BLASER’S BIG BAT BOOSTS CHICAGO IN WIN

Chicago 4, Gary SouthShore 3 – Box Score

Two late runs from the Chicago Dogs pushed them to a 4-3 win against the Gary SouthShore RailCats Wednesday night at U.S. Steel Yard.

Gary took the first lead of the night in the bottom of the fifth with a sac fly from 1B Alex Crosby. But in the sixth, 2B Edwin Arroyo (2-for-4) singled to score RF Jonathan Maroney (2-for-5) and then scored himself later in the inning as DH Dalton Blaser (2-for-4) doubled to center.

C/DH Andy Paz (2-for-3) tied things back up at 2-2 in the bottom of the inning with a double that plated LF Reggie Wilson and, two pitches later, OF D.K. Carey doubled to trade places with Paz and give the RailCats the lead.

But the game hinged on the top of the eighth inning, and one swing in particular. Blaser belted a two-run home run with one out that proved to be the difference on the night. The RailCats were held scoreless the rest of the way.

 

Fargo-Moorhead 5, Texas 3 – Box Score

The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks poured on 10 hits from eight different batters as they edged the Texas AirHogs 5-3.

Seven different batters each had one hit for the RedHawks including CF Devan Ahart, RF Keury De La Cruz and 3B Leobaldo Pina, who each added RBIs. 1B Chris Jacobs finished the night with a game-high three hits. Ahart singled in the first run of the game in the thid and then scored alongside Maikol Gonzalez when De La Cruz reached on an error.

The AirHogs recorded a run in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings but the RedHawks matched the with runs in the fifth and sixth to stay in front. SS Casio Grider led the way for the AirHogs as he went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

 

Kansas City 7, Lincoln 1 – Box Score

The Kansas City T-Bones rattled off six runs in the first inning and held on to take a 7-1 win against the Lincoln Saltdogs.

In that pivotal first, SS Taylor Featherston singled home CF Todd Cunningham (3-for-5) for the first run of the game. In the next at-bat C Adrian Nieto added an RBI single and after a RF Keith Curcio (3-for-4) single, LF Dexter Kjerstad doubled in both Featherston and Nieto. 3B Mason Davis (2-for-4) capped the rally with a double that scored Curcio and Kjerstad.

That spurt proved to be more than enough for the win. Lincoln’s only run came in the top of the ninth inning when RF Randolph Oduber hit a lead-off home run.

All nine of the T-Bones that went to the plate recorded at least one hit as they racked up 14 as team.

 

Sioux Falls 6, Cleburne 3 – Box Score

The Sioux Falls Canaries overcame a three-run second from the Cleburne Railroaders to claim a 6-3 win.

Sioux Falls struck first as SS Blake Schmit lifted a sac fly in the top of the first inning. But the Railroaders rallied in the second and tied the game with a lead-off home run from DH Rafael Palmeiro, his third this season. An RBI single by SS Angel Rosa gave Cleburne the lead and he later scored when CF KC Huth reached on an error.

The Canaries took the lead back in the fourth as DH David Bergin doubled home RF Jabari Henry (2-for-5) and 1B Chris Grayson (3-for-4) and scored then scored two batters later on a sac fly from C Maxx Garrett. Sioux Falls added two insurance runs in the eighth while holding the Railroaders scoreless in the final seven innings.

 

Wichita 9, Winnipeg 4 – Box Score

An offensive explosion in the fourth and fifth innings propelled the Wichita Wingnuts to a 9-4 win against the Winnipeg Goldeyes.

In the top of the fourth, LF Tony Thomas (2-for-5) doubled in the first run of the game for the Wingnuts and then he scored when 1B Fernando Perez (2-for-5) homered in the next at-bat. Later in the inning, SS Leo Vargas hit an RBI single and then scored when RF Hunter Clanin left the yard on the next pitch. Perez hit another two-run home run in the next inning and CF Zach Nehrir (3-for-4) had a lead-off blast for the Wingnuts.

For the Goldeyes, LF Grant Heyman (2-for-4) had a solo shot of his own in the bottom of the second and SS Andrew Sohn and 3B Josh Mazzola each had RBI base hits in the sixth.

 

Sioux City 9, St. Paul 2 – Box Score

The Sioux City Explorers jumped out to a hot start and held the St. Paul Saints to just two runs on five hits as they picked up a 9-2 win.

The Explorers took the early lead with 3B Jose Sermo’s solo home run in the second and then added six more in the third – two on RF Michael Lang’s (2-for-5) double, two on bases loaded walks and two more on a single from C Dylan Kelly.

RF Max Murphy tripled in LF Richard Prigatano in the bottom of the inning but the Saints only scored once more in the game; another RBI triple, this time from CF Kes Carter in the eighth. For the Explorers, SS Nate Samson had a game-high three hits and DH Dexture McCall an CF Jay Austin each added a pair.

Explorer starter Justin Vernia (5-1) earned the win for working seven innings, giving up one run on three hits and striking out seven batters.