Jordan Cummings, Salina Stockade Win 5-1 for First Series Sweep
Who would have thought? The team with the longest winning streak in the South Division of the American Association is the Salina Stockade, reaching three after defeating the Sioux City Explorers 5-1. That dropped the Explorers to 1-9 in their last 10, as Jesse Baker drove in 2 and Logan Trowbridge scored 2-runs. Jordan Cummings (1-1) earned his first win of the season, and two relievers tossed 3.2-innings of perfect relief as Salina had their first series sweep in the American Association.
After a scoreless first inning, Salina took the lead in the top of the second against Cody Forsythe. Cody Coffman led off the inning by drilling his seventh homerun of the season to put the Stockade up by one. It was the third game in a row that Coffman has homered.
An inning later, the Salina Stockade extended their lead to three. Logan Trowbridge walked to start the inning. Two batters later he moved to third on a base hit by Kewby Meyer. With two down, Coffman was hit by a pitch to load the bases. That brought the hot Jesse Baker to the plate, who lined a base hit into left that scored both Trowbridge and Meyer to make it 3-0.
In the top of the fourth, Scott Stetson and Trowbridge delivered back-to-back singles with one out. Jonathan Moroney followed with a base hit that brought home Stetson, and Trowbridge scored on a sacrifice fly by Meyer to make it 5-0.
Jordan Cummings was cruising through the first five innings of this game. He only retired the side in order in one of those innings, but used the command of his pitches to ensure that Sioux City was unable to mount any kind of rally against him. In the sixth, LeVon Washington got the Explorers onto the board when he hit his third home run of the season to lead off the inning. After a one-out walk, Cummings night was over. The right-hander went 5.1-innings, allowing 6-hits and run. He walked 5 and struck out 4.
Jake Eaton took over for Cummings, and was absolutely brilliant. He went 2.2-innings, allowing no hits or walks, while striking out 3. Tyler Herr came on in the ninth and retired the side in order to finish off the game.
Jesse Baker followed up his 3-hit, 2-homer contest from the night before by going 2-4 with 2-RBI. Cody Coffman was 2-3 with a run and an RBI. Logan Trowbridge was 1-4 with 2-runs scored. LeVon Washington led the Sioux City offense, going 2-4 with a run and an RBI.
By Robert Pannier
