Monarchs Rally, Dogs Dominate, Holmberg’s Successful Return
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, Rob Pannier recaps six great games in the American Association on Friday, including David Holmberg dominating in his return to the American Association, leading the Lincoln Saltdogs to victory, Nick Green tosses a gem for the Chicago Dogs, and the Kansas City Monarchs rally to win a rain-shortened affair.
Game Recaps for Friday
Green Tosses Gem for Dogs
Nick Green saw his shutout bid end with two down in the ninth, but still came away with the victory as the Chicago Dogs defeated the Sioux Falls Canaries, 10-1. An error spoiled the shutout bid as the Dogs starter allowed four hits while striking out 10 in 8.2 innings.
The offense provided plenty of support for Green, scoring a run in the first, added three in the second, and four more in the fifth. They scored a single run in the sixth and seventh innings for good measure. Matt Bottcher had a two-run double in the second. Ryan Lidge led off the fifth with his fifth home run of the season and Luke Mangieri hit a three-run homer in the frame, his 10th of the year.
Bottcher reached base three times and scored three times. Lidge and Mangieri each had three hits. No player on the Canaries had more than one hit.
RailCats Rally to Defeat Cougars
The Gary SouthShore RailCats found themselves trailing by two after the Kane County Cougars scored three in the bottom of the fifth, however, they rallied for six unanswered runs to defeat the Cougars, 7-3. The RailCats scored three in the sixth, then added two more in the eighth and a run in the ninth to seal the win.
Kane County trailed by one heading into the bottom of the fifth but tied the score on bases loaded walk to Jonah Davis and a two-run double by J.D. Osborne. Gary SouthShore responded right away, scoring three in the top of the sixth. Jackson Valera made this a one-run game with a sacrifice fly and Jesus Marriaga put his team on top for good, hitting a two-run homer, his fifth of the season. In the eighth, LG Castillo and Francisco Del Valle delivered RBI singles.
The RailCats bullpen was fantastic, as five relievers each tossed a scoreless frame. Matt Leon earned the victory. Westin Muir suffered the loss. Castillo and Daniel Lingua each had two hits.
Holmberg Dazzles in Debut for Saltdogs
David Holmberg made a triumphant return to the American Association, allowing one run in six innings to lead the Lincoln Saltdogs to a 6-1 victory over the Sioux City Explorers. Holmberg helped the Milwaukee Milkmen to the championship in 2020, and was spectacular in his return, allowing four hits and two walks. Three relievers combined to finished off the contest with three scoreless innings.
Lincoln trailed by one heading into the bottom of second, but scored three to take the lead and added three more in the fifth. The Saltdogs hit three home runs in the game including Connor Panas and Drew Devine going back-to-back. Marshall Awtry hit a three-run homer.
Monarchs Rally to Down Goldeyes
The Kansas City Monarchs found themselves trailing by one entering the bottom of the seventh, but scored four runs to earn a 4-1 victory. The Winnipeg Goldeyes took the lead in the top of the third on an error and that looked like it was enough as Joey Matulovich blanked the Monarchs for six innings.
However, in the seventh, he came out and things turned quickly. A leadoff double and a single by Aaron Whitfield tied the score. An error moved Whitfield to third and he scored on a wild pitch to give the Monarchs to lead. Kansas City added two more runs in the inning, then the rains came to end the contest.
Jordan Martinson earned the win, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings. Cam Opps took the loss. Chris Herrmann was a perfect 3-3 and Jan Hernandez had three hits as well for the Monarchs. Armstrong and Miles Simington each had two hits for the Goldeyes.
Five-Run Third Propels Milkmen
The Milwaukee Milkmen scored five runs in the bottom of the third to start a run of seven unanswered runs as they defeated the Lake Country DockHounds, 11-3. The DockHounds scored five runs in the third on seven hits as Cam Balego gave his team the lead with a two-run single and three other players drove in runs in the frame.
In the eight, Lake Country finally got on the board thanks to a three-run homer by Nick Banks. However, Milwaukee put the game away, scoring four in the bottom of the frame. Balego had his second two-run single of the contest in the inning.
Balego finished with three hits, scored twice, and drove in four. Bryan Torres was 4-5 with three runs scored and two RBI. Demetrius Sims had three hits and Banks had two hits and drove in all three runs for the DockHounds.
Prime Sharp in RedHawks Victory
Correlle Prime continues to impress in his first season as a full-time starting pitching, this time allowing one run in 6.2 innings to lead the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks to a 3-2 victory over the Cleburne Railroaders. Prime gave up a leadoff triple in the fourth to Zach Nehrir who then scored on a ground out as the only run against the right-hander.
That put his team down by one, but Matt Goodheart tied the score in the top of the fourth when he leadoff with a home run. An inning later, Leobaldo Pina hit a two-run shot to make it 3-1. The Railroaders scored on more run in the eighth, but could not find the equalizer.
Alex DuBord came on to close out the game for his second save of the year. Nehrir had three hits and scored both runs for the Railroaders.
Three Stars of the Night
No. 3 – Cam Balego (Milwaukee Milkmen) 3-5, 2 R, 4 RBI
No. 2 – Joey Matulovich (Winnipeg Goldeyes) 6.0 IP, 6 H, 0 BB, 0 ER, 8 K
No. 1 – Nick Green (Chicago Dogs) 8.2 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 10 K
American Association Daily Notes
Kane County Cougars infielder Josh Allen has now reached base in 33 straight games, the longest streak in the league this season… Cougars right-hander Westin Muir lost the first game of his professional career. He won his first 10 decisions.
Transactions
Kane County: Released LHP Spencer Van Scoyoc
Lake Country: Signed RHP Sam Burton
American Association Stories at Minor League Sports Report
TWITA: Sioux City Explorers RHP Solomon Bates
Cleburne Railroaders OF Hill Alexander Named American Association Player of the Week
Sioux City Explorers RHP Solomon Bates Named American Association Pitcher of the Week
By Robert Pannier
