Despite a three-run lead heading into the sixth inning, the Round Rock Express could not hang on, allowing the El Paso Chihuahuas to score four runs in the final four innings to take the series in a 7-6 victory Sunday night at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas.
Trevor Hauver and Alan Trejo propelled Round Rock to a 6-2 lead after rocketing a pair of multi-RBI home runs in the first and third innings, respectively. As El Paso’s bullpen entered the game in the fourth inning, the Express struggled to cash in on big hits.
“You don’t ever like to jump out to a big lead like that, then lose it,” bench coach Chase Lambin said. “We scored six in the first four innings and then didn’t score again. But we had opportunities, just couldn’t get that big hit with runners in scoring position.”
Although Michael Helman and Richie Martin drove in a pair of doubles, both were hindered with two outs already on the board. In all, Round Rock stranded six men on base, all coming after the sixth inning.
“Then they brought in (Manuel Castro), who’s got a good cutter, good curve ball,” Hauver said. “(El Paso) just kind of kept us off balance last couple and it paid off for them.”
Express starting pitcher Carl Edwards Jr. had a rocky night on the mound. Despite tossing five strikeouts and lasting until the sixth inning, Edwards Jr. struggled to maintain command to end his night, allowing a pair of home runs in the fourth and sixth innings to bring El Paso within one.
Aidan Anderson replaced Edwards Jr. on the mound in the middle of the sixth inning, but even with the pitching change, the Express could not keep the Chihuahuas off the board. Rodolfo Durán fired an RBI single, tying the game up in the sixth inning.
“They have some good bats,” Lambin said. “There’s some guys, if you make a mistake, they hit it over the fence.”
Coming in after Anderson’s brief stint, Robby Ahlstrom made his way to the hill.
Ahlstrom held down the mound for Round Rock to great success, keeping El Paso scoreless in his two innings of play. Despite the impressive play by Ahlstrom, he was swapped in the final inning with Joe Barlow, allowing El Paso Mason McCoy to fire their third and game-sealing home run of the night.
“It’s tough for the guys on defense with the home runs and stuff,” Hauver said. “Not only on the pitchers but the position players because we feel for the pitchers, we have a good relationship with them.”
Round Rock will face the Albuquerque Isotopes for a six-game series this week at RGCU Field at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
