Cougars End Skid, Dogs Blow Out Railroaders, Saltdogs Blanked

Robert Pannier May 26, 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 four games in the American Association on Thursday, including the Kane County Cougars snapping their losing skid, the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks shut out the Lincoln Saltdogs, and the Chicago Dogs blow out the Cleburne Railroaders for their third straight victory.

Game Recaps for Thursday

Fox, Early Runs Help Cougars Break Skid

Jack Fox tossed seven solid innings, helping the Kane County Cougars snap their seven-game winning streak, as they defeated the Winnipeg Goldeyes, 3-2. It was a three-run second inning that put the Cougars on top, and Fox did the rest. The right-hander allowed two runs on five hits, striking out three to earn his second victory of the year.

The second inning proved to be the difference. T.J. Bennett led off with a base hit, and Dondrei Hubbard followed with a two-run shot, his first of the year. The next hitter was Jonah Davis, who drilled his second home run of the season. That made it 3-1. The Goldeyes cut the deficit to one when Hidekel Gonzalez drilled his fourth homer of the year, but that was all the offense that Winnipeg could muster.

Daniel Bies tossed two perfect innings, striking out four for his first save of the season. Bennett and Davis each finished with two hits. Tyler Jandron took the loss despite pitching well, giving up three runs on four hits in seven innings.

Winnipeg Goldeyes Recap by Doug Greenwald

Boxscore

RailCats Down DockHounds to Take Series

The Gary SouthShore RailCats scored two runs in the top of the third to jump in front of the Lake Country DockHounds, then held on for a 5-3 victory. Harrison Francis (2-1) pitched well for the RailCats, allowing three runs in six innings to earn his second victory of the season.

Gary SouthShore jumped on top in the top of the second, as Victor Nova and Thomas Greely drove home runs to make it 2-0. The lead did not last long, however, as Harrison Smith drilled a two-run homer in the bottom of the second, his second home run of the year. The RailCats did a little responding of their own, scoring two more in the top of the third. Gio Diaz singled to drive home Michael Woodworth, and he scored on a passed ball to make it 4-2. Two innings later, Diaz scored on an error. The DockHounds did not go quietly, however, as Smith drove in his third run of the game, singling in the bottom of the sixth to make it 5-3. Lake Country could get no closer moving to 1-2 since Paul Wagner became the interim manager.

Matt Leon came on in the ninth and loaded the bases on walks, but got out of the inning unscathed to earn his second save of the season. Diaz finished 3-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. Smith was 2-4 with a run and three RBI.

Gary SouthShore RailCats Recap by Ryan Zimmerman

Boxscore

Dogs Bury Railroaders

The Chicago Dogs pounded out 18 hits and received seven outstanding innings from Tyler Palm as they defeated the Cleburne Railroaders, 12-0. Chicago scored in six of the nine frames, led by Ryan Lidge who was 3-5 with three runs scored and three RBI. Palm went seven innings, allowing just one hit while striking out six.

Chicago jumped in front in the top of the first when Lidge hit his second home run of the season. Chicago added two more in the second on a two-run homer by Cody Bohanek, his third home run of the year. The Dogs were held off the scoreboard in the third, but scored two more in the fourth, a run in the fifth, two in the sixth, and added four in the ninth.

Zach Nehrir had the only hit against the Chicago starter, a two-out single in the third. Palm then retired 10 straight. Jonathan Cheshire tossed two scoreless frames to complete the shutout. Josh Altmann and Matt Bottcher each had three hits as well.

Chicago Dogs Recap by Sam Brief

Boxscore

Feldman, RedHawks Blank Saltdogs

Davis Feldman tossed seven shutout innings as the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks blanked the Lincoln Saltdogs in the series finale, 2-0. Tanner Riley tossed a scoreless eighth and Reid Birlingmair came on in the ninth to complete the shutout, earning his sixth save of the season.

The RedHawks scored the only two runs in the game in the top of the first inning. Evan Alexander led off the contest with his second home run of the year and Leobaldo Pina later delivered a one-out sacrifice fly. It was all Feldman from there, who only found himself in trouble in the fifth when he allowed two singles, but left the inning unscathed.

Josh Roeder pitched well for Lincoln, giving up two runs in six innings. Alexander finished with two hits and walked twice for the RedHawks.

Lincoln Saltdogs Recap by Michael Dixon

Boxscore

Three Stars of the Night

No. 3 – Jack Fox (Kane County Cougars) 7.0 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 3 K, 2 ER

No. 2 – Davis Feldman (Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks) 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 10 K

No. 1 – Tyler Palm (Chicago Dogs) 7 IP, H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 6 K

American Association Daily Notes

The Kane County Cougars snapped their seven-game losing streak… The Gary SouthShore RailCats have dropped the first game of each of their first four series, but came back to win the final two games of each set… Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks right-hander Reid Birlingmair earned his league-leading sixth save of the season… Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks OF Dillon Thomas and Gary SouthShore RailCats OF LG Castillo each extended their hitting streaks to 12 straight games.