Explorers Sweep, Bezdicek Dominates, Canaries Down Monarchs

Robert Pannier July 6, 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, Rob Pannier recaps the six great games in the American Association on Wednesday, including the Sioux City Explorers sweeping a double-header against the Winnipeg Goldeyes, John Bezdicek dominates for the Lincoln Saltdogs in their victory over the Cleburne Railroaders, and the Chicago Dogs when a matinee contest over the Kane County Cougars.

Game Recaps for Wednesday

Livorsi Walk-Off Single in 10 Gives Dogs Victory

Ben Livorsi singles with one down in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Chicago Dogs a 4-3 walk-off victory over the Kane County Cougars on Wednesday afternoon. That made a victor of Jonathan Cheshire, who tossed three scoreless innings, allowing one hit while striking out five. James Reeves took the loss.

Chicago took the lead in the bottom of the second on an RBI single by Jesus Lujano, but Kane County responded in the third, as Harrison Smith hit a solo home run, his first of the season. The Dogs immediately retook the lead in the bottom of the third on an RBI double by David Maberry. In the fifth, the Cougars took the lead when Olivier Basabe and Jimmy Kerrigan led off the inning with back-to-back home runs. Once again, the Dogs responded right away, as Lujano drove home his second run of the game.

The game remained tied, forcing extra innings. Kane County went down in order in the top of the 10th thanks to three strikeouts by Cheshire. That sent the game to the bottom half where Livorsi delivered the game-winning hit.

Lujano finished with three hits and drove in two. Nick Heath scored two runs. Basabe and Smith each had two hits for Kane County.

Chicago Dogs Recap by Sam Brief

Boxscore

Bates Gem Helps Explorers Complete Sweep

Solomon Bates tossed a two-hit shutout in the night cap as the Sioux City Explorers swept their double-header with the Winnipeg Goldeyes. Bates allowed just one walk while striking out eight in earning his sixth victory of the season, tying him for the American Association lead.

The Explorers provided all the run support their starter needed in the third as Chase Harris tripled to drive home Jake Sanford to make it 1-0. An inning later, Vince Fernandez led off with his 11th home run of the year, and Sioux City blew this game open in the sixth when Delvin Zinn hit a three-run homer, his second of the year.

In the first game, Sioux City took the lead in the bottom of the second on an RBI ground out by Zinn, but the Goldeyes responded with two in the top of the third to take the lead. That came courtesy of a two run double by Max Murphy. The Explorers tied the score in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI ground out by Sanford and took the lead in the sixth on a single by Daniel Perez.

That made a winner of Austin Drury, who allowed two runs in 6.1 innings to earn his first victory of the season. Sean Rackoski came on to record the final two outs for his eighth save of the season. Landen Bourassa went the distance for the Goldeyes, taking the loss. He allowed three runs in six innings.

Winnipeg Goldeyes Recap by Doug Greenwald

Sioux City Explorers Recap by Austin Thomas

Game 1 Boxscore

Game 2 Boxscore

Milkmen Even Series with RedHawks

The Milwaukee Milkmen scored four runs in the fourth and added three more in the seventh, defeating the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, 9-3. Gregori Vasquez earned the victory, allowing two runs in six innings. Bryan Torres led the offense, recording four hits and scoring twice.

Milwaukee took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, and extended the lead to five in the fourth thanks to a two run homer by Miguel Gomez and RBI singles by Aaron Hill and Reggie Pruitt. The RedHawks responded in the bottom of the fourth, as Sam Dexter hit a two-run single to make it 5-2. In the seventh, Torres delivered an RBI single and Cam Balego followed with a sacrifice fly. Roy Morales extended the lead to six with an RBI single. Correlle Prime hit his ninth home run of the season in the bottom of the eighth, but the Milkmen responded right away, as an error plated the final run of the game in the ninth.

Torres finished 4-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. He also stole two bases. Gomez and Hill each drove in two for the Milkmen. Manuel Boscan and Leobaldo Pina had two hits for the RedHawks.

Boxscore

Bezdicek Derails Railroaders

John Bezdicek allowed one run in six innings, derailing the Cleburne Railroaders as the Lincoln Saltdogs earned a 6-1 victory. Bezdicek gave up three hits and three walks in moving to 4-2. Carter Hope tossed two scoreless innings and R.J. Freure struck out the side in the ninth.

Lincoln took command of this game early, scoring three in the top of the second. Will Kengor drove home Yanio Perez with a double and he scored on an RBI single by Aaron Takacs. Takacs came home on a double by Connor Panas. Cleburne cut the deficit to two in the bottom of the fourth when John Figueroa drove home Mark Karaviotis with a single, but had no answers for the Lincoln starter after that.

The Saltdogs added two more in the top of the eighth on a two run double by Aaron Takacs and scored one more run in the ninth on a single by Kengor. Takacs finished with two hits and three RBI and Luke Roskam and Perez each scored twice. Cleburne had three total hits in the contest.

Lincoln Saltdogs Recap by Michael Dixon

Boxscore

Canaries Down Monarchs

The Sioux Falls Canaries scored two runs in the top of the ninth, then held on for a 6-5 victory over the Kansas City Monarchs. That made a winner of José Cruz, who tossed a scoreless eighth for his fourth victory of the year. Charlie Hasty gave up a run in the ninth, but still recorded his 12th save of the year.

The Canaries scored four unanswered runs to start the contest, plating a single run in both the second and third innings, and adding two more in the fourth. Darnell Sweeney had a solo home run to lead off the third, his 12th of the year. The Monarchs responded with three runs in the bottom of the fourth capped off by an Odubel Herrera two run double. Justin Wylie tied the score in the sixth on a single of the metal the score Jacob Robson. The score remained tied until the ninth when Trevor Achenbach delivered a two run double to put his team on top for good. Brian O’Grady cut the deficit in half in the bottom half of the frame, but Hasty was able to get Aaron Whitefield to fly out to end the contest.

Kansas City Monarchs Recap by Nolan Brooks

Boxscore

Three Stars of the Night

No. 3 – Bryan Torres (Milwaukee Milkmen) 4-5, 2 R, RBI, 2 SB

No. 2 – John Bezdieck (Lincoln Saltdogs) 6.0 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, ER, 3 K

No. 1 – Solomon Bates (Sioux City Explorers) 7.0 IP, CG, ShO, 2 H, BB, 0 ER, 8 K

American Association Daily Notes

Kane County Cougars infielder Josh Allen reached base for the 37th straight game when he was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning. That is the longest streak in the American Association this season… With two on Wednesday, Bryan Torres now leads the American Association 33 stolen bases… Sioux Falls Canaries closer Charlie Hasty earned his league-leading 12th save.

Transactions

Cleburne: Signed INF Keshawn Lynch and OF Jarel McDade; Released INF Jose Curpa and OF London Green; Transferred the contract of INF José Sermo to Durango (Mexican League); Placed INF Elmer Reyes on the Injured List

Fargo-Moorhead: Signed INF Donivan Williams; Released INF Jack Hanson

Gary SouthShore: Signed C Seth Caddell

Kane County: Activated LHP James Reeves from the Injured List

Lake Country: Released RHP Sam Burton and INF Cristian Y. Santana

Sioux City: Transferred the contract of INF John Nogowski to Monclova (Mexican League)