Lincoln 6, Grand Prairie 0

Starter Zach Varce (4-6) pitched a six-hit shutout for the Lincoln Saltdogs, and Ian Gac had two hits and two RBI for the winners. Varce battled with AirHogs starter Ryan Seagle in a scoreless tie through four innings, but the Saltdogs finally took the lead, with five runs in the bottom of the fifth to grab a lead that Varce would ensure Lincoln kept. With the nine scoreless innings, Varce ran his scoreless innings streak to 15 innings.

Sioux Falls 4, Winnipeg 3

Winnipeg had a chance to increase their lead over the St. Paul Saints but could not do so, as they fell to the last place Sioux Falls Canaries, 4-3. After giving up a run in the first, Sioux Falls scored three unanswered runs to take a 3-1 lead into the top of the eighth inning, but closer Alan DeRatt could not hold the lead, as the Goldeyes were able to battle back to tie the game. The frustration at blowing the lead did not last long however, as Goldeyes reliever Brandon Jones loaded the bases on a single and two walks, before the Canaries won on a fielder’s choice. DeRatt picked up with win moving to 2-4 on the year.

Laredo 8, Amarillo 1

Four Laredo Lemurs pitchers allowed five hits, and the Lemurs got three hits and two runs from both Nick Van Stratten and John Alonso, and Denis Phipps hit his ninth home run of the season in the 8-1 win. Laredo led just 1-0 through six, until they finally broke it open with four runs in the bottom of the seventh and three more in the eighth. Tyler Pearson (7-4) got the win for the Lemurs, and Matt Larkins (4-4) took the loss. Jason Martin hit his fourth home run of the year in a losing effort.

Sioux City 2, Fargo-Moorhead 1

A pitcher’s duel was the order of the day as Sioux City scored in the bottom of the ninth to beat Fargo-Moorhead 2-1. Jake Laber pitched a great game for the RedHawks, before getting into trouble in the ninth and having to be relieved. Joe Harris then loaded the bases before giving up a hit that won the game and gave the Explorers the victory.  Alex Burnett got his third win of the season, and Tim Colwell got had two hits and an RBI for the victors.

Gary Southshore 8, Kansas City 5

Gary Southshore jumped out to a 7-0 lead before having to withstand a feverish attack to win 8-5. Ryan Brockett had a big game for the RailCats, as he had a hit in his only official at-bat, his second home run of the season, scored three times and had three RBI as well, drawing a walk and being hit by a pitch. Stephen Bougher (6-5) got the win, and Andy Loomis got the save in his first appearance of the season for the RailCats.

By Robert Pannier
Senior Baseball Editor
Member of the IBWAA