Dodgers Claim First Win Against Express

The Round Rock Express (4-1) lost their first game of the nascent season to the Oklahoma City Dodgers (1-4) by a score of 6-8.   Former Express pitcher Austin Bibens-Dirkx (1-0) earned the win for the Dodgers, allowing but a single run in 5 innings pitched. 

Express starting pitcher Brock Burke got into trouble early, allowing a lead-off single to Omar Esteves, then loading the bases with walks to Rangel Ravelo and Zach Reks.  Carlos Asuaje’s single gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the first inning. 

Tim Federowicz drew a lead-off walk in OKC’s half of the second inning.  A single by Elliot Soto, followed by a wild pitch put both runners into scoring position. Omar Estevez’s double to center field gave the Dodgers’ a 3-0 advantage.  Burke’s last pitch for the game was a single to Keibert Ruiz’s that moved Estevez to third base. 

Round Rock relief pitcher Jimmy Herget replaced Burke and immediately allowed a run scoring single to Rangel Ravelo. Herget’s next pitch yielded a 3-run home run to Zach Reks. 

The Express showed some offensive presence in the bottom of the third inning with a Delino DeShields single to center field.  DeShield advance to second and then third on infield ground-outs by Yonny Hernandez and Leody Taveras.  John Hicks drove home DeShield. 

OKC increased their lead to 8-1 with a lead-off double by Tim Federowicz and a run-scoring single by Drew Avans. 

Dual pitching change in the eighth inning created opportunities for the Express.  Yonny Hernandez scored on John Hicks’ double, after getting on base with a single and advancing with a stolen based.  Jason Martin’s double to right field scored Hicks.   Curtiss Terry’s home run blast to left field narrowed the score to 8-5.  Carl Chester reached first on a fielding error by third baseman Andy Burns.  Chester stole second base and scored on a Charles Leblanc single to center field, making the score 8-6. 

Kevin Quakenbush, OKC’s third pitcher of the game, shut down the Express rally in the eighth inning, and held them scoreless in the ninth.    

Express starting pitcher Brock Burke suffered the loss, allowing 5 runs on 5 hits in 1.1 innings pitched, walking 3 and striking-out 3 batters. 

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