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 two games in the American Association on Wednesday as Game 2s in the division finals were played, including the Milwaukee Milkmen defeating the Cleburne Railroaders to advance to the American Association Championship series and the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks defeat the Kansas City Monarchs to force a decisive Game 3. This, plus much more.

Kevin Luckow and Rob Pannier recap the Game 2s in the division finals on Monday on This Week in the Association.

Game Recaps for Wednesday

Zimmerman Dominates to Help Milkmen Advance

Ryan Zimmerman had a disappointing regular season by his standards, but shined when it mattered most, tossing 5.2 innings of shutout ball, striking out 12 to help lead the Milwaukee Milkmen to a 2-1 victory over the Cleburne Railroaders. The victory eliminated Cleburne, allowing Milwaukee to advance to the American Association Championship Series for the second time in franchise history.

This was a great contest between Zimmerman and Railroaders starter Kevin Hilton. The teams combined for just one run through the first seven innings, with Milwaukee scoring in the bottom of the first when Aaron Hill came on a Hilton wild pitch to make it 1-0.

Zimmerman was rolling through the first five innings, recording 11 of the 15 outs on strikeouts. Cleburne had just one hit through the first five, a Zach Nehrir two-out double in first, but the Milwaukee right-hander retired 10 in a row at one point. That streak came to an end in the sixth when Mitch Ghelfi led off with a walk and advanced to third on a double by Nehrir with two down. Frankie Bartow took over, getting Chase Simpson to groundout to end the inning.

The Milkmen added a run in the eighth. Carl Chester led off with a double. Hilton struck out Jeremiah Burks and Austin Fairchild took over Cleburne right-hander. Fairchild struck out Bryan Torres, but gave up a double to Logan Trowbridge to make it 2-0. Will Kengor followed with an infield single. Trowbridge tried to score on plate, but was thrown out at the plate on a great play by Edwin Arroyo.

That sent the game to the ninth. Rodrigo Benoit took over and was greeted by a base hit by Nehrir, his third hit of the game. Benoit struck out Simpson, but Kacy Clemens drilled a double to the wall that brought Nehrir all the way around to score. The Railroaders were within one, but the Milkmen closer got two pop outs to end the game, sending Milwaukee on to the finals.

Zimmerman earned the victory, allowing no runs on two hits and 5.2 innings. Benoit earned the save. Hilton was the hard luck loser, allowing two runs in 7.1 innings.

Boxscore

RedHawks Rally to Down Monarchs

The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks kept their playoff hopes alive, rallying to down the Kansas City Monarchs on Wednesday, 8-5. The victory tied the series, forcing a decisive Game 3 on Thursday.

The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks jumped out in front in the top of the first as a groundout by Leobaldo Pina brought home Peter Maris. Kansas City responded with two runs in the second. Jan Hernandez walked with one down against RedHawks starter Tyler Grauer and Casey Gillaspie followed with a base hit. An error allowed Hernandez to score and Gillaspie came home on a base hit by Pete Kozma to make it 2-1.

In the third, Kansas City extended the lead to two when Hernandez singled to drive home Darnell Sweeney. Kansas City had the bases-loaded with two down, but Grauer got out of the jam, getting J.C. Escarra to fly out to end the threat.

The RedHawks were being shut down by Kansas City starter Nick Belzer through the first five, but tied the score in the top of the sixth. John Silviano walked with one down Manuel Boscan followed with a two-run blast to tie the score at three. An inning later, Fargo-Moorhead took the lead. With Brandon Koch on for the Monarchs, Sam Dexter walked but it looked like the inning would end quickly when Koch retired the next two batters. Drew Ward kept the inning alive, drawing a walk. Pina hit a ball to first to Gillaspie who misplayed the ball, loading the bases. Silviano followed with a base hit that drove home two and Fargo-Moorhead had a 5-3 lead.

The advantage did not last long, however, as Kansas City tied the score in the bottom of the seventh. Ryan Grotjohn homered with one down to pull the Monarchs within one. Jacob Robson then drew a walk, stole second, and scored on a Gillaspie double.

Fargo-Moorhead retook the lead in the top of the eighth. Jeremy Rhodes came on for the Monarchs and walked Alec Olund. A sacrifice moved him in scoring position, setting up Dexter to put his team back on top, as he delivered an RBI single to make it 6-5. Dexter moved to second on a stolen base before Christian Correa was hit by a pitch to put two on with one down, but Rhodes got out of the jam by inducing Maris to hit into a double play.

The RedHawks added two more runs in the ninth. A leadoff walk and a single put two on with no one out for Silviano, who singled to drive home Ward. Silviano was thrown out at second on a questionable call, but Olund delivered a clutch two-out single to drive home Pina to extend the lead to three. Alex DuBord, who had come on of the eighth, remained in the ninth to earn his first save. DuBord allowed no hits and two walks while striking out two. Brady Stover earned the victory.

Boscan had three hits and drove in two runs Silviano had two hits and drove in three. Ward scored two runs. Grotjohn and Gillaspie each had two hits for the Monarchs.

Kansas City Monarchs Recap by Adam Cook

Boxscore

Three Stars of the Night

No. 3 – A.J. Schugel (Milwaukee Milkmen) 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 BB, 0 ER, 6 K

No. 2 – J.C. Escarra (Kansas City Monarchs) 1-1, R, Pinch-Hit, Game-Winning Homerun, 3

No. 1 – Miguel Gomez (Milwaukee Milkmen) 3-4, 2 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI

American Association Daily Notes

The Milwaukee Milkmen advance to the American Association Championship Series for the second time in franchise history. The team won the title in 2020… Milwaukee Milkmen right-hander Ryan Zimmerman struck out 12 batters on Wednesday. That fell one short of tying the American Association record for strikeouts in a playoff game. Milwaukee struck out 16 overall.

Transactions

Kane County: Released RHP Michael Morin, RHP Keith Rogalla and RHP Vance Worley

Milwaukee: Placed RHP Karch Kowalczyk on the Injured List retroactive to August 20; Activated INF Mason Davis from the Inactive List

By Robert Pannier