Tucson Sidewinders Edge Round Rock Express 5-4 - AAA, Pacific Coast League

MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com - ROUND ROCK, Texas - With  Houston Astros General Manager Ed Wade in the house, Ty Wigginton did all he could to spark the Express on a rehab assignment, but Round Rock lost in extra innings, 5-4.

Wigginton is coming off a fractured thumb suffered on April 5 in Chicago, and went 1-2 with an RBI triple, a run and two HBP.

Round Rock struck first in the bottom of the first inning, sparked by a Yordany Ramirez single to left field. Wigginton was grazed on the next pitch to put runners on first and second with no outs.

Starter Fernando Nieve went five innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits with a walk and two strikeouts. An Express error meant Nieve would left the game with both teams tied 4-4.

Tucson third baseman Donnie Kelly led off the top of the ninth inning with a
Advertisement = line drive single off of Express reliever Nick Regilio to right field, but his teammates failed to move him over, striking out on a bunt attempt, striking out looking, and grounding into a fielder’s choice.

The first two batters in the bottom of the ninth – Edwin Maysonet and Nick Gorneault – flew out to the right side of the diamond, but Ramirez reached on an error by the Sidewinders’ first baseman, and then stole second with Wigginton at the plate. Tucson then walked Wigginton to get to J.R. House, and with runners at first and second, House grounded into a fielder’s choice.

The two teams battled to a draw through 12 innings before Tucson got runners on first and third with two outs in the top of the 13th inning, and catcher Wilkin Castillo hit an RBI single off of Carlos Hines to right field to put the Sidewinders up 5-4.

Josh Paul led off the bottom half of the inning with a strikeout, Maysonet followed with another strikeout, and with Round Rock down to its final out, Nick Gorneault grounded out to second.

The Express, which had five games of 12 or more innings in 2007, passed the 11-inning mark for the first time this season. Monday’s contest marked the longest since Aug. 28, 2007 when Round Rock fell 2-1 at Omaha in 13 innings.

The two teams meet again for game two of the series, Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. at the Dell Diamond.

PLAY-BY-PLAY

Tucson Sidewinders 5, Round Rock Express 4
April 28, 2008

Sidewinders starting lineup:
Emilio Bonifacio (2B), Tim RainesJr. (CF), Alex Romero (RF), Josh Whitesell (1B), Wilkin Castillo (C), Don Kelly (3B), Jesus Merchan (SS), Trent Oeltjen (LF), Esmerling Vasquez (P),

Express starting lineup:
Yordany Ramirez (CF), Ty Wigginton (3B), J.R. House (1B), Victor Diaz (RF), David Newhan (2B), Humberto Quintero (C), Reggie Abercrombie (LF), Edwin Maysonet (SS), Fernando Nieve (P),

Umpires -- Jason Kiser (HP), Delfin Colon (1B), (2B), Jeff Macias (3B).

Gametime Weather: 76 degrees, Clear.
Wind: 1 MPH, Varies.

First pitch by F. Nieve at 07:09 PM local time.

