Palm Wins Fourth, Cougars Sweep, Schawaryn Throws No-Hitter

Robert Pannier June 1, 2023

Photo Credit: Jennifer Andreachi/Field Dreams Photography

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 seven games in the American Association on Wednesday, including the Kane County Cougars sweeping a double-header, Tyler Palm winning his fourth game of the season for the Chicago Dogs, and the Sioux City Explorers struggles continue.

Game Recaps for Wednesday

Palm Cool in Keeping Dogs Hot

Tyler Palm won his league-leading fourth game of the season on Wednesday, leading the Chicago Dogs to a 3-2 victory over the Winnipeg Goldeyes. Palm allowed two runs on six hits, giving his offense time to deliver a late run.

Chicago took the lead in the bottom of the first time on an RBI groundout by Ryan Lidge. Winnipeg tied the score in the top of the third when Dayson Croes plated a run with a single into right field. Chicago retook the lead in the bottom half of the frame, as Nick Heath singled into left, plating Matt Bottcher. Once again, the Goldeyes were able to tie the score when Jackson Smith led off the fifth inning with his first home run of the year. The score remained tied until the sixth, when Cody Bohanek singled up the middle, driving home Lidge with the game-winning run.

Aiden McIntyre came on in the eighth and tossed a scoreless frames and Brian Schlitter closed out the contest for his fourth save of the season. Landen Bourassa took the loss despite pitching well, allowing three runs in seven innings. Brennan Metzger, Josh Altmann, Bohanek, and Bottcher each had two hits for the Dogs. Croes and Max Murphy each had two hits for the Goldeyes.

Winnipeg Goldeyes Recap by Doug Greenwald

Chicago Dogs Recap by Sam Brief

Boxscore

Cougars Sweep DockHounds

Galli Cribbs scored on an error in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Kane County Cougars a sweep of their double-header with the Lake Country DockHounds on Wednesday. Kane County held a 4-1 lead heading into the top of the seventh, but the DockHounds rallied to tie the score before an error by pitcher Jojanse Torres cost his team the contest.

Kane County jumped out in front, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Cornelius Randolph doubled to drive home Josh Allen, and he later scored on a T.J. Bennett single. In the fourth, Jimmy Kerrigan scored on an error to make it 3-0. The DockHounds responded with a run in the top of the fifth as a double play grounder allowed Blake Tiberi to score, but the Cougars restored the three-run advantage in the bottom of the sixth thanks to an RBI single by Daniel Wasinger.

Kane County was cruising behind starter Westin Muir, who allowed one run in five innings. However, Keith Rogalla came on in the seventh looking to close out the game, and immediately found himself in trouble, walking the first two batters of the inning. He struck out Brian Rey, but Pat DeMarco turned on a 2-1 pitch, drilling it for a three-run homer, his fourth of the year. In the bottom half of the inning, the first two batters drew walks. Torres was able to strike out Armond Upshaw, but Jonah Davis singled. Torres had an opportunity to make a play at the plate, but history was wild, allowing Cribbs to score with a winning run.

In Game 1, starter Jack Fox tossed six shutout innings and Daniel Bies closed out the contest for his second save of the season as the Cougars defeated the DockHounds, 1-0. Fox was fantastic in earning his third victory of the season, scattering five hits and two walks while striking out three. Mike Shawaryn was the hard-luck loser, tossing a no-hitter, but giving up the only run of the game thanks to five walks.

The only run of the game came in the fourth inning. With one down, Cornelius Randolph and Jimmy Kerrigan both walked. A fielder’s choice put runners at the corners before a wild pitch allowed Randolph to score. Thomas Jones was 3-3 for Lake Country.

Game 1 Boxscore

Game 2 Boxscore

Milkmen Hold off RailCats

The Milwaukee Milkmen jumped out to a three-run lead, then held on to defeat the Gary SouthShore RailCats, 3-2. Kyle Mora earned his first victory of the season, allowing one run in 5.2 innings, and Nate Hadley came on in the ninth to earn his fourth save of the season.

Milwaukee took the lead with two runs in the top of the first, and added a run in the fourth, as Justin Williams drilled his second home run of the season. The RailCats responded with a run of the bottom half of the inning, and pulled within one when Jesus Marriaga drove home Victor Nova in the eighth. However, the RailCats were unable to get the equalizer. Nova finished with two hits, scored a run, and drove in another for Gary Southshore.

