Express Drop Finale to Knights, 7-4
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - BOX SCORE HOW IT HAPPENED: Round Rock RHP Dane Dunning tossed 4.2 scoreless innings allowing one hit, one walk and striking out four. The Knights exploded for five runs on five hits in the fifth inning. RF Zack DeLoach kicked it off with a solo home run.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - BOX SCORE
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Round Rock RHP Dane Dunning tossed 4.2 scoreless innings allowing one hit, one walk and striking out four. The Knights exploded for five runs on five hits in the fifth inning. RF Zack DeLoach kicked it off with a solo home run. SS Colson Montgomery, 1B Andrew Vaughn and C Kyle Teel tallied three consecutive doubles that scored four runs for a 5-0 Charlotte lead.
The Express were held without a run through the first six innings. It would be 2B Frainyer Chavez to put the E-Train on the board with a three-run home run in the top of the seventh. Chavez’s first career Triple-A homer cut the deficit to 5-3.
Charlotte added to their lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth. The Knights loaded the bases with three consecutive walks. LF Corey Julks sent a single into left that scored two and Charlotte led 7-3 heading into the ninth.
Round Rock put the pressure on Charlotte with a run on four walks in the ninth inning. 1B Konner Piotto represented the winning run at the plate but popped out and the Knights took the series finale 7-4.
E-TRAIN EXCERPTS:
DUNNING DOES IT: In 4.2 innings of work, RHP Dane Dunning held the Knights without a run on one hit, one walk and six strikeouts. He posted a whiff percentage of 36% (14 whiffs, 39 swings). Entering this start he was getting whiffs 23.6% of the time.
HE DID THE MARCUS MASH: RF Marcus Smith went 0-for-4 with a walk on Sunday. Smith matched C Chad Wallach’s on-base streak of seven games. He has been on base in 13 of 14 games with the Express this year.
FRAINYER’S NIGHT: 2B Frainyer Chavez went 1-for-3 with his first career Triple-A homer. Chavez drove in three runs on the round-tripper and also scored a run in the ninth, making him responsible for all four of Round Rock’s runs in the series finale. He is now batting .300 (6-20) in six games with the E-Train.
NEXT GAME: Tuesday, May 27 vs Reno FIRST PITCH: 7:05 p.m. CT BALLPARK: Dell Diamond
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