Round Rock Express vs Albuquerque Isotopes

The eighth inning unravelled in a hurry. Emiliano Teodo entered with a 3-1 lead and could not record an out. A double, a single, a walk and another single followed, loading the bases and forcing Teodo's exit after facing just five batters. Joe Ross inherited two runners and both scored on a bases-loaded walk and a two-run single by Adael Amador. By the time the dust settled, Albuquerque had sent 10 men to the plate and scored five runs.

The Isotopes added five more in the ninth against Ross and Marc Church, capped by a three-run single from Conner Capel and an RBI double from Nic Kent. In total, Albuquerque sent 18 batters to the plate across the eighth and ninth innings, drawing six walks and collecting seven hits.

Vimael Machín (Albuquerque) — 3-4, 3B, BB, 2 RBI, 2 R. The veteran infielder reached base four times and scored twice, including a run-saving triple in the ninth.

Conner Capel (Albuquerque) — 1-3, 2 BB, 3 RBI. Came through with the knockout blow: a bases-clearing single in the ninth that made it 11-3.

Cam Cauley (Round Rock) — 2-4, HR, RBI, 2 R. Led the Express offensively with his 13th homer of the year and scored twice.

Aaron Zavala (Round Rock) — 3-4, R. Recorded his 26th multi-hit game of the season, batting .309 in August.

Diego Castillo (Round Rock) — 2-4, 2B, RBI. Extended his hitting streak to seven games with a .423 average over that span.

Round Rock out-hit Albuquerque 10-9 but managed only three runs because they did not draw a single walk all night. The Isotopes drew eight walks, and their disciplined approach in the late innings — six walks across the final two frames — turned a close game into a rout. The Express' 5-for-6 RISP performance for Albuquerque versus Round Rock's 1-for-6 tells the story: the Express could not extend innings, while the Isotopes capitalised every time they got a runner in scoring position.

Albuquerque (64-65) took a 2-1 series lead at Dell Diamond and improved to 3-16 when allowing 10+ runs this season — a quirk of late-game dominance. Round Rock (62-67) saw their once-reliable late-game edge crumble: they entered with a 41-7 record when leading after seven and had not allowed 10 runs in the eighth and ninth innings all season (previous season high was 7 on 28 May vs. Sugar Land). The loss drops the Express four games below .500 with 33 games left in the regular season.

Next up: Game 4 of the series on Friday, August 28 at 7:05 p.m. CT at Dell Diamond.

A 10-run, two-inning eruption from nowhere. Round Rock's pitching staff had been in control for seven innings before command abandoned them: six walks, seven hits and a season-worst late-inning collapse. The Isotopes showed why they are still alive in the PCL East race, while the Express continue a worrying trend of blowout losses (now 3-16 when allowing 10+ runs).