Hernandez Homers Three Times, Ledet Blanks RailCats, Saltdogs Outslug Goldeyes
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 Friday, including Jan Hernandez blasting three homeruns for the Kansas City Monarchs, the Lincoln Saltdogs outslugging the Winnipeg Goldeyes, and Patrick Ledet combines with two relievers to blank the Gary SouthShore RailCats. This and much more.
Kelly, Jones Lead Milkmen in Thrashing of RedHawks
A.J. Jones allowed just one run in seven innings and Dylan Kelly was a perfect 5-5 at the plate, as the Milwaukee Milkmen thrashed the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks on Friday, 10-1. Milwaukee scored three runs in the first, three in the third, and four in the fifth to jump out to a nine-run lead. Milwaukee took advantage of the wildness of RedHawks starter Bret Helton, who walked two and threw a wild pitch in the first inning.
In the third, Milwaukee used four straight hits to extend their lead to six. The team closed out the scoring in the fifth, as Christ Conley hit a three-run homer, his second of the season, and Mason Davis added an RBI double. That was plenty enough support for Jones, who allowed five hits and no walks in earning his third victory of the season. Kelly was 5-5 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Rymer Liriano had two hits for Fargo-Moorhead. Helton took the loss, allowing 10 earned runs and 5.0 innings.
Hernandez, Adams Power Monarchs
The Kansas City Monarchs scored five runs in the first inning, cruising to an 11-4 victory over the Lake Country DockHounds. Matt Adams set the stage, as the first three batters for the Monarchs reached base before Adams followed with a grand slam. Jan Hernandez also homered in the frame. Neither was finished, however. Hernandez hit his second homerun in the third, a solo shot, and then blasted a two-run homer in the fifth. Adams also homered in the frame.
That was more than enough support for Matt Hall, who allowed one run in 5.0 innings to earn his third victory of the year. Adams finished 3-5 with three runs scored and five RBI, and Hernandez was a perfect 4-4 with three runs scored and four runs driven in.
Gio Brusa had three hits for Lake Country, and T.J. Bennett hit his seventh homerun of the season. Taylor Bloye took the loss, lasting just 2.0 innings.
Kansas City Monarchs Recap Gabriel Lopez
Lake Country DockHounds Recap by Sam Matheny
Three-Run Frame Propels Dogs
The Chicago Dogs scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to lead the team to a 4-2 victory over the Kane County Cougars. Kane County took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second thanks to an RBI double by Cornelius Randolph. However, Chicago took the lead in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a pair of homeruns. Ryan Lidge led off with his fourth homerun of the season and Connor Kopach blasted a two-run shot three batters later.
Kane County pulled within a run when Jimmy Kerrigan hit his fourth homerun of the season with one down in the top of the eighth. However, the Dogs got the run right back when Grant Kay doubled home K.C. Hobson in the bottom half of the frame.
Kyle Murphy earned the victory, allowing one run in 5.2 innings pitched. Paul Schwendel finished off the contest for his second save of the season. Ryan Tapani suffered the loss.
Ledet, Explorers Blank RailCats
Patrick Ledet tossed seven scoreless innings, combining with two relievers to shutout the Gary SouthShore RailCats on Friday, as the Sioux City Explorers earned a 5-0 victory. Ledet provided a much-needed performance, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out four.
Sioux City staked their starter to the lead, scoring single runs in the second, third, and fifth innings, then adding two more in the sixth. Gabe Snyder hit his fifth homerun of the season to lead off the bottom of the second. Nick Franklin extended the lead to two with an RBI single in the third and Franklin added another run scoring hit with an RBI single in the fifth. In the sixth, Chase Harris hit a two-run single to make it a 5-0 Explorers lead.
John Sheaks took the loss for Gary, allowing three earned runs in 5.1 innings pitched. No RailCats batter had more than one hit in the game. Franklin and Harris each had two hits for Sioux City.
Gary SouthShore RailCats Recap by Ryan Zimmerman
Sioux City Explorers Recap by Connor Ryan
Saltdogs Rally to Down Goldeyes
The Lincoln Saltdogs found themselves trailing 5-0 after one inning, but rallied to down the Winnipeg Goldeyes, 10-8. Winnipeg jumped out on top in the bottom of the first thanks to a two-run homer off the bat of Ian Sagdal. Max Murphy followed with a homerun and a sacrifice fly and a wild pitch extended the lead to five.
However, Lincoln tied the score with a run in the third and four more in the fourth. Justin Byrd, who had just come off the injured reserve list earlier in the day, blasted a three-run shot, his second of the year. Winnipeg retook the lead, but the Saltdogs jumped out on top for good in the top of the seventh, tying the score on a single by Randy Norris then taking the lead when Josh Altmann followed with a three-run blast.
David Zoz earned the victory, tossing 2.1 innings of scoreless relief. Brandon Cunniff came on in the ninth to close out the contest for his sixth save of the season. Altmann and Byrd each finished with three hits. Altmann drove in five and Byrd drove in four runs. Norris had four hits and scored three runs. Travis Seabrooke took the loss. Murphy had three RBI for Winnipeg.
Winnipeg Goldeyes Recap by Steve Schuster
Wolfe, Bockelie Homers Aid Railroaders Victory
Hunter Wolfe and Jacob Bockelie each went deep for the Cleburne Railroaders on Friday evening, helping to lead the team to a 7-4 victory over the Sioux Falls Canaries. Cleburne did all their damage through the first five innings, jumping out to a 7-1 lead. Back-to-back doubles by Nick Shumpert and Edwin Arroyo started the contest, giving the Railroaders a 1-0 lead. Wolfe hit his second homerun of the season in the second, and Chase Simpson and Zach Nehrir each drove home runs in the third. A two-run single by Arroyo made the lead 6-1 in the fourth, and Bockelie closed out the scoring in the fifth with his third homerun of the year.
Kody Bullard earned his first victory of the season, allowing two earned runs in 5.0 innings. Sioux Falls rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth as Jabari Henry and Trey Michalczewski drove in runs to cut the deficit to three, but Hector Cervenka came on to close out the contest for his first save of the season.
Wolfe finished 3-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Bockelie was 2-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Ozzie Martinez had four hits and scored two runs against his former team.
Three Stars of the Night
No. 3 – Josh Altmann (Lincoln Saltdogs) 3-5, R, HR, 5 RBI
No. 2 – Patrick Ledet (Sioux City Explorers) 7.0 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 0 ER, 4 K
No. 1 – Jan Hernandez (Kansas City Monarchs) 4-4, 3 R, 3 HR, BB
American Association Daily Notes
The Kansas City Monarchs Jan Hernandez homered three times in Friday night’s contest against the Lake Country DockHounds. The last American Association player to hit three home runs in a game was Cleburne Railroaders first baseman D.J. Peterson, who had three against the Sioux Falls Canaries on August 25. The last Kansas City player to hit three home runs in a game was Ryan Fox (2010)… Hernandez has hit eight homeruns in his last six games. Teammate Matt Adams has six over the same period of time… The Kansas City Monarchs won their seventh straight game on Friday, moving into first place in the West Division… The Sioux Falls Canaries lost their seventh straight.
Transactions
Chicago: Signed RHP Jordan Kipper and RHP Kevin Marnon
Gary SouthShore: Signed RHP Steven Colon
Lake Country: Released RHP Carson Goldsmith and RHP Pat Young
Lincoln: Signed OF Andy Theiler; Activated OF Justin Byrd from the Injured List; Released INF Sherman Graves and RHP Tucker Smith
Sioux Falls: Activated RHP Stevie Ledesma from the Injured List
By Robert Pannier
