Explorers End Skid, Racusin Delivers Walk-Off Blow, Monarchs, Goldeyes Sweep
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 seven games in the American Association on Wednesday, . This and much more.
Kessay Hurls RedHawks to Victory
Sebastian Kessay allowed two runs in 6.0 innings in a late morning affair with the Kane County Cougars on Wednesday, leading the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks to a 5-2 victory. Kessay allowed just two hits while striking out six in earning his second victory of the season. Ben Allison pitched well, allowing four runs and 7.0 innings, but took the loss.
The RedHawks took the lead in the top of the third on a two-run homer off the bat of Peter Maris. That was the fifth homerun of the season for Maris. In the sixth, both teams put up a pair of runs thanks to two-run homers. John Silviano hit his fifth of the season for Fargo-Moorhead in the top half of the frame. Sherman Johnson followed with a two-run homer in the bottom half, his second of the season. In the eighth, the RedHawks added one more run, plenty enough support for the bullpen, who tossed 3.0 innings of scoreless relief. Alex DeBord came on in the ninth to close the game out for his eighth save of the season.
Maris and Leobaldo Pina both finished with two hits for Fargo-Moorhead. Jimmy Kerrigan had two hits for Kane County.
Goldeyes Sweep Double-Header in Winnipeg
The Winnipeg Goldeyes swept a double-header from the Cleburne Railroaders on Wednesday. In the first game, Luis Ramirez tossed a gem, allowing one run in 5.0 innings to lead Winnipeg to a 5-1 victory. The score was tied at one entering the bottom of the fourth, but the Goldeyes scored a pair of runs in both the fourth and fifth innings. Logan Hill gave his team to lead in the bottom of the fourth, hitting his sixth homerun of the season. Tasker Strobel came on in the ninth inning to retire the final two batters for his third save of the season.
Eric Rivera finished with two RBI and David Washington was 1-2 with two walks. Hector Sanchez provided the lone run for the Railroaders, hitting his second homerun of the season.
In the second game, the Railroaders jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning thanks to Sanchez’s second homer of the day, a two-run blast. However, Winnipeg took command of this game was six runs in the bottom of the third inning. Max Murphy delivered a two-run single that tied the score and Hill followed with a two-run double that gave his team to lead. In the fourth, David Washington blasted a three-run homer, his seventh of the season. It was 10-3 before Cleburne began to rally, scoring three runs in the top of the sixth, but they could not get any closer, falling 10-6.
Freisis Adames earned the victory and Erasmo Pinales recorded the final five outs for his second save of the year. Washington scored two runs as did Ian Sagdal. Sanchez finished 1-2 with two runs scored and two RBI. Jordan Wiley drove in a pair of runs for the Railroaders.
Winnipeg Goldeyes Recap by Steve Schuster
McCanna Gem Ends Explorers Skid
Kevin McCanna allowed one earned run in 6.2 innings to lead the Sioux City Explorers to a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Milkmen, snapping the teams nine-game losing streak. McCanna allowed six hits and two walks while striking out four as he earned his third victory of the year. Thomas McIlraith came on in the ninth to close the game out for his third save of the season.
Sioux City took the lead with a run in the bottom of the third when Chase Harris led off with his second homerun of the season. Two innings later Nick Franklin drove home Harris and Trey Martin added an RBI double to make it 3-0. Milwaukee battled back with two runs in the top of the seventh as Bryan Torres plated Logan Trowbridge with a triple and he scored on an error. However, the Explorers added a run in the bottom of the seventh when Gabe Snyder stole third and scored on a catch or overthrow. In the ninth, Milwaukee pulled within a run on a Mason Davis single, but McIlraith got the final out to end the contest.
Harris finished 2-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Danny Amaral scored two runs for Sioux City. Torres was 3-4 with two runs scored and an RBI for Milwaukee.
Sioux City Explorers Recap by Will Glocker
Seven-Run Sixth Propels Dogs Past Canaries
The Chicago Dogs scored seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, then held on for a 12-9 victory over the Sioux Falls Canaries. Chicago held a 3-2 lead entering the bottom of the fifth, but Anfernee Grier extended the lead to three with his second homerun of the season, a two-run shot. In the sixth, the Dogs blew this game open. Ryan Lidge delivered a two-run double as the Dogs sent 13 men to the plate.
