RedHawks Avoid Sweep, Railroaders Crush Milkmen, DockHounds Snap Losing Skid
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 Sunday, including the Kansas City Monarchs completing the sweep of the Sioux Falls Canaries, the Lake Country DockHounds and Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks avoid the sweep, and the Cleburne Railroaders crush the Milwaukee Milkmen.
Game Recaps for Sunday
DockHounds Thwart Goldeyes Comeback
The Lake Country DockHounds jumped out to a 7-1 lead, then held off a late come back to defeat the Winnipeg Goldeyes, 7-4. Tyler Pike was outstanding in this contest for Lake Country, allowing one run off two hits in seven innings to earn his first victory of the season.
The DockHounds took the lead in the top of the third on a single by Thomas Jones. An inning later, Aaron Simmons delivered a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to two and Lake Country added three more in the sixth, thanks to a sacrifice fly, a passed ball, and an RBI single by Pat DeMarco. Winnipeg got on the board in the bottom half of the inning, as Dayson Croes singled home a run to make it 5-1.
Lake Country added two more in the seventh and looked like they would breeze in this contest, but Pike came out of the eighth and Winnipeg started to rally. Brynn Martinez drove home a run in the eighth and Chris Burgess delivered a two run double in the bottom of the ninth. That cut the deficit to three, but Carlos Diaz was able to get the final out to give the DockHounds the victory. Blake Tiberi had three hits and scored two runs for the DockHounds.
Winnipeg Goldeyes Recap by Doug Greenwald
Hernandez Powers Railroaders to Victory
Ryan Hernandez hit his league-leading fourth home run of the season and drove in four to help lead the Cleburne Railroaders to a 15-3 thrashing of the Milwaukee Milkmen. This was a close contest through the first four innings, but the Railroaders dominated the last half of this game, scoring three in the fifth, two in the sixth, five in the seventh, three in the eighth, and one in the ninth. That was more than enough support for Travis Perry, who earned his first victory of the season, allowing two earned runs in 6.0 innings.
With the score tied at one heading into the top of the fifth, John Figueroa, Alex Jackson, and Brian Klein delivered back to back-to-back singles to put the Railroaders on top by three. In the sixth, Mark Karaviotis drilled his second home run of the season, a two-run shot to extend the lead to five, and Cleburne blew this game open in the seventh. Klein delivered a run-scoring single and Hernandez capped off the inning with a grand slam.
Hernandez finished 3-5 with three runs scored and four RBI. Karaviotis and Figueroa each scored three runs as well. Drew Ward scored two runs for Milwaukee.
Sheaks Solid in Slaying of Saltdogs
John Sheaks tossed six outstanding innings as the Gary SouthShore RailCats won the rubber match of their series with the Lincoln Saltdogs, 7-2. Sheaks earned his first victory of the season, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out three.
This game was tied after four, but the RailCats took the lead for good in the top of the fifth. Michael Woodworth singled to put his team on top and Gio Diaz extended the lead to two with an RBI single of his own. Emmanuel Tapia closed out the scoring with an RBI ground out. Gary SouthShore added one more in the seventh and eighth innings. Victor Nova hit his first home run of the season.
Nova finished 2-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Woodworth was 3-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Nick Anderson drove in both runs for Lincoln, hitting his third homer of the year.
Gary SouthShore RailCats Recap by Ryan Zimmerman
Lincoln Saltdogs Recap by Michael Dixon
Explorers Rally to Complete Sweep
The Sioux City Explorers found themselves trailing by one after two innings, but scored in each of the next four frames, delivering seven unanswered runs, then held on for a 7-4 victory over the Kane County Cougars. The victory completed a three-game sweep for Sioux City, giving the Explorers the best record in the American Association.
Kane County took the lead in the bottom of the second on a wild pitch, but Sioux City tied the score right away, as Jack Kelly hit a one-out home run in the top of the third. The Explorers took the lead in the top of the fourth on a Matt Lloyd double and added two more in the fifth. Lloyd walked with two down to plate a run and a passed ball scored the second run of the frame. In the sixth, it looked like Sioux City had given themselves an insurmountable lead when Vince Fernandez singled home two and Miguel Sierra followed with an RBI single.
