DeMarco Homers Twice, Milkmen Blank RedHawks, Goldeyes Win

Robert Pannier May 29, 2023

Photo Credit: Jennifer Andreachi/Field Dreams Photography

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. In today’s edition, Robert Pannier recaps the six games in the American Association on Sunday, including the Cleburne Railroaders salvaging one contest of their six-game set, the Lake Country DockHounds defeat the Kansas City Monarchs, and the Gary SouthShore RailCats when the series finale.

Game Recaps for Sunday

Saltdogs Hold Off Explorers to Take Series

The Lincoln Saltdogs jumped out to a four-run lead, then held on for a 4-3 victory over the Sioux City Explorers. That gave the Saltdogs victories in two of the three games in the series. Zach Keenan earned the victory, allowing two runs in five innings of work, and Steffon Moore tossed two scoreless innings to earn the save.

Lincoln jumped out in front, scoring three runs in the top of the first. Luke Roskam delivered an RBI single and Aaron Takacs hit a ball down the left field line for a two run double. Two innings later, Matt Goodheart singled up the middle to drive home the fourth run of the game for the Saltdogs. Lincoln looked like they were in great shape, but Sioux City battled back with two in the bottom of the fifth, thanks to the third home run of the season by Matt Lloyd, a two-run shot. The Explorers cut the deficit to one in the seventh, but could not get the equalizer.

Solomon Bates took the loss. The Explorers bullpen combine for four shutout innings. Delvin Zinn was a perfect 4-4 in his second game was Sioux City. Drew Devine had two hits for the Saltdogs.

Boxscore

Young, Milkmen Blank RedHawks

Christian Young tossed six shutout innings, and the bullpen did the rest as the Milwaukee Milkmen defeated the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, 8-0. Young was spectacular, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out nine. Juan Echevarria came on to toss two scoreless frames and Nate Hadley finished off the shutout, tossing a scoreless ninth.

Milwaukee scored the only run they needed in the bottom of the first inning, then put up seven more in the sixth to seal the victory. Cam Balego was hit by a pitch for the seventh time this season and Roy Morales drove in two. Reggie Pruitt walked three times and scored two runs for the Milkmen. Manuel Boscan had two hits for Fargo-Moorhead.

Boxscore

Ramirez Dominates in Relief Appearance to Lead Goldeyes

Luis Ramirez was pressed into emergency duty on Sunday, coming in to take over in the third and he was great, allowing two runs in seven innings to lead the Winnipeg Goldeyes to a 3-2 victory Sioux Falls Canaries. Ramiez walked three and struck out 10 to earn his second victory of the season.

The Goldeyes took the lead in the bottom of the first when Max Murphy drove home Dayson Croes with a groundout. Winnipeg extended the lead to two in the bottom of the third on another groundout, as Keith Torres plated Javeyon Williams. Sioux Falls had no answers for Travis Seabrooke and Ramirez through the first five innings, but got on the board in the top of the sixth when Hunter Clanin lined a two run double to the wall in center, knotting the game at two. The game did not stay tied for very long, however, as Winnipeg retook the lead in the bottom of the seventh thanks to a balk.

Mitchell Walters earned a no decision for Sioux Falls, allowing two runs in six innings. Mike Hart and Jordan Barth each had two hits. Croes was a perfect 3-3 with a run scored for the Goldeyes.

Sioux Falls Canaries Recap by Tanner Hoops

Winnipeg Goldeyes Recap by Jason Young

Boxscore

Eight Run Frame Seals Victory for DockHounds

The Lake Country DockHounds held a one run advantage heading in the bottom of the six, but scored eight runs to seal an 11-2 victory over the Kansas City Monarchs. Ryan Hartman came off the disabled list to earn the victory, allowing two runs in five innings and Keisy Portorreal tossed four no-hit innings to earn the save.

Kansas City took the lead in the top of the third as Jacob Robson hit his second home run in as many nights, a solo shot. Lake Country responded with three in the bottom of the fourth, as Pat DeMarco hit a two-run shot, his second of the year, and Michael Marrale added a sacrifice fly. Dylan Rosa led off the top of the fifth with his second home run of the season, pulling the Monarchs within one.

However, Lake Country blew this game open in the sixth, scoring eight runs on just five hits. DeMarco led off with his second home run of the game, and Marrale plated his second run of the contest with a bases-loaded walk. That brought Nick Banks to the plate, who cleared the bases with a double. Marcus Chiu later added a three-run homer, his first of the year to close out the scoring.

DeMarco finished 3-5 with two runs scored and three RBI, and both Chiu and Banks also drove in three runs apiece. Kansas City recording just four hits in the contest.

Kansas City Monarchs Recap by Carter Woodiel

Lake Country DockHounds Recap by Sam Reeves

Boxscore

RailCats Hold off Cougars

The Gary SouthShore RailCats jumped out to a three-run lead, then held on for a 3-2 victory over the Kane County Cougars to salvage the final game of their three-game set. Julio Vivas pitched very well for the RailCats, allowing one unearned run in six innings. He allowed three hits and two walks while striking out five. Matt Leon came on in the ninth to earn his third save of the season. Cal Eldred took the loss despite pitching well, allowing three runs in six innings.

Gary SouthShore took the lead in the bottom of the first, as LG Castillo drove home a run with a groundout and Gio Diaz scored on a delayed steal to make it 2-0. Two innings later, Jesus Marriaga drove home a run with a single. Gary SouthShore was rolling, but Kane County began to chip away, scoring a run in both the sixth and seventh innings. Cornelius Randolph put the Cougars on the board with a sacrifice fly, and Galli Cribbs drove home a run with a groundout. However, the RailCats bullpen shut the door from there.

Daniel Wasinger was the only player to record more than one hit, chipping in two. Castillo was held hitless.

Gary SouthShore RailCats Recap by Ryan Zimmerman

Boxscore

Smith Dazzles to Help Railroaders Salvage Series Finale

Riley Smith allowed just one run in seven innings to help lead the Cleburne Railroaders to a 6-3 victory over the Chicago Dogs. The victory enabled Cleburne to salvage one game in the series, as the Dogs had taken the first five contests.

The teams exchanged runs in the first, but Cleburne jumped out in front in the bottom of the third, plating two runs on no hits. Zach Nehrir drew a bases-loaded walk to drive home a run and a groundout by Hill Alexander made it 2-0. An inning later, Brian Klein drove home a run with a single and Mark Karaviotis made it 5-1 with an RBI groundout in the fifth.

That was more than enough support for Smith, who scattered five hits and two walks while striking out four. Nehrir drove home two for the Railroaders, and Jose Curpa had two hits and scored two runs. Matt Bottcher had two hits and scored twice for the Dogs.

Boxscore

Three Stars of the Night

No. 3 – Luis Ramirez (Winnipeg Goldeyes) 7.0 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 2 ER, 10 K

No. 2 – Christian Young (Milwaukee Milkmen) 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K

No. 1 – Pat DeMarco (Lake Country DockHounds) 3-5, 2 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI

American Association Daily Notes

Both Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks OF Dillon Thomas and Gary SouthShore RailCats OF LG Castillo saw their 14-game hitting streak come to an end on Sunday. Those are the longest streaks in the American Association this season… Fargo-Moorhead infielder Manuel Boscan extended his hitting streak to 13 straight games. That is the longest current streak in the league… Chicago Dogs shortstop Josh Altmann has reached base in all 15 games this season. Sioux City Explorers outfielder Vince Fernandez has also reached base in all 15 contests.