Dogs, Monarchs Continue to Roll, Saltdogs Swoon Continues

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 seven games in the American Association on Thursday, including the Kane County Cougars defeated the Cleburne Railroaders in 10 innings, the Kansas City Monarchs when a marathon battle against the Winnipeg Goldeyes, and the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks crush the Sioux City Explorers.
Game Recaps for Friday
Hart Grand Slam Secures Canaries Victory
Mike Hart hit a grand slam as part of a five-run inning as the Sioux Falls Canaries defeated the Lincoln Saltdogs, 7-3. Ty Culbreth allowed just one run in five innings, earning a no decision, but Brady Stover tossed a scoreless sixth to earn the victory.
Lincoln took a one run lead in the top of the first on the 18th homer of the season by Connor Panas. An inning later, Trevor Achenbach hit his 12th homer of the season, knotting the game at one. It remained tied until the sixth when Jabari Henry was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, driving in a run, and Hart followed with a grand slam, his 22nd of the season. The Saltdogs responded with two runs in the top of the seventh thanks to a two run double by Jason Rogers, but Jordan Barth delivered an RBI double in the bottom half of the frame to close out the scoring.
Lincoln Saltdogs Recap by Michael Dixon
Sioux Falls Canaries Recap by Tanner Hoops
Davis, RedHawks Crush Explorers
Colten Davis tossed seven shutout innings and the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks offense exploded for 17 hits as the team defeated the Sioux City Explorers, 13-1. The first seven hitters in the RedHawks batting order each had at least two hits, going a combined 15-31 with 12 runs scored and 12 RBI.
The RedHawks held a one run lead through the first two innings, then scored four in the third and added four more in the fourth. The team tacked on a run in the fifth and added three more in the seventh. Dillon Thomas hit a solo homer in the fifth and Alec Olund added a two-run shot in the seventh.
Davis was spectacular, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out eight to move his record to 6-0. Olund and Thomas each had three hits, scored three runs, and drove in two. Manuel Boscan scored two runs and drove in three for the RedHawks. Jake Ortega had the lone RBI for the Explorers, breaking up the shutout in the ninth.
Sioux City Explorers Recap by Dan Vaughan, Jr.
Cougars Down Railroaders in 10
The Kane County Cougars scored three runs in the top of the 10th inning to help lead them to an 8-5 victory over the Cleburne Railroaders. Ernny Ordonez had the big blow in the inning, hitting a two-run homer, his first of the year. Keith Rogalla earned the win and Daniel Bies came on to close out the contest for his 16th save of the year.
Cleburne took control of this game early, scoring three in the first and adding one more in the second. Bret Boswell drilled a three-run homer in the first, his ninth of the year, and Zach Nehrir delivered an RBI single in the second. Kane County had done nothing to the first four innings, but exploded for five runs in the top of the fifth inning, sending 10 men to the plate. Olivier Basabe and John Cristino each had RBI singles and Michael Woodworth tied the score with a two-run single. A sacrifice fly by Cornelius Randolph put the Cougars on top.
In the seventh, Cleburne tied the score on a sacrifice fly by Brian Klein. That forced extra innings where Ordonez put his team on top for good with a two-run shot. Galli Cribbs and Basabe each scored two runs for the Cougars. Boswell had two hits and three RBI for the Railroaders.
Dogs Down RailCats in 10
The Chicago Dogs scored three runs in the top of the 10th inning to defeat the Gary SouthShore RailCats, 5-2. The Dogs produced just five hits in the contest, but took advantage of their opportunities. Brian Schlitter earned the win despite blowing the save and Bryan Warzek came on in the ninth to earn his third save of the year.
The Dogs took a two-run lead, scoring runs in the first and fifth frames. That lead held for eight innings, as Tyler Palm tossed six shutout innings and two relievers helped to carry the shutout into the final inning. However, the RailCats rallied for two runs against Schlitter, as Jacob Bockelie and Seth Caddell each delivered a two-out, RBI singles to knot the game at two. It was a great comeback, but the Dogs put this game away in the 10th, as Josh Altmann drilled a three-run homer, his 24th of the season to give Chicago the victory.
Milkmen Down DockHounds
The Milwaukee Milkmen doubled up the Lake Country DockHounds on Friday, winning 10-5. Milwaukee scored at least one run in five consecutive innings, including three in the third and seventh innings. Rudy Martin had three hits and drove in three and Bryan Torres also drove in three, as both players homered. Drew Ward also went deep for the Milkmen.
Milwaukee on the board in the top of the third on a three-run homer by Torres, his 11th of the season. The lead became five in the fourth thanks to a ground rule double by Martin and a wild pitch. The DockHounds responded in the bottom half of the frame as Demetrius Sims led off with his ninth home run of the year, and Dustin Woodcock delivered a two-out, two run single to pull Lake Country within two.
Milwaukee was not to be denied, however, scoring five unanswered runs. In the fifth, Martin had an RBI single, and Roy Morales added an RBI single in the sixth. In the seventh, Drew Ward and Martin delivered back-to-back home runs. The DockHounds added two more runs in the eighth.
Monarchs Down Goldeyes in 13
The Kansas City Monarchs and Winnipeg Goldeyes were grappling in a great pitcher’s battle, taking this contest to the 13th inning where the Monarchs finally defeated the Winnipeg Goldeyes, 3-2. The teams combined to allow just 11 total hits and two earned runs, as 10 pitchers helped to make this the longest game in the league this season.
Kansas City took the lead in the top of the first on the 13th homer of the year by Jan Hernandez. Winnipeg tied the score in the bottom of the fourth against Brandon Finnegan when Andy Armstrong led off with his second of the season. The game remained tied at one until the 11th when both teams scored a run. That sent the game to the 13th where LJ Hatch delivered the game-winning hit, singling to left to drive home Andy Yerzy with the winning run.
Trey Jeans earned the victory while Grant Gavin came on in the bottom half of the inning to earn his third save of the year. Hatch finished with two hits, the only player in the contest to have more than one hit.
Kansas City Monarchs Recap by Carter Woodiel
Winnipeg Goldeyes Recap by Doug Greenwald
Three Stars of the Night
No. 3 – Joey Matulovich (Winnipeg Goldeyes) 9.0 IP, 4 H, ER, BB, 12 K
No. 2 – Tyler Palm (Chicago Dogs) 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 0 ER, 3 K
No. 1 – Colten Davis (Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks) 7.0 IP, 2 H, BB, 0 ER, 8 K
American Association Daily Notes
Kansas City Monarchs second baseman Justin Wylie saw his consecutive game on-base streak end at 33 when he went 0-6 on Friday… The Lincoln Saltdogs have lost six straight games… The Milwaukee Milkmen clinched a playoff spot, the second team to do so. The Kansas City Monarchs clinched a playoff spot on Thursday… The Chicago Dogs have won seven straight games.
Transactions
Chicago: Activated OF Nicholas Heath from the Inactive List
Kansas City: Released C Allante Hall
Lake Country: Released OF Steven Sensley
Lincoln: Released RHP Nic Laio
Milwaukee: Signed OF Ashton Creal
Sioux City: Placed RHP Francys Peguero on the Inactive List retroactive to August 2
American Association Articles on Minor League Sports Report
Sioux Falls Canaries RHP Seth Miller American Association Pitcher of the Week
Sioux Falls Canaries 1B Mike Hart Named American Association Player of the Week
By Robert Pannier