Explorers Sweep Double-Header, RailCats Complete Sweep, Wereski Dazzles Railroaders
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 the seven games in the American Association on Sunday, including the Gary SouthShore RailCats completing their sweep of the Winnipeg Goldeyes, the Sioux City Explorers sweep a double-header with the Sioux Falls Canaries, and the Lincoln Saltdogs when the final contest of their series with the Cleburne Railroaders to split the four-game set. This and much more.
This Week in the Association and Minor League Sports Report Sponsored by PURE
Monarchs Complete Sweep of Apollos
Five pitchers combined to allow seven hits as the Kansas City Monarchs defeated the Houston Apollos, 2-0. This contest was scoreless to the bottom of the seventh when Kansas City got RBIs from Darnell Sweeney and Ibandel Isabel to give the pitching staff all the run support they needed. Carson LaRue made his first start since joining Kansas City and tossed three scoreless innings. Dalbert Siri earned his second victory of the season with a scoreless inning of relief and Jameson McGrane closed out the contest for his sixth save of the year.
Houston got two hits from both Aaron Takacs and Taylor Zeutenhorst. Auggie Martinez pitched very well, tossing six no-hit innings against the Monarchs before suffering the hard luck loss.
Kansas City Monarchs Recap by Nathan Enserro
Explorers Sweep Canaries in Double-Header
The Sioux City Explorers got five shutout innings from Patrick Ledet to help complete a double-header sweep of the Sioux City Explorers on Sunday. Ledet dominated the second contest, allowing two hits and three walks while striking out seven. Brandon Brosher came on to close out the contest for his fourth save of the season. Jose Sermo hit the big blow of the contest, hitting his 28th homer of the year, a two-run shot, and Sebastian Zawada added his 15th of the year.
That’s spoiled a solid performance by left-hander Ty Culbreth, who allowed one run on four hits and 5.0 innings pitched. Mitch Glasser had two hits.
In the first contest, Sioux Falls took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning only to watch the Explorers battled back with three in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead. However, the Canaries scored a run in the top of the seventh and it looked like this contest was headed for extra innings. Mitch Ghelfi had other ideas, driving home Blake Tiberi with the winning run to give Sioux City the walk-off victory. Ghelfi finished with two hits and two RBI. Brosher earned the victory.
Sioux Falls Canaries Recap by Joey Zanaboni
Sioux City Explorers Recap by Connor Ryan
Saltdogs Prevail to Earn Series Split
The Lincoln Saltdogs scored five runs over the final two frames to seal their 8-2 victory over the Cleburne Railroad. That gave Lincoln a split of the four-game series with Cleburne, the team they now trailed by 1.5 games for the second spot in the South Division standings. The Saltdogs got home runs from David Vidal, Skyler Weber, and Edgar Corcino. Ben Wereski was outstanding, allowing one run in five innings to earn the victory.
The loss spoiled the debut for Kevin Hilton, who allowed six runs in 6.1 innings pitched. Alay Lago and D.J. Peterson each homered as part of the two-hit performance.
Cleburne Railroaders Recap by Denning Gerig
Lincoln Saltdogs Recap by Michael Dixon
RailCats Complete Sweep of Goldeyes
Alec Olund and Michael Woodworth each had two hits, including a homerun, and drove in three as the Gary SouthShore RailCats completed their sweep of the Winnipeg Goldeyes with an 8-5 victory. Winnipeg opened the contest with three runs in the top of the first, but Gary responded with five runs over the next three innings and added three more in the sixth to secure the victory. John Sheaks earned his first victory of the season and Tasker Strobel came on to close out the game for his seventh save of the year.
Deon Stafford had two hits, scored two runs, and drove in a pair. Kevin Lachance had three hits for the Goldeyes.
Winnipeg Goldeyes Recap by Jason Young
Gary SouthShore RailCats Recap by Max Kelton
Milkmen Double Up Cougars
The Milwaukee Milkmen took a 3-0 lead then secured the victory with two runs in the bottom of the seventh on their way to a 6-3 win over the Kane County Cougars. Cole Sturgeon had two hits and drove in a pair of runs. Ryan Zimmerman earned the victory and Nate Hadley closed out the contest for his 12th save of the year.
Gavin LaValley went 1-3 with two runs and an RBI. Kacy Clemens reached base three times in the contest.
Four-Run Seventh Propels RedHawks
The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks scored four runs in the top of the seventh to defeat the Chicago Dogs, 6-1. Ryan Flores started and tossed just two innings, striking out five before leaving the game. Manuel Boscan drove in three in the decisive frame and Sam Dexter hit his sixth homerun of the season.
Chicago recorded just four hits in the contest. John Baker pitched well, allowing two runs and 4.2 innings but took the loss.
This Week in the Association and Minor League Sports Report Sponsored by PURE
Three Stars of the Night
No. 3 – Nick Franklin (Sioux City Explorers) 3-5, 2 R, RBI, BB
No. 2 – Edgar Corcino (Lincoln Saltdogs) 3-4, 2 R, HR, Double, 2 RBI
No. 1 – Alec Olund (Gary SouthShore RailCats) 2-4, R, HR, 3 RBI
This Week in the Association and Minor League Sports Report Sponsored by PURE
American Association Daily Notes
With their victory on Sunday, the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks clinched a playoff spot in the North Division…The Milwaukee Milkmen reduced their magic number to two to clinch the final spot in the North…The Kansas City Monarchs set a franchise record with their 63rd victory of the season. With seven games left in the season, the Monarchs have an outside chance of reaching the 70-win plateau…Both the single-season homerun and RBI records are still up for grabs. Currently, Adam Brett Walker II has 29 homers, two away from the American Association record. Kyle Martin and Jose Sermo both have 28. Ramon Hernandez and Martin both have 95 RBI, six away from the American Association record. Walker has 93.
This Week in the Association and Minor League Sports Report Sponsored by PURE
Transactions
Sioux City: Released RHP Danny Hrbek
Sioux Falls: Released LHP Brady Stover
Winnipeg: Released RHP Skyler Janisse
By Robert Pannier
