American Association Play-In Games, Tomshaw Dominates, Homers Propel Explorers
American Association Daily provides insights, features, and recaps of the action from around the American Association of Professional Baseball League, as well as player and coaching profiles and transactions. Robert Pannier recaps the play-in games in the American Association on Wednesday, including Matt Tomshaw dominating in the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks over the Milwaukee Milkmen and the Sioux City Explorers Down the Cleburne Railroaders behind to home runs and a spectacular set of pitching performances. This and much more.
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Tomshaw, First Inning Surge Propels RedHawks
Matt Tomshaw dominated on Wednesday evening, allowing just three hits in 7.2 innings to lead the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks to a 5-0 victory over the Milwaukee Milkmen, helping the team to advance to the North Division Finals. The RedHawks left-hander allowed three hits and two walks while striking out five.
His team gave him all the run support he needed, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning to put this game out of reach early. Jordan George drove home the first run with an RBI double and Kevin Krause followed with a ground out that scored Manuel Boscan. Two batters later, Leobaldo Pina brought home George with an RBI single ending the day for Milkmen starter David Holmberg. John Silviano greeted Myles Smith with an RBI single and Alex Boxwell brought home the final run of the inning with an RBI ground out.
From there it was all Tomshaw. After giving up a one-out double in the fourth, the lefty retired 13 in a row before a two-out single in the top of the eighth ended his evening. Ryan Flores came on to finish off the contest, retiring all four batters he faced.
Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks Recap by Chad Ekren
Sermo Leads Explorers Past Railroaders
Jose Sermo broke a 0-0 tie with a solo homer in the top of the sixth as the Sioux City Explorers advanced with a 4-0 victory over the Cleburne Railroaders. Patrick Ledet started for Sioux City, and was spectacular, allowing three hits through the first five innings. Railroaders starter Jesus Sanchez was equally as impressive, keeping the Explorers off the board through the first five as well.
That set up the sixth, where Sermo turned on a 2-1 pitch, drilling a solo homerun to put his team on top by a run. Sioux City extended their lead with a sacrifice fly in the second and Lane Milligan put the game out of reach with a two-run homer in the top of the ninth. Milligan finished with three RBI.
Max Kuhns took over for Ledet in the sixth and was spectacular, allowing one hit and a walk over the final four innings to earn the victory.
Sioux City Explorers Recap by Connor Ryan
Cleburne Railroaders Recap by Denning Gerig
This Week in the Association and Minor League Sports Report Sponsored by PURE
Three Stars of the Night
No. 3 – Jose Sermo (Sioux City Explores) 2-4, HR, R, RBI
No. 2 – Max Kuhns (Sioux City Explorers) 4.0 IP, H, BB, 0 ER, 3 K
No. 1 – Matt Tomshaw (Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks) 7.2 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 0 ER, 5 K
This Week in the Association and Minor League Sports Report Sponsored by PURE
American Association Daily Notes
The Sioux City Explorers move on to take on the Kansas City Monarchs in the South Division Finals starting on Friday. Games 1 and 2 will begin in Kansas City on Friday…The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks will begin the North Division Finals on Friday when they travel to Illinois to take on the Chicago Dogs.
This Week in the Association and Minor League Sports Report Sponsored by PURE
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By Robert Pannier
