After coming off a 17-hit, 13-run night yesterday, the Round Rock Express may not have matched yesterday’s offensive total, but its 12-hit, eight-run effort did just enough for a second consecutive victory tonight.
Express second baseman Alan Trejo captured his second consecutive multi-hit night. Leading the way for Round Rock going 2-4 at the plate, Trejo drove in 3-RBI and gave the home crowd sitting on blankets along the green berm a souvenir.
Trejo blasted a 2-RBI home run to open up scoring in the second inning in the Express’ 8-1 victory over the Tacoma Rainiers Thursday night at Dell Diamond in Round Rock.
“I have history with (Tacoma starting pitcher) Casey Lawrence, he likes to do that with runners on first base,” Trejo said. “First pitch, I was ready for anything in, and I got a good pitch to hit.”
The first year Express infielder was not done yet, driving in his second extra base hit of the night in the bottom of the sixth for an RBI double to kick off another strong inning for his team. Trejo ended two pitcher nights, his second coming in another dominant inning for the Express in the eighth inning on a forceout.
“It’s not the start I wanted to this season,” Trejo said. “Seeing the numbers up there every single day, it’s been tough, but just staying on the process … I’ve been doing the same thing every single time, and trying to stay on that same process.”
Eight of the nine batters that made an appearance for the Express registered a hit with Trejo, with designated hitter Dustin Harris and third baseman Richie Martin tacking on a pair of hits, Martin firing his first triple of the season.
Martin made his presence known at the plate and the field during the second inning, guiding the Express out of a loaded bases situation. Gobbling up back-to-back line drives in the hot corner, Martin closed any scoring chance for the Rainiers.
“He’s an athlete playing the game of baseball,” Express manager Doug Davis said. “He can do an awful lot of things, and he showcased that with his triple in the last inning. He’s just got a lot of ability, a lot of talent.”
Rolling for seven innings, Round Rock’s fourth shutout of the year was spoiled by Tacoma catcher Blake Hunt sending a line drive towards Express first baseman Blake Crim. Crim was unable to corral the 95 mph ball after contact, allowing Tacoma to drive in its lone run.
Despite the earned run, the Express bullpen was solid, keeping pace with the Tacoma batting order and giving the Express defensive backdrop manageable balls to reel in.
Making an impression with Davis, Express starting pitcher Patrick Murphy lasted three innings, his longest outing to date in his first start this season for Round Rock.
“Murphy was kind of eager to get a start. He started a couple of games in spring training for Texas (Rangers), and he likes that role,” Davis said. “He threw the ball very well, he’s thrown the ball better tonight than he has in the last couple of outings.