Express 1st (Express 2, Sidewinders 0) -- Y. Ramirez singles to shallow left field. T. Wigginton hit by pitch, Y. Ramirez to 2nd. J. House doubles through the hole at shortstop, Y. Ramirez scores; T. Wigginton scores. V. Diaz walks. D. Newhan out on a sacrifice bunt, E. Vasquez to J. Whitesell, J. House to 3rd; V. Diaz to 2nd. H. Quintero walks. R. Abercrombie grounds into double play, D. Kelly to J. Whitesell, V. Diaz out at 3rd. 
      (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)
Sidewinders 2nd (Express 2, Sidewinders 1) -- J. Whitesell doubles to left-center field. W. Castillo grounds out, D. Newhan to J. House, J. Whitesell to 3rd. D. Kelly lines out to E. Maysonet. With J. Merchan batting, passed ball by H. Quintero, J. Whitesell scores. J. Merchan grounds out, D. Newhan to J. House. 
      (1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)
Express 2nd (Express 2, Sidewinders 1) -- E. Maysonet flies out to T. RainesJr. F. Nieve grounds out, E. Vasquez to J. Whitesell. Y. Ramirez strikes out swinging. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)
Sidewinders 3rd (Sidewinders 2, Express 2) -- T. Oeltjen walks. E. Vasquez out on a sacrifice bunt, F. Nieve to D. Newhan, T. Oeltjen to 2nd. E. Bonifacio singles through the hole at shortstop, T. Oeltjen scores; E. Bonifacio advances to 3rd on fielding error by R. Abercrombie. T. RainesJr. pops out to D. Newhan. A. Romero lines out to J. House. 
      (1 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors, 1 LOB)
Express 3rd (Sidewinders 2, Express 2) -- T. Wigginton hit by pitch. With J. House batting, T. Wigginton caught stealing 2nd base, W. Castillo to E. Bonifacio. J. House hit by pitch. V. Diaz pops out to J. Whitesell. D. Newhan hit by pitch, J. House to 2nd. H. Quintero grounds out, E. Bonifacio to J. Whitesell. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)
Sidewinders 4th (Sidewinders 2, Express 2) -- J. Whitesell grounds out, F. Nieve to J. House. W. Castillo flies out to Y. Ramirez. D. Kelly strikes out swinging. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)
Express 4th (Express 4, Sidewinders 2) -- Pitcher Change: A. Woody replaces E. Vasquez, batting 9th. R. Abercrombie singles to shortstop. E. Maysonet singles to right field, R. Abercrombie to 3rd. F. Nieve out on a sacrifice bunt, J. Whitesell to E. Bonifacio, E. Maysonet to 2nd. Y. Ramirez out on a sacrifice fly to T. Oeltjen, R. Abercrombie scores; E. Maysonet to 3rd. T. Wigginton triples to right-center field, E. Maysonet scores. J. House flies out to T. RainesJr. 
      (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)
Sidewinders 5th (Sidewinders 4, Express 4) -- J. Merchan singles to third base. T. Oeltjen singles to right field, J. Merchan to 3rd. A. Woody out on a sacrifice bunt to J. House, T. Oeltjen to 2nd. E. Bonifacio out on a sacrifice fly to Y. Ramirez, J. Merchan scores; T. Oeltjen to 3rd. T. RainesJr. doubles through the hole at shortstop, T. Oeltjen scores. With A. Romero batting, wild pitch by F. Nieve, T. RainesJr. to 3rd. A. Romero grounds out to J. House. 
      (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)
Express 5th (Sidewinders 4, Express 4) -- V. Diaz singles to pitcher. With D. Newhan batting, wild pitch by A. Woody, V. Diaz to 2nd. D. Newhan grounds out, J. Merchan to J. Whitesell. H. Quintero grounds out, E. Bonifacio to J. Whitesell, V. Diaz to 3rd. R. Abercrombie grounds out, J. Merchan to J. Whitesell. 
      (0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)
Sidewinders 6th (Sidewinders 4, Express 4) -- Pitcher Change: S. Randolph replaces F. Nieve, batting 9th. J. Whitesell walks. W. Castillo strikes out swinging. D. Kelly pops out to E. Maysonet. J. Merchan singles to center field, J. Whitesell to 2nd. T. Oeltjen grounds into a force out, fielded by E. Maysonet, J. Merchan out at 2nd. 
      (0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)
Express 6th (Sidewinders 4, Express 4) -- E. Maysonet grounds out, A. Woody to J. Whitesell. Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter J. Ash replaces S. Randolph. J. Ash grounds out, D. Kelly to J. Whitesell. Y. Ramirez strikes out swinging. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)
Sidewinders 7th (Sidewinders 4, Express 4) -- Pitcher Change: R. Houston replaces S. Randolph, batting 9th. Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter J. D'Antona replaces A. Woody. J. D'Antona grounds out, T. Wigginton to J. House. E. Bonifacio grounds out, E. Maysonet to J. House. T. RainesJr. strikes out swinging. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)
Express 7th (Sidewinders 4, Express 4) -- Pitcher Change: D. Glant replaces A. Woody, batting 9th. T. Wigginton grounds out, E. Bonifacio to J. Whitesell. J. House struck out looking. V. Diaz grounds out, J. Merchan to J. Whitesell. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)
