Dogs Sweep Goldeyes, Hernandez Walk-Offs Apollos, Grotjohn Drives in Six
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 a great Wednesday in the American Association with seven games played. That includes Ramon Hernandez delivering a walk-off homer to give the Cleburne Railroaders the victory, Ryan Grotjohn driving in six for the Kansas City Monarchs, and the Chicago Dogs sweeping a double-header from the Winnipeg Goldeyes.
Saltdogs Down Cougars in 11
Back-to-back walks in the top of the 11th inning plated two runs and the Lincoln Saltdogs held on in the bottom half of the inning to defeat the Kane County Cougars, 4-3. The Cougars trailed by two entering the seventh, but scored runs in the seventh and eighth innings to tie the score, forcing extra innings. Two walks and a hit by pitch loaded the bases before Forrestt Allday and Justin Byrd drew back-to-back walks to drive home a pair of runs.
James Pugliese closed out the game for his fifth save of the season. Zack Taylor went 2-4 with a run and an RBI. Byrd walked four times for the Saltdogs. Anfernee Seymour and Luis Roman each had three hits for Kane County.
Lincoln Saltdogs Recap by Michael Dixon
Dogs Sweep Goldeyes
A three-run fifth inning was too much for the Winnipeg Goldeyes to overcome as the Chicago Dogs completed a double-header sweep with a 3-1 victory. Ryan Haug tied the score with an RBI double and Grant Kay drove home the go-ahead run with a single. Danny Mars provided the eventual game-winning run with a sacrifice fly. Scott Firth earned the victory with 1.2 innings pitched and Paul Schwendel closed out the game for his fifth save.
In the first game, the Goldeyes erased a three-run deficit with four runs in the top of the third, only to watch the Dogs score two runs in the bottom half of the inning on their way to an 8-4 victory. Anfernee Grier had a big day, driving in four and K.C. Hobson was 3-4 with two runs and an RBI. Danny Mars was 2-4 with two homers.
Kyle Martin homered and drove in two runs for Winnipeg. Darren Seferina had two hits and drove in a run.
Winnipeg Goldeyes Recap by Jason Young
Hernandez Delivers Walk-Off Homer for Railroaders
Ramon Hernandez hit a two-run homer with in the bottom of the ninth inning to deliver a walk-off victory for the Cleburne Railroaders. The Houston Apollos had taken the lead in the top half of the inning, but the Railroaders rallied in the bottom half of the frame. Zach Nehrir led off with a walk, then Hernandez turned on a 3-1 pitch to give Cleburne the victories.
Tyler Wilson earned the victory with a scoreless inning of relief. Hernandez finished 3-5 with two homers and five RBI. Hudson Bilodeau had two hits for Houston.
Cleburne Railroaders Recap by Denning Gerig
Explorers Top Milkmen
The Sioux City Explorers scored four runs through the first three innings, then held on for the 4-3 victory. Joseph Monge had two hits for the Explorers including a double and a triple. Brett Adcock earned the victory, allowing two earned runs in 5.1 innings. Matt Pobereyko recorded the last four outs to earn the save.
Adam Brett Walker hit his third homer of the year. Aaron Hill had two hits for Milwaukee.
Sioux City Explorers Recap by Connor Ryan
Grotjohn Leads Monarchs
A five-run first and a three-run third proved to be too much for the Sioux Falls Canaries to overcome as the Kansas City Monarchs earned the 8-6 victory. Ryan Grotjohn had a huge day, going 2-3 with two homers and six RBI. Colin Willis was 2-4 with two runs scored and he drove in the other two runs. Dylan Baker earned the victory, allowing two runs in six innings while striking out seven.
Jabari Henry went 1-2 with two runs and walked three times for Sioux Falls. Henry and Logan Landon each homered in the game.
Sioux Falls Canaries Recap by Joey Zanaboni
Kansas City Monarchs Recap by Dan Vaughan
RailCats Down RedHawks
The Gary SouthShore RailCats jumped out to a 5-0 lead on their way to an 8-3 victory over the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. Gary scored three in the first and two in the second. Paul Caulfield and MJ Rookard were outstanding at the top of the order. Caulfield went 2-2 with three runs scored and Rookard was 3-4 with three runs and two RBI. David Griffin earned the victory, allowing one run in six innings and Nolan Clenney tossed the final 2.2 innings to earn the save.
Correlle Prime and Leobaldo Pina each had two hits for the RedHawks. Jordan George drove in a pair of runs.
Three Stars of the Night
No. 3 – K.C. Hobson (Chicago Dogs) 4-6, BB, 2 R, RBI, 2 Doubles
No. 2 – Ramon Hernandez (Cleburne Railroaders) 3-5, 2 R, 2 HR, 5 RBI
No. 1 – Ryan Grotjohn (Kansas City Monarchs) 2-3, 2 R, BB, 2 HR, 6 RBI
American Association Daily Notes
Cleburne Railroaders IF Alay Lago extended his streak to 11 straight games, the longest in the American Association this season…Sioux City Explorers Matt Pobereyko, Lincoln Saltdogs James Pugliese, and Chicago Dogs Paul Schwendel each earned their fifth save of the season yesterday. That is tied for the team lead.
Transactions
Cleburne: Released LHP Tristan Roberts
Gary SouthShore: Traded RHP Kristian Scott to Schaumburg (Frontier League) for future considerations
Milwaukee: Placed INF Mason Davis on the Injured List retroactive to May 31’; Signed RHP Ryan Boyer and OF Jay Charleston
By Robert Pannier