Zimmerman Hurls Gem, Kay Homers Twice, Kerrigan Leads Cougars to Victory
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 Friday, including Ryan Zimmerman tossing a gem for the Milwaukee Milkmen, Grant Kay homers twice to lead the Chicago Dogs to victory, and Jimmy Kerrigan delivers the game-winning hit in the 10th for the Kane County Cougars. This and much more.
Thorpe Shines in Monarchs Victory
Lewis Thorpe allowed two runs in 6.0 innings to lead the Kansas City Monarchs to a 6-4 victory over the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. Kansas City took a 2-0 lead, scoring single runs in each of the first two innings. The RedHawks cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the second on a solo homerun by Sam Dexter.
The one run lead held until the top of the sixth when the Monarchs blew the game open, scoring four runs. Willie Abreu extended the lead to two with a single and Alexis Olmeda followed with a three-run homer to make it 6-1. Rymer Liriano homered to lead off the bottom of the second to pull Fargo-Moorhead back within four. Thorpe left after six, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out seven.
Fargo-Moorhead scored a run in the seventh on an RBI single by Leobaldo Pina, and Liriano hit his second homerun of the game in the bottom of the eighth to pull the RedHawks within two. However, Jameson McGrane came on in the ninth and close the door for his 10th save of the season. Cleburne took a two-run lead in the top of the first, but K.C. Hobson tied the score in the bottom half of the frame on his ninth homerun of the season.
Kansas City Monarchs Recap by Jaxson Webb
Kay Homer Delivers Dog Victory
Grant Kay hit his second homerun of the game with two down in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Chicago Dogs a 7-6 victory over the Cleburne Railroaders. This contest looked like he was going to be a slugfest, as the teams combined to score nine runs through the first two frames. The Railroaders took the lead with two runs in the top of the first, but K.C. Hobson hit a two-run homer in the bottom half of the frame. Cleburne responded with two more runs in the top of the second, but Kay led off the bottom half of the inning with his first homerun of the night and Michael Crouse delivered a two-run triple to put Chicago on top.
The Dogs extended their lead to two when Stevie Wilkerson hit his sixth homerun of the season in the bottom of the fifth. In the eighth, the Railroaders tied the score on an RBI single by Chuck Taylor and a run scoring error. That sent the game to the bottom of the eighth when Kay turned on the first pitch he saw, drilling it for his 13th homerun of the year to give Chicago the lead for good.
Kay, Hobson, and Crouse each had two hits and two RBI. Brian Schlitter earned the victory with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief. Nick Gardewine took the loss. Zach Nehrir and Hill Alexander each had two hits and Nick Shumpert scored two runs.
Cougars Down Canaries in 10
Jimmy Kerrigan drove home the game-winning run with a double in the top of the 10th inning to give the Kane County Cougars a 4-3 victory over the Sioux Falls Canaries. The Canaries took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on the ninth homerun of the season by Gavin LaValley. Kane County responded with two runs in the top of the third on back-to-back homers by Cornelius Randolph and Kerrigan, and extended their lead to two in the top of the fourth on a fielder’s choice by Ernie De La Trinidad.
Jack Fox was cruising through the first four innings for the Cougars, but Kona Quiggle cut the Canaries deficit to one with an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth. Fox came out after six, allowing two runs on four hits and was in line to earn the victory, but Sioux Falls tied the score in the bottom of the ninth when LaValley hit his second homerun of the day against Ryan Richardson.
That sent the game for the top of the 10th were Kerrigan doubled with two down to put the Cougars on top for good. Sioux Falls loaded the bases in the bottom half of the frame, but could not get the tying run across the plate. Kerrigan finished with two hits and two RBI.
Ramirez Shines in Goldeyes Victory
Luis Ramirez allowed one earned run in 7.0 innings to lead the Winnipeg Goldeyes to a 5-2 victory over the Gary SouthShore RailCats. The RailCats took the lead in the bottom of the second when Jesus Marriaga led off with his fourth homerun of the season. However, Winnipeg tied the score in the top of the third and took the lead with three more in the top of the fourth. Logan Hill put his team on top of the sacrifice fly and Justin Thompson drilled a two-run homer, his second of the year.
