Cougars Blank Dogs for First Win, Homers Power Explorers
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. Robert Pannier recaps Day 2 in the American Association, including the first franchise victory for the Kane County Cougars and three homers leading the Sioux City Explorers to victory.
Hill, Rosselli, Washington Homers Power Milkmen over RailCats
Aaron Hill hit his third homer of the season and Tony Rosselli and David Washington added solo blasts as the Milwaukee Milkmen downed the Gary Southshore RailCats, 6-4. The Milkmen and RailCats are tied at two through six, but Milwaukee scored runs in each of the final three innings to earn the victory. The deciding runs came on solo homers by Rosselli and Washington in the top of the ninth inning.
Zach Hartman earned the victory with two shutout innings of relief. Karch Kowalczyk earned the save despite giving up two runs in the bottom of the ninth. Zach Welz had three hits and drove in two runs for Gary and Raymond Jones had his first homerun of the season for the RailCats.
Gotta Triple Propels Canaries over Goldeyes
The Winnipeg Goldeyes rallied in the top of the eighth inning to tie their contest against the Sioux Falls Canaries on Wednesday, but Nick Gotta put Sioux Falls back on top for good with a two-run triple in the bottom half of the inning as the Canaries went on to a 5-3 victory. Logan Landon and Jabari Henry each had a pair of hits for Sioux Falls. Caleb Frare came on to earn his first save of the season.
Tyler Hill hit his first homerun of the year for Winnipeg. John Gorman took the loss.
Winnipeg Goldeyes Recap by Steve Schuster
Sioux Falls Canaries Recap by Joey Zanaboni
Early Homers Propel Explorers to Victory
For the second straight night, the Sioux City Explorers used a five-run frame to propel them to victory. This time it was five first-inning runs that doomed the Houston Apollos. Three home runs in the frame, including two run shots by Nate Samson and Jared Walker, got the team rolling. Lance Milligan finished off the power first with solo shot.
Tyler Beardsley earned his first victory of the season, allowing two runs in 5.1 innings pitched. The bullpen was spectacular, tossing 3.2 innings of one-hit ball. Ian Yetsko hit his first homer of the season for Houston.
Sioux Falls Explorers Recap by Connor Ryan
Pina Homer Sends RedHawks Soaring Past Railroaders
Leobaldo Pina hit a two-run homer in the top of the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie as the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks defeated the Cleburne Railroaders, 4-1. Michael Mariot started for Cleburne and pitched very well, but Garrett Anderson came on in the sixth, walked John Silviano to start the frame before Pina hit the first pitch he saw for his first homerun of the season.
Kevin Herget started for Fargo-Moorhead and was spectacular, allowing one run on three hits in seven innings while striking out 10. The RedHawks struck out 14 Railroaders in all. Sam Dexter had three hits for the RedHawks. Hunter Clanin hit his first homerun of the season for the Railroaders.
Cleburne Railroaders Recap by Denning Gerig
Barbato Sharp as Saltdogs Win Rain-Shortened Affair
Johnny Barbato allowed one run on five hits and earning a rain shortened complete game victory over the Kansas City Monarchs on Thursday. The Lincoln Saltdogs starter struck out six in the 2-1 win. Justin Byrd was a perfect 2-2 with a run and an RBI for Lincoln.
Nick Travieso also went the distance for Kansas City, allowing two runs on four hits in five innings. Then rain came, and the game was called after five. The victory moved Lincoln to 2-0.
Lincoln Saltdogs Recap by Michael Dixon
Kansas City Monarchs Recap by Dan Vaughan
Worley, Cougars Blank Dogs
Vance Worley tossed 5.2 innings of shutout ball, combining with two relievers to lead the Kane County Cougars to a 3-0 victory over the Chicago Dogs. The victory was the first for the Cougars since joining the American Association.
Galli Cribbs hit an RBI triple in the bottom of the second and later scored on a wild pitch to give Kane County a three-run lead. Worley did the rest, allowing two hits and no walks. Of his 77 pitches, 51 went for strikes. Jamal Woods came on in the eighth and tossed two shutout innings for his first save in season.
Three Stars of the Night
No. 3 – Kevin Herget (Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks) 7 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, 10 K
No. 2 – Vance Worley (Kane County Cougars) 5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
No. 1 – Johnny Barbato (Lincoln Saltdogs) 5 IP, 5 H, ER, 0 BB, 6 K
Transactions
Cleburne: Placed RHP Jacob Garcia on the Inactive List retroactive to May 6
Kane County: Signed OF Anthony Ray
Kansas City: Transferred the contract of RHP Akeem Bostick to the New York Mets
Milwaukee: Transferred the contract of OF Mikey Reynolds to the Arizona Diamondbacks
By Robert Pannier
