Jared Mortensen Outduels Michael Tamburino as Railroaders Win 4-1
In American Association Daily, Robert Pannier recaps the game of the night as the Cleburne Railroaders hold the Lincoln Saltdogs bats down in a 4-1 victory. The Wichita Wingnuts see their losing streak extended to six as the Sioux City Explorers extend their winning streak to 9.
Cleburne Railroaders Staff Takes Bite Out of Saltdogs Bats
The Lincoln Saltdogs had been held to less than four runs in a game only one time this season, that is until Saturday night when Cleburne Railroaders right-hander Jared Mortensen combined with three relievers to limit the Saltdogs to one run off 6-hits in the 4-1 victory. An RBI ground out by Blake Grant-Parks broke a scoreless tie in the eighth, and a two run error later in the inning helped to solidify the Railroaders’ victory.
Jared Mortensen was opposed by Michael Tamburino, and the two starters were absolutely dominant through the first seven innings of the game. Tamburino had already flirted with a no-hitter in his first start of the season, and he would be nearly as perfect on this night, as a leadoff single in the third proved to be the only blemish in his seven innings of work. That came off the bat of Alex Polston, who was erased on a double play. The only other runner to reach was on a hit by pitch in the first as Tamburino retired the final 14 batters he faced, allowing 1-hit while striking out 5 in his 7-innings of work.
Mortensen was nearly as sharp, holding Lincoln at bay. The right-hander gave up three hits through the first two frames but would give up no others over the next five innings. Mortensen walked five, including loading the bases in the sixth with two down, but was able to get out of the frame unscathed. He left after 6.2, allowing 3-hits and 5-hits, while striking out 3.
In the top of the eighth, Eric Wooten came on for Lincoln and the Cleburne Railroaders would take advantage right away. Rafael Palmeiro drew a walk with one down and Axel Johnson came in to pinch run. Cameron Monger followed with a base hit before Polston walked to load the bases. That brought Grant-Parks to the plate, who grounded out to second bringing home Johnson with the first run of the game. KC Huth then grounded down to third, but Chase Simpson could not make the play, allowing two more runs to score and Cleburne was up, 3-0.
In the ninth, the Railroaders would add an insurance run. Patrick Palmeiro led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a base hit by Levi Scott. A walk to Chevy Clarke loaded the bases before Johnson hit into a double play that allowed Palmeiro to score.
Cortland Cox came on in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Saltdogs would rally. Angel Reyes walked with one out and moved to third on a single by Daschenk Ricardo. A walk to Chad Hinshaw loaded the bases before Reyes scored on a Christian Ibarra hard singled to center. The winning run was at the plate, but Cox remained calm, striking out Brandt Whiting before getting Curt Smith to ground out to when the contest.
Benji Waite, RedHawks Slow RailCats Roll, 3-1
The Gary Southshore RailCats entered Saturday night’s game as winners of 10 of their last 12, but that roll slowed a little as the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks downed the RailCats, 3-1. Benji Waite had his best outing of the year, allowing one unearned run in six innings for the victory. The RedHawks took the lead in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Devan Ahart and a sacrifice fly by Keury De La Cruz. Waite blanked Gary Southshore over the first five innings, but they would capitalize on an error to pull within one in the sixth. The RedHawks got it right back with an RBI triple by Charlie Valerio in the bottom of the inning. The Fargo-Moorhead bullpen held the lead from there, getting two shutout innings from Andrew Woeck and Randy McCurry struck out the side in the ninth for his fourth save of the season. Ahart finished 2-4 with an RBI.
Kevin McGovern Muzzles Dogs, Goldeyes Win 2-1
Kevin McGovern tossed his fourth straight solid start, going 7-innings, allowing one run on 3-hits to lead the Winnipeg Goldeyes to a 2-1 victory over the struggling Chicago Dogs. A scoreless tie was broken in the fourth when the Goldeyes scored two runs against Kyle Turnbull. An error brought home Reggie Abercrombie and Kevin Garcia scored on a single by Josh Mazzola. McGovern blanked the Dogs through the first seven innings, but Chicago would finally break through in the eighth when Jonathan Moroney scored on a sacrifice fly by Matt Dean. Cameron McVey came on to close out the inning. Victor Capellan closed the game out for his 10th save of the season. Garcia finished 2-3 with a run and an RBI to raise his average to .40o. McGovern struck out a season-high 14
Four-Run Eighth Solidifies Explorers Ninth Win in a Row
The Sioux City Explorers earned their ninth straight victory Saturday night, downing the Texas AirHogs 7-3, as a four-run eighth inning helped to solidify the victory. The Explorers jumped out in front with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Luis Durango led off by drawing a walk before Michael Lang crushed his first home run of the season. Texas would tie the score with two runs in the third, but a delayed steal in the fourth gave Sioux City back the lead when Nate Samson stole home. The Explorers clung to the one run lead until the bottom of the eighth when they would score four more runs. Jay Baum had a two run double followed by a two run single off the bat of Dylan Kelly in the five run victory. Taylor Jordan moved to a perfect 4-0 on the season and Samson was 3-4 with 2-runs scored.
T-Bones Send Wingnuts to Sixth Straight Loss
The Kansas City T-Bones won their third straight game on Saturday evening, defeating the Wichita Wingnuts 11-2, giving the Wingnuts a franchise record sixth straight loss. With Kansas City leading by a run of the top of the first, a two run error made it a three run lead. The T-Bones would be leading by four heading into the top of the fifth when they would add three more runs. Kansas City added two more runs in the sixth and the ninth innings. Scott Carroll tossed five scoreless innings to earn his first victory of the season and Cal Towey, Todd Cunningham, Nick Torres, and Dylan Tice each had 2-hits and 2-runs scored in the game. Towey and Cunningham each drove in two as well.
Chris Grayson Sends Canaries Soaring to 5-3 Victory
A scoreless game through four innings saw the Sioux Falls Canaries and the St. Paul Saints combined for seven runs in the fifth as Sioux Falls would go on to win 5-3. Chris Grayson had the big blow of the inning, a three run blast, his fifth of the season, that put the Canaries on top 4-0. Brady Shoemaker added a three run shot of his own in the bottom half of the inning, but Sioux Falls would hold on for the two run victory. Grayson finished 2-5 with 2-runs and 3-RBI and Joe Bircher (2-3) earned with win.
By Robert Pannier
