RedHawks Clinch, Explorers Sweep, Culbreth Dominates for Canaries

Robert Pannier September 2, 2023

Photo Credit: 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, Rob Pannier recaps the seven games in the American Association on Friday, including the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks winning to earn the final playoff spot in the West Division, the Sioux City Explorers sweep a double-header against the Chicago Dogs, and the Lincoln Saltdogs are eliminated from playoff contention.

Game Recaps for Friday

Culbreth Keeps Railroaders Derail

Ty Culbreth allowed one run in six innings as the Sioux Falls Canaries defeated the Cleburne Railroaders, 5-2. This was an outstanding pitchers’ duel that saw the Railroaders hold a one advantage through the first five innings. Johnathon Tripp shut out Sioux Falls through the first five innings while Culbreth only allowed a single run in the fourth. That came on a Bret Boswell led off with his 13th homer of the year.

Tripp retired the first nine batters of the game and allowed just two hits to the first five frames, but things fell apart in the sixth when a double and two walks loaded the bases for Trevor Achenbach, who cleared them with a three-run double. The Railroaders got one of those runs back in the seventh on an RBI single by him, but the Canaries put this game away in the top of the eighth on a two run double by Hunter Clanin.

Culbreth earned his seventh victory of the season and Charlie Hasty came on in the ninth to earn his 22nd save of the season. Jordan Barth and Jabari Henry both scored two runs and had two hits, and Hernandez and Zach Nehrir had two hits for Cleburne.

Boxscore

Seven-Run Fourth Helps Monarchs Crush DockHounds

The Kansas City Monarchs took command of their game against the Lake Country DockHounds, scoring seven runs in the bottom of the fourth on their way to a 12-4 victory. Kansas City hit four home runs in the game, including LJ Hatch hitting his fourth home run of the season as part of a three-hit, three run, three RBI performance. Miller Hogan earned the victory, allowing one run in seven innings.

Kansas City held a 2-1 lead heading to the bottom of the fourth, when the team exploded for seven runs on seven hits, sending 11 men to the plate. Hatch had a two run double and Odubel Herrera followed with a two-run homer. Brian O’Grady also hit a two-run homer in the frame. The Monarchs added three more in the seventh with Andy Yerzy hitting a two-run home run and Hatch following with a solo shot. In the eighth, Marek Chlup hit a three-run homer for the DockHounds, his ninth of the season to close out the scoring.

Kansas City Monarchs Recap by Nolan Brooks

Boxscore

Pilot Sends RedHawks Soaring Past Goldeyes

Kelvan Pilot allowed two runs in seven-plus innings, but it took a late rally by the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks for them to defeat the Winnipeg Goldeyes, 4-2. Garrett Alexander earned the victory and Reza Aleaziz tossed a scoreless ninth for his 11th save of the season.

The RedHawks jumped out to a two-run advantage, scoring a run in the first and third innings. Dillon Thomas hit a solo home run in the first and he added an RBI single in the third. Pilot completely shut down the Goldeyes through the first seven, but gave up a walk and a double to start the eighth before his evening was over. The double made this a one run game and the Goldeyes tied the score on a sacrifice fly. Fargo-Moorhead responded in the bottom of the eighth as Scott Schreiber gave his team the lead for good, drilling a solo home run, his 11th of the season, and Thomas added his third RBI of the day, an RBI double.

Thomas finished with three hits, the only player to have more than one hit in the contest. The teams produced 10 total hits. Joey Matulovich earned a no decision for the Goldeyes, allowing two runs in seven innings.

Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks Recap by Chad Miller

Boxscore

Milkmen Hold Off RailCats

The Milwaukee Milkmen jumped out to a four-run lead, then held off a late rally as they defeated the Gary SouthShore RailCats, 5-3. Jack Mahoney earned the victory, allowing a run in five innings while striking out six for his first victory of the year.

The RailCats took the lead in the top of the third on an RBI single by Thomas Greely. Milwaukee immediately responded in the bottom half of the inning as Michael Crouse tied the score with an RBI single and Gabriel Cancel followed with a three-run homer, his 13th of the year. An inning later, the Milkmen extended the lead to four on a base hit by Roy Morales. The RailCats were shut down since scoring in the third, but finally got on the board in the ninth to cut the deficit to two. The tying run was at the plate, but Nate Hadley was able to strikeout Greely to end the contest.

Morales and Crouse finished with two hits for the Milkmen and four players had two hits for Gary SouthShore, including Greely.

Gary SouthShore RailCats Recap by Ryan Zimmerman

Boxscore

Explorers Sweep Dogs

The Sioux City Explorers earned a sweep of their double-header with the Chicago Dogs on Friday, earning spectacular pitching performances in both victories. In the first game, Mitchell Verburg allowed one run in six innings to earn his sixth victory of the year and Sean Rackoski struck out to win the final frame for his 20th save of the year.

Sioux City took the lead in the top of the first, scoring two on a two-run homer by Matt Lloyd, his 13th of the year. Chicago cut the deficit to one in the second on an RBI single by Matt Bottcher, but Sioux City extended the lead to three in the fifth when Scott Ota delivered an RBI double and he scored on a sacrifice fly.

Game 1 Boxscore

In the second game, Chicago held a one run lead after two, but Sioux City jumped out in front in the third, scoring three runs on two hits. Lloyd had an RBI double and Tyler Rando hit a two-run shot, his second of the year. The Dogs cut the deficit to one on an RBI double by Jesus Lujano, but Carlos Diaz came on to retire the final eight batters of the game to earn his first victory of the year.

Game 2 Boxscore

Sioux City Explorers Recap by Dan Vaughan, Jr.

Saltdogs Edge Cougars m 11

The Lincoln Saltdogs scored two runs in the top of the 11th, then held on for a 4-3 victory over the Kane County Cougars. This was a great pitcher’s duel between C. J. Eldred and Josh Roeder. Eldred allowed one run in eight innings while Roeder gave up a single run in five frames.

That had the game knotted at one, sending it to extra innings. In the 10th, both teams scored a run, and Lincoln took the lead for good in the top of the 11th. The Cougars would not go away, cutting the deficit to one in the bottom half of the frame, but Wyatt Sparks got the final three outs for his second save. R.J. Freure earned the victory.

Connor Panas had three hits and drove in two runs for Lincoln. Cornelius Randolph had four hits and Olivier Basabe three for Lincoln.

Lincoln Saltdogs Recap by Michael Dixon

Boxscore

Three Stars of the Night

No. 3 – Kelvan Pilot (Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks) 7.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, BB, 6 K

No. 2 – Miller Hogan (Kansas City Monarchs) 7.0 IP, 7 H him, BB, ER, 6 K

No. 1 – C.J. Eldred (Kane County Cougars) 8/0 IP, 4 H, ER, 0 BB, 6 K

American Association Daily Notes

The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks clinched the final playoff spot in the West Division. That eliminated the Lincoln Saltdogs… The Kane County Cougars can clinch a playoff berth with a victory on Saturday or a loss by the Lake Country DockHounds.

Transactions

Fargo-Moorhead: Activated C B.J. Lopez from the Inactive List; Placed INF Peter Brookshaw on the Inactive List retroactive to August 17