However, the Cougars refused to go away quietly, scoring a run in the top of the eighth on a sacrifice fly and cutting the deficit to three thanks to a two-run homer by Josh Allen in the ninth. However, Kane County could get no closer.
Jared Wetherbee earned the victory, allowing one run in 5.0 innings. Luke Westphal struggled for Kane County, allowing three earned runs in four innings. Cornelius Randolph went 4-5 with a run scored for the Cougars.
Sioux City Explorers Recap by Dan Vaughan Jr. and Austin Thomas
RedHawks Hang on to Down Dogs
The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks avoided being swept by the Chicago Dogs, winning on Sunday, 6-4. Fargo-Moorhead opened with five unanswered runs, then held off a Chicago come back. Kevin McGovern earned his second victory of the season and Reid Birlingmair came on to record his second save of the season.
The RedHawks jumped out in front in the top of the first inning, as Dillon Thomas brought home Evan Alexander with a ground out. Three innings later, John Silviano brought home Thomas on a double, and B.J. Lopez delivered a two-out single to extend the lead to four. In the sixth, Fargo-Moorhead made it a five-run lead with an RBI single by Alexander.
The Dogs had no answers for McGovern through the first five innings, but were able to get on the board in the sixth. Josh Altmann hit his league-leading fifth home run of the season, and Michael Falsetti added a sacrifice fly. An inning later, the Dogs cut the deficit to one thanks to a Ryan Lidge ground out and a sacrifice fly by Altmann.
Thomas led off the ninth with his second home run of the year to extend the lead to two, but Chicago refused to go away, putting two on with two down before Birlingmair got Cody Bohanek to ground out to end the game. Lopez finished with two hits and two RBI for the RedHawks. Altmann had two hits and two RBI for the Dogs.
Monarchs Complete Sweep of Canaries
The Kansas City Monarchs erased a one run deficit, scoring eight unanswered runs to earn an 11-3 victory over the Sioux Falls Canaries. The victory helped Kansas City complete the sweep of the three-game series.
Kansas City trailed heading into the bottom of the fourth, but put three on the board to take the lead. Gavin Collins, Micker Adolfo, and Justin Wylie each drove home a run in the frame. An inning later, the Monarchs took a commanding lead, scoring five runs on four hits. Adolfo delivered a two run double during the inning.
Cody Deason earned the victory, allowing two earned runs in five innings. Chris Herrmann had a perfect day, going 4-4 with two runs scored and three RBI. Jan Hernandez scored three runs, had two hits, and drove in two. Darnell Sweeney had two hits for the Canaries.
Sioux Falls Canaries Recap by Tanner Hoops
Kansas City Monarchs Recap by Nolan Brooks
Three Stars of the Night
No. 3 – Michael Woodworth (Gary SouthShore RailCats) 3-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 SB
No. 2 – Chris Herrmann (Kansas City Monarchs) 4-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, Double, BB
No. 1 – Tyler Pike (Lake Country DockHounds) 7.0 IP, 2 H, ER, BB, 6 K
American Association Daily Notes
The Lake Country DockHounds snap their three-game losing streak… The Chicago Dogs saw their four-game winning streak come to an end with their loss to Fargo-Moorhead… The Dogs Josh Altmann hit his league-leading fifth homerun of the season… John Figueroa hit his first professional home run on Saturday… The Gary SouthShore RailCats have lost the first game of each of their first three series, but came back to win the final two in each set.
Transactions
Lake Country: Activated LHP Evan Kruczynski from the Injured List
Sioux Falls: Signed RHP Jose Cruz
American Association Stories at Minor League Sports Report
Battle for Top Spot in East Highlights American Association Weekend Schedule
Who Is the Top Leadoff Hitter in the American Association
By Robert Pannier
