Express Mount Late Comeback for 6-4 Win

The Round Rock Express shook off the recent loss of two key players to waivers and mounted a dramatic eighth-inning comeback to defeat the El Paso Chihuahuas 6-4 on Thursday night. The win puts the Express up 2-1 in the six-game series.

The Express’s pitching staff kept the team in the game early. Starter Ryan Garcia, and relievers Joe Barlow and Josh Sborz all had scoreless outings. Garcia went three innings, giving up three hits and striking out three, while Barlow was dominant in relief, punching out four in just over an inning. Sborz, on a Major League rehab stint, allowed a single hit in his outing.

Despite a strong start from El Paso’s Wes Benjamin, who held Round Rock to one run on four hits through seven innings, the Chihuahuas couldn’t hold on. After taking a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning on RBIs from Yonathan Perlaza and Nate Mondou, El Paso’s bullpen faltered.

The Express offense, which had been quiet for much of the night, exploded for five runs in the bottom of the eighth. With the bases loaded, Justin Foscue was hit by a pitch to tie the game. Trevor Hauver then delivered a clutch two-RBI single to give Round Rock the lead, and RBI singles from Alan Trejo and Konner Piotto capped off the rally.

El Paso made a final push in the ninth, with Luis Campusano driving in two runs to cut the lead to 6-4, but the comeback fell short.

Konner Piotto and Michael Helman led the Express offense with two hits each, and Piotto and Hauver both finished the night with two RBIs. The two teams will meet again Friday night for game four of the series.