Boxscore

Hernandez Drives in Four to Pace Monarchs

Jan Hernandez recorded three hits and drove in four to help lead the Kansas City Monarchs to a decisive 10-3 victory over the Lincoln Saltdogs. It was a six run third inning that put this game away, as Kansas City sent nine men to the plate, recording five hits in the frame.

The Monarchs jumped out in front in the top of the first, scoring two, but Lincoln cut the deficit in half thanks to a Will Kengor RBI single. In the third, the Monarchs took control of this game. Johneshwy Fargas led off with a single and came around to score when Hernandez doubled two batters later. After a walk to Chris Herrmann, Edwin Diaz singled, driving Hernandez home. Two batters later, Keon Broxton lined the ball into the gap, racing into third while driving home both runners. He scored when Olivier Basabe hit his first home run of the season. Lincoln scored two runs in the bottom half of the frame on a double by Nate Samson, and the Monarchs added single runs in the seventh and ninth to close out the scoring.

Hernandez finished 3-4 with a run scored and four RBI. Fargas went 3-5 with three runs scored and stole two bases. Samson led the Saltdogs, going 3-5 with two RBI. Trey Jeans earned the victory in relief for Kansas City, tossing three scoreless innings.

Kansas City Monarchs Recap by Carter Woodiel

Lincoln Saltdogs Recap by Michael Dixon

Boxscore

Sermo Homers Twice to Down Explorers

Jose Sermo homered twice and drove in six against his former team to lead the Cleburne Railroaders to a 13-7 victory over the Sioux City Explorers. Cleburne scored four in the first and seventh innings, and added two in the second and three in the fourth to earn the decisive victory.

Sermo his first home run of the contest in the bottom of the first, drilling a grand slam for his fifth of the year. After Cleburne scored two more in the second, Sioux City chipped away at the lead, scoring four in the third, including a two-run single by Chase Harris. However, the Railroaders added three more in the fourth, as Zach Nehrir drove in two with a single and the club added four more in the seventh. Nehrir hit a two-run homer, and Sermo followed with a solo blast.

Sermo finished three for five with two runs scored and six RBI. Nehrir was 3-4 with three runs scored and five RBI. Vince Fernandez had three hits and drove in two and Harris had two hits and drove in two for the Explorers.

Sioux City Explorers Recap by Austin Thomas

Boxscore

RedHawks Crush Canaries

The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks scored five runs in both the second and eight innings to earn a decisive 12-3 victory over the Sioux Falls Canaries. Evan Alexander led the way, going 4-6 with two runs scored and four RBI. Davis Feldman (3-1) earned the victory, allowing three runs in seven innings while striking out eight.

Sioux Falls took the lead in the top the first on the third homerun of the season by Darnell Sweeney, but it was all RedHawks from there. In the second, Sam Dexter plated two with the triple and Alexander drove him home with an RBI single. Manuel Boscan followed with a two-run double to make it 5-1. Sioux Falls trailed by six entering the top of the seventh, but Jabari Henry hit his first home run of the season, a two-run shot to pull his team within four. The RedHawks were not allowing a comeback on this day, scoring five runs off just three hits. Leobaldo Pina hit is second home run of the year and Alexander added a two-run single in the frame.

Boscan had two hits and drove in three. Sweeney had three hits for the Canaries.

Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks Recap by Chad Miller

Boxscore

Three Stars of the Night

No. 3 – Jack Fox (Kane County Cougars) 6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

No. 2 – Zach Nehrir (Cleburne Railroaders) 3-4, 3 R, BB, HR, 5 RBI

No. 1 – José Sermo (Cleburne Railroaders) 3-5, 2 R, 2 HR, 6 RBI

American Association Daily Notes

Chicago Dogs right-hander Tyler Palm won his fourth game of the year, the first to reach the mark this season. Palm is second in ERA (1.12)… Kansas City Monarchs catcher Chris Herrmann saw his 14 game hitting streak come to an end on Wednesday. The streak is tied for the longest in the American Association this season… The Chicago Dogs have now won 11 of their last 13 games… Despite taking the loss on Wednesday, Lake Country DockHounds right-hander Mike Schawaryn will be recognized for throwing the first no-hitter in team history. The starter allowed five walks and one earned run in six innings.