Dodgers Fall To Express In Eighth Inning, Lose 7-4

The Round Rock Express broke open a tie game with three runs in the bottom the eighth inning, leading the way to a 7-4 win over the Oklahoma City Dodgers Saturday night at Dell Diamond.

It was the second time in three last games the Dodgers entered the bottom of the eighth tied, only to have the opponent rally for at least three runs. The Dodgers (61-38) have lost five of their last six games and are now 2-5 through the first seven games of their 13-game road trip.

Tied 4-4, Hanser Alberto led off the eighth inning with a soft flare that hit the chalk of the right field line, resulting in a double. After Alberto moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt, Brett Nicholas brought home the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly.

The Express had the bases empty with two outs, but scored twice more to add some breathing room heading to the ninth. Ed Lucas hit a bloop single, and Tommy Field followed with a walk. Michael Choice then delivered a two-run double to make it 7-4.

The deficit would have been larger had it not been for an incredible home run saving catch by OKC’s Kyle Jensen. Jared Hoying came up after Choice and sent a fly ball to deep right field, but Jensen leapt at the wall and made the catch with his glove above the fence to end the inning.

O’Koyea Dickson led off the ninth with a double, but Round Rock closer Jon Edwards retired the next three batters to record his league-leading 19th save.

Just like Friday night, the Express (57-42) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. With two outs, Nicholas hit a fly ball that barely eclipsed the left field fence for his seventh home run of the season.

The Dodgers took their first lead in the third inning when Buck Britton connected on a two-run homer. It was Britton’s fifth homer of the season, but his first since May 28.

The home run also ended a considerable scoring drought against Round Rock pitcher Anthony Ranaudo. In his first two games against OKC, Ranaudo threw a total of 12 scoreless innings and extended the streak to 14 consecutive scoreless innings against the Dodgers until Britton took him deep.

The Express answered with a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning, courtesy of Ryan Stausborger, giving Round Rock a 3-2 lead.

The Dodgers loaded the bases with one out in the fifth. After Ranaudo struck out Corey Seager, Chris Heisey came through with a clutch two-run single to put the Dodgers back in front.

Strausborger and Nicholas led off the bottom of the sixth with back-to-back doubles to tie the game. With Nicholas at second base and none out, Brandon Beachy retired the next three batters and prevented the Express from taking the lead.

Following Heisey’s two-run single in the fifth, the Express pitching staff retired 13 of OKC’s final 14 batters. Round Rock reliever Roman Mendez (2-1) used to just five pitches to retire the side in the eighth inning and ended up with the win.

Making his first appearance with OKC since April 25, Adam Liberatore surrendered all three runs in the eighth inning and took the loss. The three runs and three hits allowed by Liberatore (0-1) both matched his season highs.