Baby Cakes walk off Express in 10 innings

METAIRIE – Eric Campbell’s single up the middle drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning, rallying the New Orleans Baby Cakes to a 3-2 win over the Round Rock Express on Monday night.

The ‘Cakes notched their first walk-off victory of the season after suffering five walk-off defeats on the road, the last three of which came in extra innings.

New Orleans trailed for most of the night, despite Ben Meyer and two relievers combining on a three-hitter. Round Rock scored in the second without a hit as Willie Calhoun drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a sacrifice bunt. Calhoun trotted home when Destin Hood’s grounder deep in the hole at short was stopped by JT Riddle, who made a handful of spectacular plays defensively in the first game since joining the ‘Cakes on a Major League rehab assignment.

Meyer kept Round Rock out of the hit column until Tony Sanchez led off the sixth with a home run deep to left field, doubling the Express advantage to 2-0.

Riddle, however, continued to prove himself nearly big league ready by blasting a two-run homer over the center field wall in the eighth to bring the Baby Cakes even. Riddle also singled leading off the game and doubled in the third to finish 3-for-4.

After James Buckelew chipped in a pair of scoreless innings, Jumbo Diaz prevented the Express from taking the lead in the top of the 10th by fanning Tommy Joseph and retiring Hood on a soft liner to strand the go-ahead run at third.

The Baby Cakes capitalized in the bottom half, as Cito Culver sacrificed Austin Dean to third base before Campbell’s single up the middle scored the game-winner.

Diaz (1-2) picked up the win after Meyer needed just 86 pitches to log a season-high seven innings. Meyer has a 1.06 ERA in three starts at home this season.

Tayler Scott (2-1) suffered the defeat in relief of Tyler Wagner, who spun 5 2/3 scoreless innings.

The teams resume the four-game set on Tuesday at 7 p.m.