-run games were against Iowa. Round Rock played eight one-run games in the season's first 12 contests, capped by a franchise-record seven consecutive one-run affairs April 10-16; however, the Express have played only two in 16 games since that seven-game stretch.

BASES-LOADED WOES SUBSIDE

Tommy Mendonca's bases-loaded single in the seventh inning Tuesday night snapped an 0-for-11 slump in bases-loaded situations for the Express. Still, Round Rock batters are 6-for-23 (.261) with the bases loaded, drawing as many walks as hits in that situation. Only one of the six hits went for extra bases - a Yangervis Solarte three-run double April 8 at Iowa. Meanwhile, opposing batters are 11-for-21 (.524) with the bases loaded, including a pair of grand slams. Oklahoma City was 5-for-5 in last week's series.

PLAYER"ˆNOTES

Mike Bianucci is 6-for-16 (.375) over his last four games after going 4-for-33 (.121) in his previous eight games. He has two extra-base hits (one double, one homer) since April 11, a 16-game span. Bianucci has one homer over his last 75 at bats after hitting four in his first 21 at bats. He has nine multiple-hit games, all two-hit efforts. Bianucci has not produced an RBI since April 23 (six games), his longest dry spell of the season. He has struck out at least once in nine of his last 11 games with 13 in that span. ... Julio Borbon has hit safely in five straight games, going 8-for-21 (.381) in that time with a trio of two-hit outings. That comes on the heels of a 12-game stretch without a multiple-hit effort. Borbon was 4-for-39 (.103) in his previous 11 outings. He has seven RBI over his last seven games, plating at least one run in five of the seven contests. His two-run homer last night was his first extra-base hit since an April 14 double, ending a 16-game stretch. It was his first homer since the season opener (24 games, 102 at bats). ... Dusty Brown is riding a five-game hitting streak, going 7-for-16 (.438) in that time with a home run, five RBI, two doubles, two runs scored and three walks. He produced at least one RBI in four of the five games. It is his longest hitting streak this season. ... Joey Butler has reached safely in 25 of 27 games played. He is second in the PCL with 25 runs scored - three more than any other American Conference player (Johnny Giavotella, Omaha). Butler also is tied for fifth in the league with 10 doubles. He is hitting .408 (31-for-76) when putting the ball in play but has hit into a team-high six double plays. Butler has seven multiple-hit outings, five of which came in his last 11 games. ... Luis Hernandez has hit safely in eight of his last 10 games (.298, 14-for-47) with four multiple-hit outings. He has two extra-base hits - both homers - over a 14-game stretch since April 15. Hernandez has eight strikeouts against one walk, which was intentional, over his last six games. ... Matt Kata has hit safely in eight consecutive starts, going hitless in two at bats off the bench in another game during that time. He is 12-for-37 (.324) over his last nine games with two homers, eight RBI and 10 runs scored. He also produced at least one RBI in each of his last six starts, tallying eight in that time. Kata has reached safely in 15 of 16 games started. ... Luis Martinez is hitting .292 (7-for-24) over his last six games with three multiple-hit outings. However, he also has eight strikeouts against three walks in that time. ... Tommy Mendonca is hitting .292 (7-for-24) over his last seven games with two multiple-hit outings, two homers, four RBI and five runs scored. He has three walks over his last three games after going 13 games without a walk. However, he punched out three times last night; it was his ninth multiple-strikeout game this season, fifth with at least three strikeouts. Mendonca is 4-for-9 with RISP and two outs, but 2-for-12 with RISP and fewer than two outs. ... Greg Miclat tallied four RBI Tuesday night, his first game with more than two RBI since a four-RBI outing June 19, 2010, as a member of Class A-Advanced Frederick in the Baltimore Orioles system. All of his last four hits were doubles. ... Brad Nelson has one RBI in his last seven games. He has not produced an extra-base hit since an April 26 double at Oklahoma City; however, he has 12 singles in seven games since. ... Sean Green allowed two runs in each of his last two outings after surrendering two runs total in his first eight appearances. Opposing batters are 1-for-9 (.111) with RISP and two outs but 6-for-14 (.429) when leading off an inning and 11-for-25 (.440) with the bases empty. ... Mark Hamburger has allowed one run over 7.2 innings as a reliever (1.17 ERA) after yielding 17 ER over 10.1 innings (14.81 ERA) in three starts. He is holding opponents to a .214 average (6-for-28) with one walk and nine strikeouts as a reliever. ... Opposing batters are 0-for-9 with RISP and two outs against Derek Hankins. He has not allowed multiple runs in any of his last seven outings since surrendering two in his first appearance of the season. ... Yoshinori Tateyama held the opposition scoreless in six of seven outings, allowing one run in the other appearance. Opponents are 6-for-33 (.182) with three extra-base hits (all doubles) against Yoshinori, including an 0-for-8 mark with runners in scoring position.

TEAM"ˆNOTES

The Express have tallied at least nine hits in 11 consecutive games, tallying at least 10 hits eight times in that span. ... Round Rock is 10-3 when holding the opposition to fewer than five runs but 3-12 when allowing at least five runs. Wednesday night's 10-5 win was Round Rock's first when allowing at least five runs since a 13-inning, 11-10 victory April 15 vs. Iowa, snapping a six-game skid in such games. ... The Express are 1-6 in series openers. The lone win was April 17 vs. Omaha (4-2). ... Of Round Rock's 29 home runs, 16 have been solo shots, including seven to leadoff an inning; 14 came with no outs. ... Round Rock is 1-12 when trailing after seven innings, posting their first such win Wednesday night with a six-run eighth to rally past New Orleans 10-5.

NEXT SERIES

Round Rock hits the road for eight games, starting with a four-game series against the Salt Lake Bees (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim). The series runs Tuesday through Friday with a 7:35 p.m. CDT first pitch each night.

GAME"ˆ33 | TUESDAY, MAY 8 | 7:35 p.m. CDT | SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

Express: RHP Neil Ramirez (3-2, 4.03 ERA)

Bees: RHP David Pauley (2-0, 2.29 ERA)

GAME"ˆ34 | WEDNESDAY, MAY 9 | 7:35 p.m. CDT | SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

Express: RHP Greg Reynolds (1-3, 4.45 ERA; starts tonight)

Bees: RHP Eric Hurley (2-2, 7.61 ERA; starts tonight)

GAME"ˆ35 | THURSDAY, MAY 10 | 7:35 p.m. CDT | SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

Express: LHP Zach Jackson (1-2, 5.02 ERA; starts tomorrow)

Bees: RHP Trevor Bell (1-3, 6.75 ERA; starts tomorrow)

GAME"ˆ36 | FRIDAY, MAY 11 | 7:35 p.m. CDT | SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

Express: LHP Michael Kirkman (1-1, 9.00 ERA; starts Sunday)

Bees: RHP Garrett Richards (3-1, 3.89 ERA; starts Sunday)


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