Hall Dominates, Schugel Tames Dogs, Railroaders Win First Playoff Game
Featured Image Courtesy of 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, Robert Pannier recaps the four games in the American Association on Wednesday as Round 1 of the American Association playoffs get underway, including the Winnipeg Goldeyes crushing the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, Matt Hall dominating for the Kansas City Monarchs, and the Milwaukee Milkmen win a nailbiter. This, plus much more.
Kevin Luckow and Rob Pannier recap the Game 1s in Round 1 on This Week in the Association.
Game Recaps for Wednesday
Schugel Tames Dogs in Series Opener
A.J. Schugel allowed one run in six innings to lead the Milwaukee Milkmen to a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Dogs. Schugel was spectacular in this game, giving up a one out single in the first, then retiring 13 straight before giving up a two out triple in the top of the fifth. Cody Bohanek followed with an RBI single to break the scoreless run by the Milwaukee starter.
The Milkmen gave Schugel a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Aaron Hill led off with a walk, but Chicago starter Jeff Kinley struck out the next two batters. Jeremiah Burks was able to keep the inning alive with a single, and Bryan Torres was hit by a pitch to load the bases. That brought Logan Trowbridge to the plate, who doubled down the line in left field. Both Hill and Burks easily scored, but Torres was thrown out at the plate.
Peyton Gray and Frankie Bartow each tossed a scoreless frame for the Milkmen, allowing a hit while striking out two. Rodrigo Benoit came on in the ninth and hit the first batter he faced, but then retired the next three in order, striking out two to earn the save.
Schugel allowed three hits and no walks in six innings, striking out five. Kinley allowed two runs on four hits while striking out six. Trowbridge had both RBI for the Milkmen.
Chicago Dogs Recap by Matthew Barthelemy
Five-Run Third Propels Goldeyes
The Winnipeg Goldeyes scored five runs in the bottom of the third to take a commanding lead on their way to a 6-3 victory over the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. Fargo-Moorhead took the lead in the top of the second when John Silviano led off with a homerun. However, Winnipeg rallied against RedHawks starter Kevin McGovern in the bottom of the third, scoring five runs on four hits.
A walk and a single started off the inning before Raul Navarro tied the score with an RBI single. Max Murphy followed with a double that put the Goldeyes on top for good. After Navarro scored on a fielder’s choice, Logan Hill hit the ball back to the mound. McGovern went home, but his throw was wild, allowing Murphy to score. Jacob Rhinesmith followed with a sacrifice fly to put Winnipeg in a commanding position.
The RedHawks rallied for runs in the eighth and ninth. Drew Ward homered in the eighth and Evan Alexander had an RBI triple in the ninth. However, Landen Bourassa was spectacular for the Goldeyes, allowing one run on four hits in seven innings. Reggie Pruitt scored two runs and Murphy and Deon Stafford each had two hits. Silviano reached base three times for the RedHawks.
Winnipeg Goldeyes Recap by Steve Schuster
Hall Dominates for Monarchs
Matt Hall continued his dominance, tossing seven shutout innings as the Kansas City Monarchs defeated the Lincoln Saltdogs, 5-2. Hall gave up a leadoff single to start the contest, then retired 20 of the next 21 batters, with a two hour walk in the third being the only blemish during that streak. The left-hander left after seven innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out eight.
Greg Minier was pitching nearly as well for Lincoln. He gave up a two-out homerun in the top of the first to Ryan Grojohn, then shut down the Monarchs for the next five innings. However, Kansas City extended their lead in the seventh. A two run double by Pete Kozma made it a 3-0 game. A passed ball and an RBI single by Mallex Smith extended the lead to five.
Lincoln was shut down until the ninth when they rallied against closer Jameson McGrane. A pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases for Nate Samson, who drilled a two-run single to center. Alex Valdez then came on, striking out Josh Altmann before getting Welington Dotel to groundout to end the game. Valdez earned the save.
Kansas City Monarchs Recap by Dan Vaughan, Jr.
Lincoln Saltdogs Recap by Michael Dixon
Bullard, Bullpen Shut Down Cougars
Kody Bullard allowed just one run in five innings, and the bullpen did the rest as the Cleburne Railroaders defeated the Kane County Cougars, 3-1. Kane County jumped in front in the top of the third on an RBI double by Cornelius Randolph, but Bullard shut down the Cougars from there, allowing two hits while striking out five.
The Railroaders tied the score in the bottom of the fourth against Kane County starter Vance Worley when Chase Simpson drilled his first homerun of the postseason. Two innings later, the Railroaders jumped on top. RBI singles by Zach Nehrir and Simpson made it 3-1. Kevin McCarthy tossed two scoreless innings, earning the victory. Austin Fairchild came on in the eighth, striking out two, and Nick Gardewine struck out to with the ninth to earn his first postseason save.
Simpson finished with two hits and two RBI, and Nehrir and Edwin Arroyo each had two hits as well. Kane County produced just three hits in the game.
Three Stars of the Night
No. 3 – Landen Bourassa (Winnipeg Goldeyes) 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, ER, 3 K
No. 2 – A.J. Schugel (Milwaukee Milkmen) 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, ER, 5 K
No. 1 – Matt Hall (Kansas City Monarchs) 7.0 IP, H, BB, 0 ER, 8 K
American Association Daily Notes
Winnipeg Goldeyes outfielder Max Murphy left Wednesday night’s game in the third inning after a collision at the plate. His immediate status is not known… The Cleburne Railroaders earned their first playoff victory in franchise history.
Transactions
Chicago: Activated OF Danny Mars and RHP Kyle Murphy from the Inactive List
Cleburne: Activated RHP Zac Reininger from the Inactive List; Activated RHP Jordan Foley from the Injured List
Kane County: Activated RHP Vance Worley (Veteran) from the Inactive List
Lake Country: Traded C Daniel Martins-Molinari to Ogden (Pioneer League) for a player to be named later
Sioux City: Released C Dylan Kelly
Sioux Falls: Exercised the 2023 contract options on the following players: INF Angelo Altavilla, OF Connor Blair, C Shamoy Christopher, LHP Ty Culbreth, RHP Matt Dunaway, RHP Nate Garkow, RHP Tyler Garkow, INF Nick Gotta, INF Zane Gurwitz, RHP Charlie Hasty, OF Jabari Henry, RHP Christian Johnson, LHP Neil Lang, RHP Tony Lanier, INF Gavin LaValley, RHP Stevie Ledesma, INF Osvaldo Martinez, INF Trey Michalczewski, C John Nester, LHP Cesilio Pimentel, RHP Joe Pulido, OF Kona Quiggle, OF Aaron Takacs, OF Wyatt Ulrich, RHP Mitchell Walters and RHP Colby Wyatt
Winnipeg: Placed LHP Alex Hart on the Injured List; Activated RHP Landen Bourassa from the Inactive List
By Robert Pannier
