Milkmen Clip Monarchs, RailCats Edge RedHawks, Railroaders Rally Against Explorers
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 six games in the American Association on Saturday, including the Cleburne Railroaders stealing eight bases in a victory over the Sioux City Explorers, the Chicago Dogs bullpen shutting down the Lake Country DockHounds, and three pitchers dominating for the Gary SouthShore RailCats in their victory. This and much more.
Five-Run Fifth Too Much for Monarchs
The Milwaukee Milkmen scored five runs in the top of the fifth inning to earn a 7-4 victory over the Kansas City Monarchs. The score was tied to through the first four innings. David Thompson hit his 12th homerun of the season to stake the Monarchs to a 2-1 lead before Milwaukee was able to tie the score in the top of the fourth.
However, things changed quickly in the fifth as Milwaukee sent 10 men to the plate, scoring five runs on six hits. Dylan Kelly and Bryan Torres each delivered two-run singles in the frame. That was all the run support the Ryan Zimmerman needed, who allowed two runs in 5.0 innings. Kansas City was able to chip away at the lead, scoring runs in the sixth and seventh innings, including Jan Hernandez hitting his league-leading 14th homerun of the year. However, the Monarchs could not erase a three-run deficit.
Karch Kowalczyk earned the save with a scoreless ninth inning. Correlle Prime had three hits for Milwaukee. Mason Davis and Aaron Hill each scored two runs and had two hits. Willie Abreu had two hits and two RBI for the Monarchs.
Kansas City Monarchs Recap by Kailtyn Saunders
Bullpen Shines in Dogs Win over DockHounds
The Chicago Dogs received seven outstanding innings out of their bullpen on Saturday as they defeated the Lake Country DockHounds, 7-3. The Chicago bullpen allowed six hits and one unearned run while striking out four to lead the way. Paul Schwendel earned the victory, tossing 1.2 innings of scoreless relief.
Chicago held a 1-0 lead coming out of the bottom of the first inning, but Lake Country scored two in the second and one in the third to take the lead. It looked like the DockHounds were in command, but the Dogs took over from there, scoring a run in the fourth, then two in the sixth and three in the eighth to clinch the victory.
Grant Kay homered as part of a two-hit performance. Danny Mars and Charlie Tilson also had two hits apiece. Tristen Carranza hit his third homerun of the season for the DockHounds. Chuck Taylor took the loss, allowing two runs in 1.0 innings of relief.
Lake Country DockHounds Recap by Sam Matheny
Chicago Dogs Recap by Michael Barthelemy
Railroaders Rally to Down Explorers
The Cleburne Railroaders found themselves trailing 4-0 coming out of the first inning, but responded with eight unanswered runs on their way to an 8-4 victory over the Sioux City Explorers. Sioux City looked like they were to take command of this game, sending nine men to the plate in the first inning, scoring four runs on three hits. That included a two-run single by John Anthon that made it 4-0.
Zach Hedges was in command for the Explorers, shutting Cleburne down for the first three innings. However, in the fourth, Cleburne finally broke through, scoring two runs, including Zach Nehrir stealing home to cut the deficit to two. Two innings later, Jacob Bockelie blasted a three-run homer to give Cleburne the lead. The Railroaders added one more in the seventh and two in the ninth to seal the victory.
Garrett Alexander recovered nicely after allowing the four runs in the first inning, allowing one hit over the next five innings while striking out seven. Nehrir finished with three hits and scored two runs and Chase Simpson had two hits and two RBI.
Sioux City Explorers Recap by Connor Ryan
RailCats Pitchers Clip RedHawks
Three pitchers combined to allow one run on six hits as the Gary SouthShore RailCats defeated the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, 2-1. Chris Erwin earned a no-decision, but pitched very well, allowing one run in 5.1 innings. Josh Vincent came on in the sixth and tossed 2.2 meetings of perfect relief to earn the victory. Aaron Phillips finished off the contest to earn his third save of the season.
