Express Outlast Knights in Wild 22-13 Victory

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - BOX SCORE

HOW IT HAPPENED:

1B Blaine Crim gave the Express an early advantage with a solo homer in the first. His ninth of the year put Round Rock up 1-0.

Charlotte jumped ahead with two runs on three hits in the bottom half of the inning. CF Brooks Baldwin led off with a single and DH Kyle Teel doubled. With two down, SS Tristan Grey hit a two-run double for a 2-1 Knights lead.

In the top of the second, RF Kellen Strahm kicked off the E-Train’s six-run inning with a solo homer. CF Dustin Harris recorded a two-run single then Crim grounded out with the bases loaded, scoring another run. Later, C Korey Lee attempted to pickoff 3B Cody Freeman at first but his throwing error allowed Harris to score from second. C Chad Wallach capped off the inning with an RBI single. Wallach extended his hitting streak to six games and the Express led 8-2.

Round Rock added four more runs in the third. Harris drew a bases-loaded walk then Crim was hit by a pitch plating another run. Freeman notched an RBI single sending LF Alex De Goti home. Wallach grounded into a force out but Harris scored to extend the lead to 11-2 after three.

Charlotte rallied with six runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Knights put two on with a walk and a single. 2B Nick Maton tallied an RBI single scoring Ramos from second. LF Zack DeLoach then belted a three-run homer that cut the deficit to 11-6. Teel added a two-run home run later in the inning and the Knights trailed by three.

Crim notched his fourth RBI of the night in the top of the fifth with a single up the middle. De Goti came around from second and the Express advantage moved to 12-8.

Round Rock scratched another run across in the sixth as Harris singled and DH Marcus Smith came home for a 13-8 lead.

The Knights tied the ball game with five runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth. With the bases juiced, Lee sent a single into left that scored two. Ramos then knotted the game at 13-13 with a three-run homer.

The Express grabbed a lead in the top of the eighth as Crim drew a walk with the bases loaded that scored Smith. Freeman blew it open with a three-run, bases-clearing double for his second, third and fourth RBIs of the night. Strahm tallied an RBI single, Smith tallied a sacrifice fly and Harris drove in his fifth run of the night with a single and the Express led 21-13.

Round Rock plated their final run of the night in the ninth as 3B Frainyer Chavez recorded an RBI double sending it to a final of 22-13.

E-TRAIN EXCERPTS:

LEAGUE-LEADING NIGHT: Round Rock’s 22 runs and 21 hits on Thursday night are the most by any Pacific Coast League team this season. The Express had five players record three hits and five with multiple RBI.

FREE BASES: The E-Train drew 13 walks, their most since April 18, 2023, when they had a franchise-record 16 at Sacramento.

HARRIS GETTING HOT: CF Dustin Harris went 3-for-6 with six RBI, three runs and three walks in Thursday’s win. His six RBI are tied for the second-most in the PCL this year.

AHEAD OF THE EIGHT BALL: The E-Train’s eight runs in the eighth inning are a new single-inning high for 2025. It’s also the second-most runs in the eighth inning in club history (9, 5/27/2012).

NEXT GAME: Saturday, May 24 at Charlotte FIRST PITCH: 5:05 p.m. CT BALLPARK: Truist Field

For more information about the Express, visit RRExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Subscribe to the E-Train email newsletter and keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram and X!