Sidewinders 8th (Sidewinders 4, Express 4) -- A. Romero flies out to V. Diaz. J. Whitesell walks. With W. Castillo batting, J. Whitesell caught stealing 2nd base, H. Quintero to E. Maysonet. W. Castillo grounds out to R. Houston. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)
Express 8th (Sidewinders 4, Express 4) -- D. Newhan grounds out, D. Kelly to J. Whitesell. H. Quintero grounds out, D. Kelly to J. Whitesell. R. Abercrombie grounds out, J. Merchan to J. Whitesell. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)
Sidewinders 9th (Sidewinders 4, Express 4) -- Pitcher Change: N. Regilio replaces R. Houston, batting 7th. Defensive Substitution: N. Gorneault replaces pitcher R. Houston, batting 9th, playing left field. D. Kelly singles to right field. J. Merchan strikes out on missed bunt. T. Oeltjen struck out looking. D. Glant grounds into a force out, fielded by D. Newhan, D. Kelly out at 2nd. 
      (0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)
Express 9th (Sidewinders 4, Express 4) -- E. Maysonet flies out to A. Romero. N. Gorneault pops out to E. Bonifacio. Y. Ramirez reaches on missed catch error by J. Whitesell, assist to D. Kelly. With T. Wigginton batting, Y. Ramirez steals 2nd base. D. Glant intentionally walks T. Wigginton. J. House grounds into a force out, D. Kelly to E. Bonifacio, T. Wigginton out at 2nd. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Errors, 2 LOB)
Sidewinders 10th (Sidewinders 4, Express 4) -- E. Bonifacio flies out to N. Gorneault. T. RainesJr. strikes out swinging. A. Romero flies out to N. Gorneault. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)
Express 10th (Sidewinders 4, Express 4) -- Pitcher Change: C. Robertson replaces D. Glant, batting 3rd. Defensive switch from left field to right field for T. Oeltjen. Defensive Substitution: T. Nixon replaces pitcher D. Glant, batting 9th, playing left field. V. Diaz grounds out, C. Robertson to J. Whitesell. D. Newhan strikes out swinging. H. Quintero walks. Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter L. Niekro replaces N. Regilio. L. Niekro flies out to T. RainesJr. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)
Sidewinders 11th (Sidewinders 4, Express 4) -- Defensive Substitution: M. Saccomanno replaces third baseman T. Wigginton, batting 2nd, playing 3rd. Pitcher Change: C. Hines replaces N. Regilio, batting 7th. J. Whitesell strikes out swinging. W. Castillo singles through the hole at shortstop. D. Kelly lines into double play, D. Newhan to J. House, W. Castillo out at 1st. 
      (0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)
Express 11th (Sidewinders 4, Express 4) -- E. Maysonet flies out to T. Nixon. N. Gorneault singles to shallow center field. Y. Ramirez flies out to T. Oeltjen. M. Saccomanno strikes out swinging. 
      (0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)
Sidewinders 12th (Sidewinders 4, Express 4) -- J. Merchan flies out to Y. Ramirez. T. Oeltjen strikes out swinging. T. Nixon flies out to Y. Ramirez. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)
Express 12th (Sidewinders 4, Express 4) -- J. House walks. V. Diaz out on a sacrifice bunt, C. Robertson to J. Whitesell, J. House to 2nd. D. Newhan struck out looking. H. Quintero flies out to T. Oeltjen. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB)
Sidewinders 13th (Sidewinders 5, Express 4) -- E. Bonifacio singles to third base. T. RainesJr. out on a sacrifice bunt, M. Saccomanno to D. Newhan, E. Bonifacio to 2nd. Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter P. Avlas replaces C. Robertson. P. Avlas grounds out, M. Saccomanno to J. House, E. Bonifacio to 3rd. C. Hines intentionally walks J. Whitesell. W. Castillo singles through the hole at second base, E. Bonifacio scores; J. Whitesell to 3rd. D. Kelly grounds out, D. Newhan to J. House. 
      (1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB)
Express 13th (Sidewinders 5, Express 4) -- Pitcher Change: J. Peguero replaces C. Robertson, batting 3rd. Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter J. Paul replaces C. Hines. J. Paul strikes out swinging. E. Maysonet strikes out swinging. N. Gorneault grounds out, E. Bonifacio to J. Whitesell. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Sidewinders 1st (Sidewinders 0, Express 0) -- E. Bonifacio flies out to R. Abercrombie. T. RainesJr. strikes out swinging. A. Romero grounds out, T. Wigginton to J. House.        (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB)

Final: Sidewinders 5, Express 4

WP: Connor Robertson (4-2).
LP: Carlos Hines (1-1).
SV: Jailen Peguero (2).
Time: 3:57.
Attendance: 8259.
Official Scorer: Tommy Tate.

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