Belzer, Baumann Toss Gems, Explorers Rally to Down RailCats, RedHawks Soar
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 Sioux City Explorers scoring five in the ninth to down the Gary SouthShore RailCats, the Lincoln Saltdogs set a franchise records for runs in an inning, and the Kansas City Monarchs down the Chicago Dogs for the second straight night. This and much more.
Explorers Five-Run Ninth Stuns RailCats
The Gary SouthShore RailCats had held the Sioux City Explorers lineup down for most of the first eight innings of Saturday’s contest, but Sioux City responded with five runs in the ninth inning to earn a 6-3 victory. The Explorers took the lead in the top of the third on an RBI single by Nick Franklin, but the RailCats took the lead in the bottom of the fifth on back-to-back homers by Sam Abbott and Thomas Walraven. In the sixth, Gary extended the lead to two as Michael Woodworth came home on an error.
This game looked all but over as Harrison Francis was brilliant for the RailCats, allowing one run in six innings, but things fell apart in the ninth against Jack Eisenbargar, who was on for his third inning. An error opened the inning and two batters later John Anthon singled to put runners at the corners. Patrick Ledet, playing left field because of an ejection, singled to drive home a run and Danny Amaral followed with a three-run homer to put the Explorers on top. Next up was Franklin, who hit his eighth homer of the year, giving the Explorers the lead.
Nate Gercken earned the win and Thomas McIlraith came on to earn his seventh save of the season. Amaral had two hits and Franklin was 2-5 with a run and two RBI. Walraven had two hits for Gary.
Sioux City Explorers Recap by Connor Ryan
Gary SouthShore RailCats Recap by Ryan Zimmerman
Milkmen Hold off Railroaders
The Milwaukee Milkmen jumped out to a four-run lead before shutting down a late rally, defeating the Cleburne Railroaders, 6-4. Chad Sedio led off the game with his eighth homer of the year, but Cleburne took the lead, as Zach Nehrir tied the score with an RBI ground out in the bottom half of the inning and Jordan Wiley gave the Railroaders in the lead in the bottom of the second on a double.
However, the lead did not last long as Christ Conley drilled his third homer of the season, a three-run shot in the top of the third to give the Milkmen a 4-2 lead. An inning later, Mason Davis hit his fourth homerun of the year, making it 6-2. Myles Smith rolled through the first seven innings, allowing two runs while striking out 10, but the Railroaders scored a run in both of the final two frames, but could get no closer.
Chase Simpson added his fourth homer of the year for the Railroaders. Davis had two hits for the Milkmen and Sedio scored two runs.
Record Setting Frame Propels Saltdogs
The Lincoln Saltdogs set a franchise record on Saturday, scoring 12 runs in the bottom of the second to lead the club to a 14-4 victory. Lincoln sent 15 men to the plate. Matt Goodheart scored twice in the inning and later added his second homer of the year as part of a 2-3 performance. Goodheart scored three runs and added three RBI. Skyler Weber hit a three-run homer in the decisive frame.
Buddy Baumann was dominating for Lincoln, tossing six shutout innings. Garett Delano and Alex Steinbach each had two hits and scored two runs. Kona Quiggle hit his fourth homer of the year for Sioxu Falls as part of a two-hit performance.
Lincoln Saltdogs Recap by Michael Dixon
Goldeyes Score Two in 10th to Down Cougars
The Winnipeg Goldeyes watched the Kane County Cougars rally from three down to tie the score, but put two on the board in the 10th to earn a 5-3 victory. Winnipeg took the lead in the top of the second, plating three. Max Murphy scored on a wild pitch and Deon Stafford capped off the inning with his second homer of the year.
RJ Martinez breezed through the first three innings, but the Cougars got on the board in the fourth when Dylan Busby led off with his second homer of the season. Two innings later, Bryce Brentz and Busby delivered back-to-back homers to tie the score. That sent the game to extra innings where a wild pitch and an error gave the Goldeyes the lead for good.
Tasker Strobel earned the victory with two scoreless innings of relief. Stafford had two hits. Busby was 3-4 with two runs, two homers, and two RBI for Kane Country.
Winnipeg Goldeyes Recap by Steve Schuster
Monarchs Roll to Fifth Straight Win
The Kansas City Monarchs scored single runs in each of the first four frames then added seven runs over the final two innings on their way to an 11-1 victory over the Chicago Dogs. Gabriel Guerrero got things started, drilling his fifth homer of the year with two down in the top of the first. Casey Gillaspie added RBI singles in both the second and fourth innings.
In the eighth, Kansas City blew the game open. Jan Hernandez drilled a two-run homer, his 11th of the year and David Thompson hit his 11th homer of the year in the ninth. Hernandez finished 3-4 with three runs scored and two RBI. Thompson and Gillaspie both had two-hits and two RBI.
Nick Belzer was dominating for Kansas City, tossing 6.0 shutout innings. Johnathon Tripp gave up three runs in 3.0 innings, taking the loss.
Kansas City Monarchs Recap by Caleb Grizzle
Chicago Dogs Recap by Michael Barthelemy
Ward Leads RedHawks Past DockHounds
The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks scored 13 unanswered runs through the first three frames, dominating the Lake Country DockHounds, 14-3. Fargo-Moorhead hit four homeruns in the contest, starting with John Silviano, who drilled a three-run shot in the bottom of the first to make it 4-0. An inning later, Drew Ward hit his ninth homer of the year to make it 7-0, and Fargo-Moorhead blew this game open in the third as Rymer Liriano and Evan Alexander went back-to-back as part of a six-run frame.
Tyler Grauer earned the victory, allowing three runs in 6.0 innings pitched. Ward finished 2-4 with two runs scored and five RBI. Liriano was 4-5 with a run and three RBI. Aaron Takacs had three hits and drove in a run for Lake Country
Three Stars of the Night
No. 3 – Harrison Francis (Gary SouthShore RailCats) 6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 BB, ER, 8 K
No. 2 – Nick Belzer (Kansas City Monarchs) 6.0 IP, 2 H, 4 BB, 0 ER, 3 K
No. 1 – Buddy Baumann (Lincoln Saltdogs) 6.0 IP, 4 H, BB, 0 ER, 8 K
American Association Daily Notes
Lake Country DockHounds OF Aaron Takacs, Chicago Dogs OF Charlie Tilson, and Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks OF Drew Ward all reached base for the 26th straight games on Saturday… After allowing 6.37 runs pre game in May, the Sioux City Explorers pitchers have been the best in June, allowing 2.70 runs per game… Kane County Cougars infielder Josh Allen ended his retirement, rejoining the team.
Transactions
Cleburne: Signed LHP Manuel Silva
Fargo-Moorhead: Signed LHP Peyton Wigginton
Kane County: Released RHP Pearson McMahan; Signed INF Josh Allen
Lake Country: Placed LHP Jesse Remington on the Injured List retroactive to May 30; Released INF Connor Bagnieski
Milwaukee: Activated RHP Danny Zardon from the Injured List
By Robert Pannier
