Ledet Tosses Gem, RedHawks Win in Extra-Innings, Kerrigan Goes Deep
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 Saturday, including the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks winning 10 innings, Patrick Ledet tosses a gem for the Sioux City Explorers, and the Gary SouthShore RailCats Rally to defeat the Cleburne Railroaders. This, plus much more.
RailCats Overcome Early Deficit
The Gary SouthShore RailCats found themselves trailing 8-3 coming out of the second inning, but scored seven unanswered runs on their way to a 10-9 victory over the Cleburne Railroaders. Gary SouthShore took the lead in the top of the first thanks to a two-run homer by Michael Woodworth and an error that allowed Jesus Marriaga to score. The Railroaders responded right away, putting up seven runs in the bottom half of the frame. Chase Simpson, Hill Alexander, Hector Sanchez, and Jacob Bockelie delivered run-scoring doubles in the frame.
The lead became five in the second on Zach Nehrir’s 13th homerun of the year, but the RailCats began to chip away, scoring four in the top of the fourth. Woodworth had the big hit of the inning, a two-run single. After adding a run in the fifth, the RailCats took the lead in the top of the seventh when LG Castillo singled to drive home two runs.
Woodworth finished 4-5 with three runs scored and five RBI and Marriaga had two hits and scored three runs. Aaron Phillips earned the victory and Yeison Medina came on to close out the contest for his second save of the season. Edwin Arroyo had two hits and drove in three for the Railroaders. Nehrir and Bockelie each had two hits, scored two runs, and drove in a run.
Gary SouthShore RailCats Recap by Ryan Zimmerman
RedHawks Down Saltdogs in Extra Innings
Evan Alexander drove home the winning run of the top of the 10th inning as the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks defeated the Lincoln Saltdogs, 3-2. Fargo-Moorhead took the lead in the top of the first when Peter Maris drove home Alexander with a sacrifice fly. The RedHawks extended the lead to two in the top of the fourth on a single by Sam Dexter, but Lincoln tied the score in the bottom half of the frame as Jason Rogers and Josh Altmann each drove home runs.
This was a great pitching matchup, as Derek Feldman and Zach Keenan each tossed seven outstanding innings. Feldman left after seven, allowing two runs while striking out 10. Keenan allowed one earned run, striking out three. Luke Lind came on for Fargo-Moorhead and tossed two scoreless innings. David Zoz tossed a scoreless eighth for Lincoln and Matt Cronin came on in the ninth, shutting down the RedHawks, sending this game to extra innings.
With Dexter on second to begin the inning, Alexander lined a single to score his teammate with the game-winning run. Alex DuBord came on in the bottom of the frame to record his 18th save of the season.
Lincoln Saltdogs Recap by Michael Dixon
Muir Hurls Cougars to Victory
Westin Muir allowed one earned run in six innings to earn his second victory of the season as the Kane County Cougars defeated the Milwaukee Milkmen, 5-2. Kane County took the lead in the bottom of the first on a two-run homer by Jimmy Kerrigan, his 24th of the year. Milwaukee tied the score in the top of the third on an error that allowed two runners to score.
It remained tied until the fifth when an error by the Milwaukee catcher allowed two runners to score. A single by Alexis Pantoja in the seventh capped off the scoring for the Cougars. Muir did the rest, allowing five hits and a walk while striking out eight before his evening was over. Jack Anderson came on and tossed two scoreless innings and Ryan Richardson closed out the game for his fourth save of the season.
Kerrigan finished with two runs scored and two RBI for Kane County. Correlle Prime had two hits and drove in a run for the Milkmen.
Ledet Bullpen Lead Explorers
Patrick Ledet allowed two runs in 7.0 innings to lead the Sioux City Explorers to a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Dogs. The Sioux City left-hander began the contest with six scoreless innings, as he allowed four hits through the first six frames.
