Baby Cakes, Express split doubleheader

METAIRIE – Juan Centeno’s grand slam highlighted a seven-run third inning for the Round Rock Express in a 15-4 win over the New Orleans Baby Cakes in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader.

The Express sent 11 batters to the plate to chase Baby Cakes starter Ben Meyer, who entered the game with a 2.40 ERA to rank third in the Pacific Coast League. Three consecutive singles to open the third loaded the bases, and Scott Heineman laced a go-ahead two-run single up the middle. After Tommy Joseph’s RBI double, Meyer walked Cliff Pennington to again load the bases and end his outing.

Centeno greeted Jacob Turner with a drive over the center field fence to clear the bases and put Round Rock in front, 8-2.

The Express went on to add three runs in the fifth and two each in the sixth and seventh innings to score the most runs against the Baby Cakes since a 15-11 loss in Omaha last June 11.

Seven different Round Rock players collected at least two hits, including three apiece from Scott Heineman and Destin Hood. A solo homer by Tommy Joseph in the sixth capped a three-RBI effort for the Express first baseman.

Round Rock had rattled off 15 unanswered runs after the Baby Cakes scored twice in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by JT Riddle and a run-scoring ground out by Tomas Telis. The ‘Cakes finally ended the drought with a pair of runs in the seventh.

Meyer (2-3) was charged with seven earned runs in the losing effort and Brady Feigl (1-0) earned the win with 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

In the nightcap, Tomas Telis snapped a sixth-inning tie with a two-run single, lifting the Baby Cakes to a 10-8 win and a split of the twin bill.

A wild, back-and-forth game saw the score tied 8-8 in the sixth when the ‘Cakes loaded the bases against Tyler Wagner with no outs. Telis then roped a single to left field to score a pair and give New Orleans the lead.

Tyler Kinley (2-0) pitched two hitless innings of relief, incuding retiring the side in order in the seventh, to get the win.

Each of the game’s first four batters reached base against ‘Cakes starter Joe Gunkel, as the Express built a 3-0 advantage behind two singles and two doubles.

But the Baby Cakes quickly answered in the bottom of the frame with six runs. A bases-loaded walk to Chad Wallach and a two-run double by Cristhian Adames tied the score, and Jon Rodriguez swatted his team-leading fifth home run of the year to put New Orleans on top.

Round Rock used the long ball to climb back into the lead, going deep three times in a five-run fourth inning. Tony Sanchez hit a solo shot with one out, and Jose Cardona’s two-run blast brought the Express within a run while ending Gunkel’s outing. Scott Heineman singled off Sean Burnett before Willie Calhoun’s towering home run to right field vaulted Round Rock in front.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Cito Culver led off the bottom of the fourth with his first homer of the year, bringing the Baby Cakes even at 8-8.

Adames finished with three hits and three RBI to lead the Baby Cakes, and Telis and Austin Dean added two hits apiece.

Wagner (0-2) took the loss after Express starter David Ledbetter was charged with eight runs on eight hits in four innings.

The ‘Cakes wrap up the series and the homestand on Sunday at 1 p.m.