Canaries Sweep Double-Header, Smith Shines for Milkmen, Lopez Delivers Win for Cougars
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 a great Tuesday in the American Association with five games played. That includes the Sioux Falls Canaries sweeping a double-header from the Kansas City Monarchs in the Kane County Cougars winning in walk-off fashion in 15 innings over the Lincoln Saltdogs.
Canaries Sweep Double-Header from Monarchs
The Sioux Falls Canaries jumped out to a 5-1 lead only to watch the Kansas City Monarchs pull within one, but held on for a 5-4 victory in the first game of a double-header sweep on Tuesday. Sioux Falls took a 3-1 lead in the top of the second on runs going singles by Mitch Glasser and Nick Gotta, and a fielder’s choice from Wyatt Ulrich. Angelo Altavilla provided the game-winning runs with the two-run single in the top of the fourth inning.
Ty Culbreth earned his third victory of the season, allowing four runs on six hits in six innings, striking out six. Grady Wood came on to close out the game for his first save of the season.
Casey Gillaspie led Kansas City, going 2-3 with two runs scored and three runs driven in. Gillaspie homered twice in the game and Jan Hernandez also went deep for the Monarchs.
Game 1 Boxscore it’s
In the second game, Sioux Falls scored four runs in the third and seven more in the fourth on their way to a 15-5 victory over the Monarchs. Every player in the starting lineup had at least one hit for the Canaries. Ebert, Logan Landon, and Jabari Henry each drove in three runs. Henry hit his second homerun of the season and the 2-6 hitters for the Canaries went a combined 13-27 with 12 runs scored and 11 runs driven in. All five hitters scored two runs each.
Gillaspie had another big game for the monarchs, going 2-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Ryan Grotjohn was 2-3 with to run scored and an RBI for Kansas City.
Sioux Falls Canaries Recap by Joey Zanaboni
Kansas City Monarchs recap by Dan Vaughan
Lopez Walk-Off Wins It for Cougars in 15
B.J. Lopez ended a marathon affair with a solo homer in the bottom of the 15th inning to give the Kane County Cougars a 4-3 victory over the Lincoln Saltdogs on Tuesday. Kane County trailed Lincoln by two runs heading in the bottom of the the ninth, but forced extra innings when Nick Zammarelli plated both Luis Roman and Brandon Chinea with two down, forcing extra innings. That set up the dramatic 15th inning where Lopez turned on a 2-0 pitch for his first homer of the year.
Tom Curtin earned the victory with a scoreless inning of relief. Jack Fox had a huge performance for the Cougars, tossing five no-hit innings from the sixth through the 11th innings. Anfernee Seymour was 2-6 and stole two bases for the Cougars.
John Richy had a solid start for Lincoln, allowing no runs on four hits in 5.2 innings pitched. Patrick Adams was 2-5 with two runs scored for the Saltdogs.
Lincoln Saltdogs Recap by Michael Dixon
Apollos Down Railroaders
The Houston Apollos found themselves trailing by three after three innings, but scored runs in each of the next three frames on their way to a 6-4 victory over the Cleburne Railroaders. Ramon Villa, Brian Dansereau, Ian Yetsko and Jordan Pontious helped lead the comeback, as each had to get to the ballgame. Villa and Dansereau each drove in a pair of runs and Pontius scored two runs. Alex Merithew earned the victory, tossing 3.1 innings of scoreless relief, striking out five. Ryan Richardson came on in the ninth to record his second save of the season.
Alay Lago and Ramon Hernandez each had two hits for the Railroaders as did Noah Vaughan, who finished 2-4 with a run scored.
Cleburne Railroaders Recap by Denning Gerig
Smith Shines in Milkmen Victory
Myles Smith allowed to unearned runs in six innings to lead the Milwaukee Milkmen to a 5-2 victory over the Sioux City Explorers. Smith was spectacular, allowing four hits and four walks to lower his ERA to 1.13. Nate Hadley came on in the ninth to close out the contest for his first save of the season. Logan Trowbridge hit a three-run homer for Milwaukee, and David Washington added his fifth homer of the season.
Lane Milligan went to-three with a run scored for Sioux City.
Sioux City Explorers Recap by Connor Ryan
Three Stars of the Night
No. 3 – B.J. Lopez (Kane County Cougars) 2-7, R, Walk-Off Homer, RBI
No. 2 – David Washington (Milwaukee Milkmen) 1-2, R, HR, RBI, 2 BB
No. 1 – Casey Gillaspie (Kansas City Monarchs) 4-7, 3 R, 4 RBI, 2 HR, Double
American Association Daily Notes
Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks LHP Kevin McGovern was named as the PURE Performance Pitcher of the Month for May… Sioux City Explorers IF Jared Walker was named as the PURE Performance Player of the Month for May on Tuesday as well… Cleburne Railroaders IF Alay Lago extended his streak the 10 games on Tuesday. That ties him with Adam Brett Walker (Milwaukee Milkmen) the longest hitting streak in the American Association the season… Canaries starter Ty Culbreth earned his third victory of the year, tying him with McGovern for the league lead…The Houston Apollos snapped their seven-game losing streak on Tuesday.
Transactions
Cleburne: Activated RHP Bryan Saucedo from the Injured List
Gary SouthShore: Signed OF M.J. Rookard
Kane County: Transferred the contract of Galli Cribbs Jr. to the Miami Marlins
Kansas City: Released RHP Dean Deetz
Lincoln: Transferred the contract of RHP Johnny Barbato to the Toronto Blue Jays
Sioux City: Activated RHP Xavier Altamirano from the Inactive List
By Robert Pannier