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Baeza’s Cycle & Matulovich’s 14-shutout earn them weekly awards

Lincoln Saltdogs infielder Alex Baeza and Winnipeg Goldeyes starter Joey Matulovich won the American Association’s Pointstreak batter and pitcher of the week for the final week of the first half ending 7/21, the league announce Monday.

Baeza earned the award largely due to arguably the best single-game performance of the season on Sunday night in Cleburne. In a 17-8 win for Lincoln, Baeza went a perfect 5-for-5 while hitting for the cycle and driving in six runs.

He started the game with a leadoff home run, hit an RBI-single, then hit a triple and capped off the cycle by clearing the bases with a double. Then for good measure he hit another RBI-double, all in just seven innings.

Baeza is in his first season of American Association play after finishing his college career at Utah in 2022 then spending 2023 with the Boise Hawks of the Pioneer League.

On the pitching side, Matulovich is no stranger to winning awards this season, already with a pitcher of the week and month (June) under his belt this season.

The all-star shined once again this week, pitching twice and going 14 combined shutout innings, striking out 14 and walking just two.

He started his week on the road in Sioux City pitching seven one-hit innings, striking out five in a 7-0 Goldeyes win. Then he closed out the first half by pitching seven shutout against Milwaukee and allowing just two hits, striking out nine Milkmen.

Going into the all-star break Matulovich leads the Association in strikeouts (94), ERA (2.12) and is second in wins with eight.

Pointstreak is the official statistician of the American Association.

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