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, the Minor League Sports Report and This Week in the Association name a pair of PURE formers this week as Milwaukee Milkmen RHP Ryan Kussmaul and Kane County Cougars RHP Tyler Viza were selected as PURE Performance Co-Pitcher of the Week for Week 10 of the 2021 American Association season.

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Ryan Kussmaul, Tyler Viza Given PURE Performance Pitcher Honors

The Minor League Sports Report and This Week in the Association announced that Milwaukee Milkmen right-hander Ryan Kussmaul and Kane County Cougars right-hander Tyler Viza have been selected as the PURE Performance Co-Pitchers of the Week for Week 10 of the 2021 American Association season. This is the first time this season that two players have received the same honor in the same week, but both right-handers earned the honors.

Tyler Viza started the week by tossing a complete game shutout in a 2-0 victory over the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. The right-hander allowed six hits and no walks while striking out 11. Viza struck out the first two batters of the contest and only allowed more than one hit in one inning in the contest. That is when the RedHawks had back-to-back singles with one out in the seventh. However, Viza induced a double play to end of the frame. He struck out at least one batter in eight of the nine innings.

Ryan Kussmaul was signed by the Milwaukee Milkmen last Monday and he made the most of his first start after rejoining the team, allowing one run in six innings in a 5-4 victory over the Chicago Dogs. The right he was outstanding, allowing one run on five hits and two walks. Kussmaul found himself in a little trouble in the fourth when he gave up a leadoff double and a single to put runners at the corners with no one out, but got a fielder’s choice and two fly outs to end the threat.

On Sunday, Kussmaul and Viza squared off against one another as the Milkmen defeated the Cougars, 2-0. Both right-handers were outstanding, with Viza giving up one run on three hits in seven innings while Kussmaul allowed no runs on two hits in seven innings. This was a scoreless tie through six frames until an error by the catcher allowed David Washington to score.

Viza gave up three hits and two walks while striking out seven. He retired the minimum through 3.1 innings, including striking out the side in the third. Kussmaul gave up a two-out hit in the first and a leadoff single in the second, then retired 18 straight batters, striking out eight.

Kussmaul finished the week with a 0.69 ERA, allowing one run on seven hits and two walks in 13 innings. He struck out 10. Viza was slightly better, posting a 0.56 ERA. The right-hander allowed nine hits and two walks in 16 innings, striking out 18.

For earning PURE Performance Pitcher of the Week, both Ryan Kussmaul and Tyler Viza will receive a check for $100 from PURE. Kussmaul is the third Milwaukee Milkmen player to receive PURE Performance Pitcher of the Week honors this season. Myles Smith won in both Week 4 and Week 9. David Holmberg won in Week 8. No Kane County Cougars Pitcher has won PURE Performance Honors.

2021 PURE Performance Pitchers of the Week

Week 1 – Kevin McGovern, Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
Week 2 – Michael Mariot, Cleburne Railroaders
Week 3 – Kevin McGovern, Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
Week 4 – Myles Smith, Milwaukee Milkmen
Week 5 – Patrick Ledet, Sioux City Explorers
Week 6 – Cody Mincey, Kansas City Monarchs
Week 7 – Ryan Flores, Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
Week 8 – David Holmberg, Milwaukee Milkmen
Week 9 – Myles Smith, Milwaukee Milkmen

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About PURE

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by Robert Pannier