The Goldeyes added one more run in the top of the fifth when Max Murphy scored on a wild pitch. That was more than enough support for Ramirez, who came out after seven, allowing four hits and no walks while striking out seven. Tasker Strobel came on in the ninth to close the game out for his 16th save of the season.
Eric Rivera and David Washington each had two hits for the Goldeyes. Jonathan Engelmann had two hits for the RailCats.
Winnipeg Goldeyes Recap by Steve Schuster
Gary SouthShore RailCats Recap by Ryan Zimmerman
Early Surge Propels Milkmen
The Milwaukee Milkmen scored nine unanswered runs to start the contest on their way to a 10-4 victory over the Sioux City Explorers. Milwaukee jumped out in front in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Keon Barnum and extended their lead to three in the bottom of the second on an RBI double by Jeremiah Burks and a run scoring single off the bat of Bryan Torres.
In the fourth, the Milkmen put for more on the board as Torres delivered a two-run single and Correlle Prime followed with a two run single of his own. In the sixth, Will Kengor connected for a two-run homer, his ninth of the year.
That was more than enough support for Ryan Zimmerman, who allowed no runs on two hits in 6.0 innings to earn the victory. Ben Holmes came on in the seventh and tossed a scoreless frame, but the Explorers finally broke through against Holmes in the top of the eighth, as Trey Martin hit a two-run homer and Danry Vasquez followed with a solo shot. Gabe Snyder homer to lead off the top of the ninth, but Sioux City would get no closer.
Dylan Kelly, Aaron Hill, and Burks each had three hits for Milwaukee. Torres had four hits, scored two runs, and drove in three. Tiberi, Vasquez, and Snyder each had two hits for the Explorers.
Sioux City Explorers Recap by Connor Ryan
Norwood, Bullpen Lead Saltdogs to Victory
Josh Norwood allowed one run in five innings and the Lincoln Saltdogs bullpen did the rest as the team defeated the Lake Country DockHounds, 3-2. Norwood allowed two hits and three walks in five innings before his evening was over. Steffon Moore came on in the sixth and allowed just one run in 3.0 innings and Jonathan Cheshire came on in the ninth to close out the contest for his first save the season, striking out the side.
Lincoln took the lead in the top of the second against Lake Country starter Alex McRae. Patrick Caulfield delivered an RBI double and Bobby Barnard followed with a suicide squeeze bunt that scored Garett Delano. The Saltdogs extended their lead to three in the top of the sixth on a Matt Goodheart ground out. Lake Country had been held off the scoreboard through the first five innings, but finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by T.J. Bennett. Daikan Yoh homered with one down in the seventh to pull the DockHounds within one, but they would get no closer.
McRae took the loss despite pitching well, allowing three runs and 8.0 innings. Hunter Clanin, Ryan Long, and Welington Dotel each had two hits for Lincoln.
Three Stars of the Night
No. 3 – Luis Ramirez (Winnipeg Goldeyes) 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 BB, ER, 7 K
No. 2 – Grant Kay (Chicago Dogs) 24, 2 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI
No. 1 – Ryan Zimmerman (Milwaukee Milkmen) 6.0 IP, 2 H, BB, 0 ER, 7 K
American Association Daily Notes
Winnipeg Goldeyes right-hander Luis Ramirez earned his seventh victory of the season on Friday, tying him with Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks left-hander Tyler Grauer for the league lead in victories… Cleburne Railroaders infielder Kacy Clemens extended his hitting streak to 20 straight games. That is the longest in the American Association this season… Chicago Dogs OF Michael Crouse extended his hitting streak to 18 straight games… Kane County Cougars OF Jimmy Kerrigan took over the homerun lead in the league, hitting his 22nd of the season on Friday.
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By Robert Pannier
