Walraven Hits Two Grand Slams, Cleburne Sweeps, Monarchs Tie for First
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 seven games in the American Association on Sunday, including Thomas Walraven hitting two grand slams for the Gary SouthShore RailCats, the Kansas City Monarchs pull into a first-place tie with the Fargo-Morehead RedHawks, and the Lincoln Saltdogs set up a winner take all scenario on Monday. This, plus much more.
Game Recaps for Sunday
Walraven Sets Records in RailCats Thrashing
Thomas Walraven became the first player in American Association history to hit two grand slams in the same game in leading the Gary SouthShore RailCats to a 21-1 thrashing of the Milwaukee Milkmen. Walraven tied a league record with nine RBI.
Gary SouthShore took command of this game from the very start, scoring two runs in the first, six in the second and third, and two more in the fourth to jump out to a 16-0 lead. Walraven had a grand slam in the second then came back with his second grand slam of the day in the third.
That was clearly more than enough support for Edward Cuello who earned his third victory of the season, allowing one run in 5.1 innings. Walraven finished 4-6 with three runs and nine RBI. Michael Woodworth and Jackson Smith each scored four runs and had four hits. LG Castill0 had four hits and drove in five and Jesus Marriaga had two hits and drove in four. Jeremiah Burks said the lone RBI for Milwaukee.
Gary Southshore RailCats Recap by Ryan Zimmerman
Saltdogs Rally to Down Explorers
The Lincoln Saltdogs erased a two-run deficit, scoring three in the fifth and four in the eighth to defeat the Sioux City Explorers, 8-4. The victory moved Lincoln within one-game of Sioux City in the West Division standings, with the winner earning the final playoff spot in the division.
After the teams exchanged runs in the first, the Explorers took the lead in the third on an RBI ground out and extended their lead to two in the fourth when Miguel Sierra led off with his second homerun of the season. Lincoln had very few answers against Sioux City starter Nivaldo Rodriguez, but finally put things together in the fifth, scoring three runs to take the lead. Rayder Ascanio delivered an RBI single and Jason Rogers added a hit that scored to put the Saltdogs on top for good.
In the eighth, the Saltdogs put this game away, scoring four runs on just one hit. With two down, Brandon Brosher lost to the plate, walking three straight batters. Welington Dotel was then hit by a pitch. Nate Gercken came on and hit Justin Byrd to drive home another run and Ascanio followed with an RBI single that scored two.
Garret Delano earned the victory, allowing two earned runs in six innings. Matt Cronin got the final six outs for his third save of the year. Rogers and Ascanio each had two hits and drove in three for the Saltdogs. Gabe Snyder had three hits and scored two runs for Sioux City.
Lincoln Saltdogs Recap by Michael Dixon
Sioux City Explorers Recap by Connor Ryan
Monarchs Crush RedHawks to Tie for Top Record
The Kansas City Monarchs jumped out to a 9-0 lead on their way to a 12-3 victory over the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. The victory moved Kansas City into a first-place tie in the West Division, with the winner of Monday’s game finishing with the top record in the American Association.
Kansas City took command of this game in the bottom of the third, scoring four runs. Two innings later, the Monarchs added five and extended the lead to 12-1 before Fargo was able to score two in the top of the ninth.
Matt Hartman earned the victory, tossing six scoreless innings while striking out eight. Ryan Grotjohn had two hits, scored three runs, and drove in five. Jan Hernandez hit his 24th homerun of the season and drove in three. Ben Livorsi had two RBI and Nick Novak scored two runs for the RedHawks.
Kansas City Monarchs Recap by GMW Vaughan
Goldeyes Dominate Canaries
The Winnipeg Goldeyes scored a run of the first and four in the second on their way to an 8-3 victory over the Sioux Falls Canaries. Winnipeg took the lead in the bottom of the first but Sioux Falls tied the score in the top half of the second. The Goldeyes responded right away, scoring four in the bottom half of the inning. Ian Sagdal hit a bases clearing double and Max Murphy followed with an RBI single.
It was 5-2 in the six when Winnipeg put this game away. Reggie Pruitt drilled his 13th homer of the year, a two-run shot. Freisis Adames allowed two runs in five innings to earn the victory. Kevin Lachance had two hits and scored three runs for the Goldeyes. Ozzie Martinez had two hits for Sioux Falls. Connor Blair and Nick Gotta each homered for the Canaries.
Winnipeg Goldeyes Recap by Steve Schuster
Railroaders Sweep DockHounds
The Cleburne Railroaders swept a double-header from the Lake Country DockHounds on Sunday, winning both games by a single run. The opener looked like he was going to be a wild affair, as the teams combined for all 11 runs through the first two innings, then watched the pitching staffs clamp down.
Lake Country took the lead in the top of the first on a two-run homer by Gabriel Noriega. The Railroaders cut the deficit in half when Chuck Taylor hit his eighth homerun of the season in the bottom half of the frame. The DockHounds then scored three more in the top of the second but back-to-back RBI singles by Edwin Arroyo and Taylor pulled Cleburne within a run and Chase Simpson followed with an RBI single to tie the score. Simpson then scored on a Kacy Clemens single to make it 6-5.
Jesus Sanchez shut Lake Country down from then, and Brendan Bell tossed the final two innings for his first save of the season. Taylor had two hits and scored two runs. Noriega had two hits and had three RBI for the DockHounds.
In the second contest, Mitch Ghelfi delivered a walkoff two-run single in the bottom of the seventh to give Cleburne a 5-4 victory. The Railroaders took the lead in the bottom of the second thanks to an error. In the fourth, the DockHounds tied the score, but Cleburne retook the lead when Arroyo led off the sixth with his fifth homerun of the season.
It looked like he would be Lake Country getting the late game heroics, as Jordan Schaffer tied the score in the seventh with a sacrifice fly and T. J. Bennett put his team on top with an RBI single. However, back-to-back walks put two on with two down for Ghelfi, who hit a 2-1 pitch to tie the score. An error allowed Hunter Wolffe to score.
Kipper, Dogs Blank Cougars
Jordan Kipper tossed 6.1 innings of shutout ball, as the Chicago Dogs blanked the Kane County Cougars, 3-0. Kipper had a no-hitter through the first six innings, finally broken up when Jimmy Kerrigan led off the bottom of the seventh with a double. The right-hander left after allowing one hit and four walks while striking out seven.
José Fuentes was tossing a gem as well, as he had a no-hitter going through the first four, but a leadoff walk in a single by Cody Bohanek moved the runner to third. Connor Kopach followed with a sacrifice fly to put Chicago on top by a run. The Dogs added single runs in the seventh and eighth innings to secure the victory.
Three Chicago relievers combined to help complete the shutout. Kane County had just three hits in the contest.
Three Stars of the Night
No. 3 – Ryan Grotjohn (Kansas City Monarchs) 2-4, 3 R, BB, Double, Triple, 5 RBI
No. 2 – Jordan Kipper (Chicago Dogs) 6.0 IP, H, 4 BB, 0 ER, 7 K
No. 1 – Thomas Walraven (Gary Southshore RailCats) 4-6,3 R, 2 HR, 9 RBI
American Association Daily Notes
Gary SouthShore RailCats infielder Thomas Walraven tied an American Association record with nine RBI. He also became the first player in league history to hit two grand slams in the same game… The winner of Monday’s contest between the Lincoln Saltdogs and the Sioux City Explorers will earn the final playoff spot in the West Division… With their victory on Sunday, the Chicago Dogs clinched the top record in the East Division.
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By Robert Pannier
