Hernandez Remains Red Hot, Explorers Sweep Monarchs, Dogs Rally to Down Saltdogs
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 five games in the American Association on Sunday, including the Sioux City Explorers winning and walk-off fashion to sweep the Kansas City Monarchs, Ryan Hernandez homers for the third time to lead the Cleburne Railroaders to victory, and the Chicago Dogs Rally to twice to defeat the Lincoln Saltdogs.
Game Recaps for Sunday
Lujano Walk-Off Single Helps Dogs Complete Comeback
Jesus Lujano him drove home two in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Chicago Dogs a 9-8 come from behind victory over the Lincoln Saltdogs. Lincoln carried a 6-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning, but a three-run homer off the bat of former Lincoln slugger Josh Altmann tied the score, sending this game to extra innings.
The Saltdogs took the lead in the top half of the inning, plating two. However, an error pulled Chicago within one before Lujano delivered the game-winning hit. Steffon Moore took the loss, giving up three runs on two hits without recording an out. Jonathan Tripp earned the victory.
Altmann reached base four times in the contest, scoring two runs and driving in three. Connor Panas and Nick Anderson each had three hits for Lincoln. Panas also scored three runs and Aaron Takacs drove in three.
Lincoln Saltdogs Recap by Michael Dixon
Explorers Walk-Off Monarchs to Complete Sweep
Matt Lloyd came home on a sacrifice fly by Wilfredo Gimenez in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Sioux City Explorers a 2-1 walk-off victory over the Kansas City Monarchs. The victory gave Sioux City a sweep of the three-game series, holding Kansas City to just two total runs in the set off seven total hits.
Austin Drury started for Sioux City and gave up a run in the top of the first inning when he allowed the first three men of the contest to reach base. Jan Hernandez then hit into a double play that gave Kansas City the lead. That lead held through the first five innings, as Brandon Finnegan allowed just two hits through the first five innings. However, he came out in the sixth and Sioux City tied the score on an error.
The game remained tied until the bottom of the ninth inning. Kansas City reliever Carlos Sanabria gave up a leadoff walk to Lloyd and Jack Kelly followed with a single. A miscue by the first baseman allowed Lloyd to move the third. After an intentional walk, Gimenez hit a 3-1 pitch to left field, easily scoring Lloyd with the game-winner. Sean Rackoski earned the victory with two scoreless innings of relief.
Kansas City Monarchs Recap by Carter Woodiel
Sioux City Explorers Recap by Dan Vaughan, Jr.
Hernandez Homers to Lead Railroaders
Ryan Hernandez homered for the third time this season as the Cleburne Railroaders defeated the Sioux Falls Canaries, 8-4. It was another early onslaught that led Cleburne the victory, as the team scored seven unanswered runs to start the contest, including three in the first and third innings. Zach Nehrir got things going with a three-run homer in the first, his second of the season, and Hernandez delivered a three-run blast in the third, his third home run of the year.
Sioux Falls battled back with a run in the fourth and one in the fifth before the Railroaders scored their eighth run of the game in the seventh inning. Once again, Sioux Falls continued to battle, scoring two in the bottom of the seventh. However, they could get no closer.
Hernandez finished with two hits, two runs, and three RBI while Nehrir reached base four times, scored two runs, and drove in three. Kody Bullard earned the victory, allowing two runs in 5.2 innings. Mike Hart had three hits, including two doubles for the Canaries. He had two RBI as well.
Sioux Falls Canaries Recap by Tanner Hoops
RailCats Take Rubber Match
The Gary SouthShore RailCats closed out their three-game set with the Winnipeg Goldeyes on Sunday, earning an 8-2 victory. Chris Erwin was spectacular for the RailCats, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out eight in 5.1 innings.
Erwin had shut out Winnipeg through the first five innings, but the Goldeyes were finally able to get on the board with two runs in the top of the sixth. They had trailed by three entering that inning, but Gary SouthShore responded with two in the bottom half of the inning, then scoring a run in the seventh and adding two more in the eighth.
Jesus Marriaga continues his torrid start, going 2-5 with two doubles and two RBI. Sam Abbott and Michael Woodworth also had two hits. Najee Gaskins had two hits for the Goldeyes.
Winnipeg Goldeyes Recap by Jason Young
Gary SouthShore RailCats Recap by Ryan Zimmerman
Milkmen-Dockhounds Postponed
The contest between the Milwaukee Milkmen and the Lake Country DockHounds was postponed because of inclement weather. The contest will be made up at 1:35 on July 31. Milwaukee had won the first two games of the series.
Three Stars of the Night
No. 3 – Ryan Hernandez (Cleburne Railroaders) 2-4, 2 R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, BB
No. 2 – Zach Nehrir (Cleburne Railroaders) 1-2, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR, 3 BB, SB
No. 1 – Josh Altmann (Chicago Dogs) 1-2, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR, BB, 2 HBP
American Association Daily Notes
After scoring two runs in the opening contest of their four-game set against the Sioux Falls Canaries, the Cleburne Railroaders scored 45 runs over the final three games, including 19 on Saturday evening… The Railroaders stole six bases on Sunday afternoon. The team leads the American Association in stolen bases (10) … There is only one game on Monday. The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks will welcome the Winnipeg Goldeyes. The RedHawks will raise their American Association Championship banner… The Kansas City Monarchs scored just two runs in their three-game set against the Sioux City Explorers. Kansas City closed the weekend with a .091 batting average and did not record an extra-base hit in the three-game set… The Chicago Dogs earned the first extra inning victory of the season, defeating Lincoln on Sunday in 10, 9-8.
Transactions
Chicago: Signed OF General McArthur IV; Released C Anthony Alvarez
Kane County: Signed C J.D. Osborne
Lake Country: Placed LHP Evan Kruczynski on the Injured List retroactive to May 13
Sioux City: Signed RHP Jesús Valles
By Robert Pannier
