Delgado Dominates, Matulovich Stands Out, Palm Paces Dogs

Robert Pannier July 24, 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, Rob Pannier recaps the six games in the American Association on Saturday, including the Winnipeg Goldeyes blanking the Milwaukee Milkmen, the Lincoln Saltdogs rallied to win in 10, and the Cleburne Railroaders win in a walk-off fashion.

Game Recaps for Saturday

Four-Run Fifth Propels DockHounds

The Lake Country DockHounds scored four runs in the fifth inning to earn a 5-2 victory over the Sioux Falls Canaries on Sunday. Randall Delgado tossed a gem, allowing one hit in seven innings to earn his fourth victory of the year. Brady Kais came on to retire the final batter of the game to earn his first save of the season.

Lake Country held a one run lead through four, but exploded for four runs in the fifth. Steven Sensley hit a three-run home run, his fourth of the season and third in the last two games to extend the lead to four, and Kevin Maitan reached on an error to make it 5-0.

Delgado was dominating, no hitting the Canaries for 6.2 innings, but Mike Hart snapped the string, recording the first hit of the game when he drilled his 12th home run of the season. Sioux Falls was still struggling offensively, but rallied against closer Jojanse Torres in the ninth, loading the bases on three walks before a groundout by Welington Dotel made this a three-run game. After Ozzie Martinez walked, Kais came on and gave up a deep fly ball to center that was caught for the final out.

Boxscore

Palm, Dogs Muzzle RailCats

Tyler Palm tossed seven shutout innings to earn his sixth victory of the season, leading the Chicago dogs to a 7-1 victory over the Gary SouthShore RailCats. The victory gave Chicago wins in three of the four games in the series and they are 4-2 in the last six contests.

The game was scoreless through the first three innings, but Chicago got on the board in the fourth on a bases-loaded walk to Luke Mangieri and an RBI single by Cody Bohanek. In the seventh, the Dogs blew this game open, recording four runs on just one hit. A single, a hit by pitch, and a walk loaded the bases before Dylan Rosa grounded into a fielder’s choice. After a walk reloaded the bases, David Maberry was hit by a pitch and an error scored two more runs. Chicago added one more run in the eighth on an RBI single by Brennan Metzger. Gary finally got on the board in the ninth when Victor Nova hit a sacrifice fly.

Gary SouthShore recording just five hits in the contest. Nick Heath and Peyton Eeles each scored twice for Chicago.

Gary SouthShore RailCats Recap by Zach Letson

Boxscore

Matulovich Sours Milkmen

Joey Matulovich tossed eight shutout innings to lead the Winnipeg Goldeyes to a 5-0 victory over the Milwaukee Milkmen. Matulovich allowed two hits, giving up two or fewer runs in five of his last six outings.

The Goldeyes took the lead in the top of the first when Keith Torres hit his first home run of the season. Two innings later the lead became three on a two run double by Max Murphy, and the Goldeyes added two more runs in the fifth. Jacob Bockelie had an RBI double and he scored on a single by Najee Gaskins.

Torres scored three runs in the contest and reached base three times. Milwaukee produced just two hits.

Winnipeg Goldeyes Recap by Jason Young

Boxscore

Fox Outduels Grauer

Jack Fox allowed one run in 6.1 innings, outdueling Tyler Grauer as the Kane County Cougars defeated the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, 3-1. Fargo-Moorhead took the lead in this contest on an RBI double by Scott Schreiber. However, it was all Kane County from there.

The Cougars took the lead in the top of the fourth as Jimmy Kerrigan doubled to tie the score and Jonah Davis came home on a sacrifice fly by Todd Lott. An inning later, J.D. Osborne singled home Josh Allen to make it 3-1.

Fox did the rest, allowing six hits and a walk before coming out. Logan Nissen tossed 1.2 scoreless innings and Daniel Bies struck out the side in the ninth to earn his ninth save of the season. Grauer took the loss despite giving up just three runs in 6.1 innings.

Boxscore

Anderson Homer Carries Saltdogs in 10

Nick Anderson hit a three-run homer in the top of the 10th inning, but it took an error to deliver the winning run as the Lincoln Saltdogs defeated the Sioux City Explorers, 7-6.

Lincoln mounted an impressive comeback in this contest. The Saltdogs took the lead in the top of the third on the fifth home run of the season by Marshall Awtry. Sioux City had no answers for Zach Keenan through the first four frames, but put up three in the bottom of the fifth. A base hit by Jack Sanford tied the score and Scott Ota hit his first home run of the season, a two-run shot to make it 3-1.

Lincoln struggled against Solomon Bates, with the home run the only hit against the right-hander through six. However, he came out in the seventh and a single by Yanio Perez made this a one run game. An inning later, Luke Roskam tied the score with an RBI single of his own. That sent the game to the 10th where Anderson worked the count full before drilling a three-run shot, his 16th of the year. An error then brought home the fourth run of the inning. That proved to be crucial as Kyle Kasser singled home a run and Jake Ortega followed with a two-run shot. However, Carter Hope was able to record the final out to give the Saltdogs victories in three of the four games in the series.

Lincoln Saltdogs Recap by Michael Dixon

Sioux City Explorers Recap by Austin Thomas

Boxscore

Jackson Walk-Off Hit Competes Cleburne Comeback

Alex Jackson drove home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Cleburne Railroaders a 6-5 walk-off victory over the Kansas City Monarchs. Cleburne trailed by five in this contest, but scored at least one run in each of the final five frames to earn the victory.

The Monarchs jumped out in front, scoring two in the first and adding two more in the fifth. Gavin Collins had a two run double to help pace Kansas City early on. Cody Deason was solid, holding Cleburne off the scoreboard through the first four. The Railroaders finally plated a run in the fifth, but Kansas City responded with a run in the top of the sixth to make it 5-1.

Deason came out after five, and it was all Railroaders from there. Cleburne put a run on the board in the sixth, two in the seventh, one of the eighth, and the game-winner in the ninth. Zach Nehrir scored three times and Brian Klein had two hits and scored twice. Jackson had two RBI. Collins finished with two hits and three RBI for the Monarchs.

Kansas City Monarchs Recap by Carter Woodiel

Boxscore

Three Stars of the Night

No. 3 – Tyler Palm (Chicago Dogs) 6.0 IP, 4 H, BB, 0 ER, 3 K

No. 2 – Joey Matulovich (Winnipeg Goldeyes) 8.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K

No. 1 – Randall Delgado (Lake Country DockHounds) 7.0 IP, H, ER, 2 BB, 4 K

American Association Daily Notes

With their victory on Sunday, the Lincoln Saltdogs moved into second place in the West Division… The Saltdogs had played the most extra innings games this season, going 7-3… After winning on Sunday, the Lake Country DockHounds are now 12-5 in July, the best record in the league.

Transactions

July 23, 2023

Sioux City: Activated RHP Mitchell Verberg (Rookie) from the Injured List

Winnipeg: Signed RHP Emmanuel Rosario

July 22, 2023

Chicago: Released OF Taylor Jackson; Placed RHP Conor Maguire on the Injured List retroactive to July 10; Signed RHP Cole Aker and RHP Steven Lacey

Cleburne: Signed RHP Michael Krauza

Fargo-Moorhead: Signed RHP Colten Davis and OF Andy Gravdahl

Lake Country: Acquired RHP Jose Guzmán on loan from Monclova (Mexican League); Signed RHP Jose Guzmán

Fargo-Moorhead: Claimed C Jack Kelly off waivers from Sioux City

Winnipeg: Signed RHP Francois Castillo