Gary took the lead in the bottom of the first inning when Michael Woodworth came home and a fielder’s choice. The lead held into the fifth when the RedHawks tied the score on a double down the left field line by Leobaldo Pina. In the six, the RailCats took the lead for good as Zach Welz single and Chris Burgess to make it 2-1. The Gary made the lead hold from there.
Alec Olund had two hits for Gary Southshore. Drew Ward had two hits to increase his batting average to .395.
Gary Southshore RailCats Recap by Ryan Zimmerman
Goldeyes Score Five in the Fourth to Down Saltdogs
The Winnipeg Goldeyes found themselves trailing 3-2 entering the fourth inning, but scored five runs in the bottom of the frame on their way to a 10-4 victory over the Lincoln Saltdogs. Deon Stafford had given Winnipeg a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning, but Lincoln responded with two runs in the top of the third thanks to a two-run single by Josh Altmann.
That set up the decisive fourth inning, where the Goldeyes sent 10 men to the plate. Hidekel Gonzalez gave his team the lead for good with a two-run single. Kevin Lachance went 3-4 with two runs and an RBI and Raul Navarro, Ian Sagdal, Gonzalez, and Stafford each drove in two runs for Winnipeg. Luis Ramirez earned the victory and Tasker Strobel came on to earn his eighth save of the season.
Altmann finished with three RBI and Randy Norris and Skyler Weber each went 2-4 with two runs scored for the Saltdogs.
Lincoln Saltdogs Recap by Michael Dixon
Winnipeg Goldeyes Recap by Steve Schuster
Canaries Rally to Down Cougars in 10
The Sioux Falls Canaries scored single runs in the first two innings in the last two innings of Saturday night’s contest, earning a 4-3 victory over the Kane County Cougars in 10 innings. The Canaries took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a single by Gavin LaValley and extended the lead to two in the top of the second when Jabari Henry drew a bases-loaded walk. However, Kane County battled back to take the lead, scoring a run in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by Steve Lombardozzi and a single by Jimmy Kerrigan in the seventh.
The Cougars looked like they were going to pull off the come-from-behind victory, but Henry tied the score in the top of the ninth on an RBI double, sending this game to extra innings. That is where Angelo Altavilla delivered a run-scoring double of his own, giving Sioux Falls a 4-3 victory.
Steve Ledesma earned the victory and Riley Ferrell came on in the 10th to earn the save. Wyatt Ulrich had two hits and scored a run. Robert Barham scored two runs for Sioux Falls. Kane County received two hits from Lombardozzi and Josh Rolette.
Three Stars of the Night
No. 3 – Josh Vincent (Gary Southshore RailCats) 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 ER, K
No. 2 – Kevin Lachance (Winnipeg Goldeyes) 3-4, 2 R, RBI
No. 1 – Zach Nehrir (Cleburne Railroaders) 3-4, 2 R, RBI
American Association Daily Notes
Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks IF Drew Ward extended his consecutive on-base streak to 32 straight games on Saturday evening… Gary SouthShore RailCats RHP Josh Vincent and Winnipeg Goldeyes RHP Luis Ramirez each earned their fourth straight victories on Saturday, tying them with Kansas City Monarchs LHP Matt Hall for the longest winning streak the season… The Cleburne Railroaders stole eight bases on Saturday falling one short of tying the American Association record set on three occasions, ironically most recently on July 27, 2019 when the Sioux City Explorers achieved the feat.
Transactions
Chicago: Activated RHP Mickey Jannis from the Injured List
Fargo-Moorhead: Signed RHP Tanner Riley
Gary SouthShore: RHP Carlos Vega signed with Monclova (Mexican League); Signed RHP Ryan Campbell
Kane County: Activated RHP Vance Worley from the Injured List; Signed RHP Frank Rubio
Lake Country: Placed RHP Alex McRae on the Injured List retroactive to June 13; Placed RHP Devin Beckley on the Injured List; Activated RHP Cory Taylor from the Inactive List; Signed RHP Greg Veliz
By Robert Pannier