Sioux Falls responded with three runs in the top of the seventh thanks to a three-run homer by Ozzie Martinez, his third of the season. In the ninth, Sioux Falls rallied looking to get back into the game. Nick Gotta doubled home a run and Jabari Henry followed with his second homerun of the game, a three-run shot to make it a 12-9 game. However, Justin Goossen-Brown was able to get the final out to finish off the victory.
Henry finished 2-5 with two runs scored and five RBI for the Canaries. Gavin LaValley had four hits and Martinez was also 2-5, scoring two runs and driving in three. K.C. Hobson had three hits and drove home to for the Dogs. Grier was 2-5 with three runs scored and three RBI.
Monarchs Complete Sweep Behind Adams Homer
The Kansas City Monarchs completed their sweep of the Lincoln Saltdogs on Wednesday, winning 9-3. Matt Adams homered and drove in three runs for Kansas City and J.C. Escarra also went deep for the Monarchs who earned their sixth straight victory.
Kansas City took the lead in the bottom of the first inning on a two-run single by Gabriel Guerrero. Two innings later Adams extended the lead to five, blasting a three-run homer for his fifth homerun of the season. Lincoln pulled within three in the top of the fourth thanks to a two-run single by Eddy Martinez, but Escarra led off the bottom half of the inning with his second homer of the year. David Thompson added a triple in the bottom of the fifth to score Adams and he came home on a Pete Kozma double. Josh Altmann homered to lead off the sixth, but Kansas City added one more run in the bottom of the eighth to complete the three-game sweep.
Jon Harris earned the victory, allowing three runs in 6.0 innings. Garett Delano took the loss.
Lincoln Saltdogs Recap by Michael Dixon
Kansas City Monarchs Recap by Kaitlyn Sanders
Racusin Delivers Walk-Off Hit in 10th for RailCats
Zac Racusin drove home the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Gary SouthShore RailCats a 2-1 victory over the Lake Country DockHounds. Gary took the lead in the bottom of the third inning when M.J. Rookard doubled home Jackson Smith.
Chris Erwin started for the RailCats and was outstanding, tossing five shutout innings. Josh Vincent came on in the sixth, and delivered 2.1 innings of scoreless relief, but the DockHounds tied the score in the top of the ninth against Carlos Vega, as Tristen Carranza scored on a wild pitch, sending this game to extra innings. However, it did not last long as the RailCats loaded the bases before the winning hit by Racusin.
The loss spoiled a spectacular performance by Alex McRae, who allowed one run in 7.0 innings, striking out 10. T.J. Bennett and Carranza each had two hits for the DockHounds. Daniel Lingua also had two hits for Gary.
Lake Country DockHounds Recap by Sam Matheny
Gary SouthShore RailCats Recap by Ryan Zimmerman
Boxscore
Three Stars of the Night
No. 3 – Kevin McCanna (Sioux City Explorers) 6.2 IP, 6 H, ER, 2 B himB, 4 K
No. 2 – Jabari Henry (Sioux Falls Canaries) 2-5, 2 R, 2 HR, 5 RBI
No. 1 – Alex McRae (Lake Country DockHounds) 7.0 IP, 4 H, BB, ER, 10 K
American Association Daily Notes
The Minor League Sports Report and This Week in the Association named Kansas City Monarchs third baseman David Thompson as the American Association Player of the Month for May. Thompson hit .369 with seven home runs and 22 RBI in 18 games… The Minor League Sports Report and This Week in the Association named Milwaukee Milkmen right-hander Myles Smith as the American Association Pitcher of the Month in May. Smith was 2-1 with a 2.16 ERA in four starts. He is the only pitcher to toss a complete-game shutout in the American Association this season… The Winnipeg Goldeyes swept their second double-header of the season… Sioux Falls Canaries outfielder Wyatt Ulrich saw his 16-game hitting streak come to an end on Tuesday. That is the longest streak in the American Association this season.
Transactions
Cleburne: Released OF Bryce Brueggemeyer; Signed RHP Calvin Bush, RHP Jacob Garcia and RHP Austen Seidel
Gary SouthShore: Released OF K.V. Edwards
Kane County: Placed OF Bryce Brentz on the Inactive List retroactive to May 14; Signed C Milton Perez
Sioux City: Signed C John Anthon
By Robert Pannier
