Koch Tosses Explorers First No-Hitter, Monarchs Down Railroaders, RedHawks Clinch Second
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. Robert Pannier recaps the six games in the American Association on Saturday, including Tyler Koch tossing the first no-hitter in Sioux City Explorers history, the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks clinching second place in the North Division, and the Kansas City Monarchs down the Cleburne Railroaders again. This and much more.
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Koch Tosses No-Hitter to Help Explorers Complete Sweep
Tyler Koch tossed the first no-hitter in Sioux City Explorers history, helping the Explorers to complete a double-header sweep over the Sioux Falls Canaries. Koch walked six, and found himself in trouble in the sixth when he loaded the bases with two outs, but got out of the jam. José Sermo made the play of the night, making a spectacular backhand play at third with one down in the seventh to preserve the no-hitter.
Errol Robinson helped provide the offensive support, going 3-3, including hitting his first home run of the season. Robinson drove in four. Blake Tiberi added two RBI for Sioux City. Cade Gotta walked all three times he appeared at the plate for Sioux Falls.
In the first contest, L.T. Tolbert homered twice and drove in three runs to lead Sioux City to a 4-3 victory. Tolbert gave his team the lead with a two-run shot in the top of the fourth and added a solo home run to lead off the top of the sixth. That proved to be the difference in the contest. Patrick Ledet earned the victory, allowing one run in five innings. Brandon Brosher made it interesting in the bottom of the seventh, allowing two runs before getting the final out for his sixth save of the season.
Gotta went 1-3 and reached base twice in the contest. Mike Hart was 2-2 with a run scored.
Sioux City Explorers Recap by Connor Ryan
Sioux Falls Canaries Recap by Joey Zanaboni
Zimmerman Shines in Milkmen Victory
Ryan Zimmerman allowed one run in 6.2 innings to lead the Milwaukee Milkmen to a 4-1 victory over the Gary SouthShore RailCats. Zimmerman was spectacular, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out 10. Nate Hadley came on in the ninth to close out the contest for his 13th save of the season. Jay Charleston had the big blow for Milwaukee, a three-run homer in the top of the sixth, his first of the season.
The RailCats got two hits from Jesus Marriaga. Trevor Lubking pitched a solid game, allowing three earned runs in 8.2 innings pitched.
Gary SouthShore RailCats Recap by Max Kelton
Dogs Hang on to Down Cougars
The Chicago Dogs jumped out to a 7-0 lead, then hung on as the Kane County Cougars scored five in the sixth inning, but could get no closer in the 8-7 loss. A four-run first was highlighted by a two-run double off the bat of Danny Mars. Mars struck again in the top of the fourth, delivering a two-run single in a three-run frame. Mars finished 2-5 with two runs scored and four RBI. K.C. Hobson had three hits and drove in a pair of runs for the Dogs. John Baker had been rolling through the first five innings, but still earned his fourth victory of the season.
Nick Anderson had a big day for Kane County, going 3-3 with two runs, a triple, and an RBI. Four other players for the Cougars had two hits in the contest.
Kane County Cougars Recap by Joe Brand
Guerrero, Isabel Lead Monarchs to Victory
Gabriel Guerrero and Ibandel Isabel each drove in two runs as the Kansas City Monarchs defeated the Cleburne Railroaders, 6-3. Kansas City took the lead for good in the top of the fourth thanks to a two-run homer by Isabel. The Monarchs held onto a one run lead entering the top of the seventh, but Guerrero put the game out of reach with a two-run single. Carson LaRue earned the victory and Jameson McGrane came on to earn his seventh save of the season.
That’s spoiled another big night for D.J. Peterson, who homered and drove in two. Peterson has now homered in eight of the last nine games and has 14 homers in 29 contests.
Kansas City Monarchs Recap by Nathan Enserro
Cleburne Railroaders Recap by Dennig Gerig
RedHawks Clinch Second with Victory over Goldeyes
The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks ensured that they clinched no worse than second place when they defeated the Winnipeg Goldeyes on Saturday, 5-4. Fargo scored three runs in the top of the first only to see Winnipeg battle back with four in the bottom half of the frame. However, a run in the top of the second and an RBI single by Nick Novak in the top of the fifth earned the team the victory. Marc-Andre Habeck earned the win and Joe Jones came on to close out the contest with two scoreless innings of relief.
The RedHawks trail the Dogs by 1.5 games. They would need to win both of their remaining contests and for Chicago to lose both to clinch the top spot in the North Division.
Winnipeg Goldeyes Recap by Steve Schuster
This Week in the Association and Minor League Sports Report Sponsored by PURE
Three Stars of the Night
No. 3 – Danny Mars (Chicago Dogs) 2-5, 2 R, Double, 4 RBI
No. 2 – L.T. Tolbert (Sioux City Explorers) 3-7, 4 R, 3 RBI, 2 HR
No. 1 – Tyler Koch (Sioux City Explorers) 7.0 IP, No-Hitter, CG, 0 H, 0 ER, 6 BB, 8 K
This Week in the Association and Minor League Sports Report Sponsored by PURE
American Association Daily Notes
The South Division standings got a lot tighter. The Cleburne Railroaders need a single victory or a loss by the Sioux City Explorers to earn the first playoff appearance in franchise history…The Chicago Dogs will clinch the top spot in the North Division with a win or a loss by the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.
This Week in the Association and Minor League Sports Report Sponsored by PURE
Transactions
Fargo-Moorhead: Signed C Marshall Rich
Kansas City: Placed LHP Matt Hall on the Injured List; Activated RHP Justin Shafer from the Injured List
Sioux City: Placed INF Seamus Curran on the Injured List retroactive to September 1; Activated INF D.J. Poteet from the Injured List
By Robert Pannier