That allowed his team to stake their starter to a 4-0 lead. Ademar Rifaela put the Explorers on top with an RBI single in the second and the club added three more runs in the fifth as Danny Amaral drove home two with a single and Blake Tiberi closed out the scoring with a single.
Chicago finally got on the board in the seventh as Anfernee Grier led off with a single and scored on a Connor Kopach double. He came home on a sacrifice fly. Ledet left after seven, allowing six hits and a walk while striking out to. Max Kuhns tossed a scoreless eighth and Thomas McIlraith struck out the side in the ninth for his 15th save of the year.
Sioux City Explorers Recap by Connor Ryan
Monarchs Pitching Staff Blanks Canaries
Six Kansas City Monarchs pitchers combined to allow five hits as the Monarchs blanked the Sioux Falls Canaries, 3-0. This was a fantastic pitcher’s duel through the first five innings, as neither Cecilio Pimentel nor Nick Belzer would yield a run. Belzer came out after four and the Monarchs bullpen took over from there. Brian Glowicki came on to toss a scoreless fifth.
Kansas City finally broke the scoreless tie in the sixth, as Willie Abreu scored on a wild pitch and Darnell Sweeney came home on an RBI double by David Thompson. A second wild pitch brought Thompson home to make it 3-0.
That would be all the support the Kansas City bullpen needed. Brock Gilliam tossed a scoreless sixth, Brandon Koch a scoreless seventh, and Jeremy Rhoades shut down Sioux Falls in the eighth. Jameson McGrane came on in the ninth and finished off the shutout for his 14th save of the season. Pimentel pitched well for Sioux Falls, allowing three runs in 5.1 innings.
Kansas City Monarchs Recap by Adam Cook
Goldeyes Pitchers Shut Down DockHounds
The Winnipeg Goldeyes pitching staff kept the Lake Country DockHounds off the scoreboard for seven innings, as Winnipeg went on to a 6-3 victory. Jhon Vargas, RJ Martinez, and Alex Hart each tossed two scoreless innings.
Winnipeg scored a run in the first and two in the second to jump out to a 3-0 lead. In the fifth, the Goldeyes took a commanding lead thanks to homeruns by Raul Navarro and David Washington. Lake Country finally got on the board with a run in the eighth and added two more in the ninth.
Navarro finished with two hits and two RBI. Ian Sagdal had two hits as well for Winnipeg. Jordan Schaffer had three hits and scored two runs for the DockHounds.
Winnipeg Goldeyes Recap by Steve Schuster
Three Stars of the Night
No. 3 – Derek Feldman (Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks) 7.0 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 2 ER, 10 K
No. 2 – Patrick Ledet (Sioux City Explorers) 7.0 IP, 6 H, BB, 2 ER, 2 K
No. 1 – Michael Woodworth (Gary SouthShore RailCats) 4-5, 3 R, HR, 5 RBI, BB
American Association Daily Notes
Kane County Cougars OF Jimmy Kerrigan took over the homerun lead with his 24th of the season on Saturday… Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks closer Alex DuBord recorded his 18th save of the season on Saturday, tying him for the American Association lead… Winnipeg Goldeyes IF Raul Navarro extended his hitting streak to 20 straight games. That is one short of the longest streak in the American Association this season… The Sioux City Explorers have five victories when trailing entering the ninth inning, the most in the American Association this year… The Kansas City Monarchs of the only team is not alone a lead heading into the ninth, going 42-0.
Transactions
Kane County: Signed C Milton Perez
Kansas City: Placed OF Jan Hernandez on the Injured List retroactive to July 20; Activated RHP Nick Belzer from the Inactive List
Lake Country: Placed RHP Carson Goldsmith on the Injured List retroactive to July 22; Activated RHP Francisco Jimenez from the Injured List; Signed INF Jordan Garr, RHP Skylar Janisse and OF Frank Podkul
Lincoln: Released RHP Tucker Smith
Milwaukee: Activated RHP Karch Kowalczyk from the Inactive List
By Robert Pannier
