Sioux Falls 11, Lincoln 3
Two early consecutive four-run innings from the Canaries set the tone for the game, which turned into a blowout as Sioux Falls tallied 20 hits and defeated the Saltdogs 11-3. LF JP Ramirez (pictured) was at the head of his team’s domination, going a perfect 5-for-5 and scoring three times. A number of Canaries had impressive batting performances, including CF Nick Van Stratten, who went 4-for-6, and 2B Stephen King, who was 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs, and three RBIs. RF Nate Baumann and C Jake Taylor both contributed two runs as well.
Amidst the Canaries’ scoring attack, Lincoln managed to get on the scoreboard in bottom of the fourth when 1B Ian Gac connected for a three-run home run. Gac’s homer was just one of five hits that RHP Kyle Ruwe allowed during his seven innings. The win marks his eighth of the season.
Sioux City 3, Fargo-Moorhead 1
Scoring was hard to come by as Sioux City and Fargo-Moorhead both recorded notable pitching performances, but the Explorers found a way to narrowly edge the RedHawks 3-1. X’s LHP Ryan Lucero earned his first win of the season by collecting seven strikeouts and allowing just one run and four hits in 6.2 innings. The RedHawks’ lone run came in the bottom of the first on a wild pitch, but Sioux City immediately struck back and took the lead after scoring twice in the second. RHP Chris Bodishbaugh came on in the eighth and allowed zero hits, keeping the X’s in the lead through to the finish and earning his thirteenth save.
Despite the RedHawks being unable to create runs, their pitching duo was almost as impressive as the X’s. RHP Alex Caldera allowed just four hits and had six strikeouts in six innings. RHP Mackenzie King held Sioux City to just one hit in the final three innings.
Gary SouthShore 4, St. Paul 3
After the two teams traded leads for much of the game, Gary SouthShore narrowly defeated St. Paul 4-3. The RailCats’ 1-0 lead came early when DH Cristian Guerrero hit an RBI triple in the first, but it was quickly leveled as the Saints scored twice in the second. Gary SouthShore pushed ahead again in the third after two consecutive batters were walked with the bases loaded. 2B Adam Frost evened the score once more with an RBI single in the fourth. The game-winning run came in the seventh as DH Craig Maddox scored for the RailCats on a sacrifice fly– his second run of the day.
RHP Kyle Lindquist earned the win for Gary SouthShore as he kept the Saints off the bases entirely in the sixth and seventh innings.
El Paso 5, Kansas City 3
The runs all came early in this one as El Paso broke a 3-3 tie with two runs in the fourth to overcome the T-Bones 5-3. SS Maikol Gonzalez got the scoring going for the Diablos with a run in the first, sparking his team-leading 3-for-5 batting performance. Kansas City scored all three of its runs in the second and never answered the Diablos’ fourth inning go-ahead runs.
RHP Austin Carden got the win for El Paso after pitching 5.1 innings and allowing just three runs. But the Diablos’ relievers contributed significantly by holding the T-Bones to just one hit in the final three innings.
Grand Prairie 3, Wichita 2
LF Bubba Dotson was the star of Grand Prairie’s 3-2 victory against the Wingnuts, scoring the AirHogs’ first run in the fifth and then completing the comeback with a game-winning two-run homer in the sixth. SS Ryan Khoury and 1B CJ Ziegler gave Wichita two runs in the first inning, but the AirHogs’ defense kept the Wingnuts from scoring again all night. Khoury and Ziegler combined for half of their team’s total hits, each going 2-for-3 with a run.
The AirHogs had just seven hits in the game, one fewer than their opponent. But strong pitching from RHP Josh Strawn and each of Grand Prairie’s five relievers held the Wingnuts to just three hits after the first inning.
Amarillo 6, Laredo 2
A steady stream of runs from Amarillo throughout the game and a pitching gem from RHP Ryan Mitchell helped the Sox secure a dominant 6-2 victory against the Lemurs. Mitchell pitched 8.1 innings and struck out 11 batters on his way to allowing just two runs. Amarillo’s widespread scoring output included runs in five different innings and two-run performances from both DH Cory Patton and 1B Jorge Delgado.
The Lemurs struggled to find consistency at bat, but finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth as 1B Mike Sheridan scored on a sacrifice fly. They later added another run thanks to an RBI single from RF Joe Urtuzuastegui.
Trois-Rivieres 6, Winnipeg 4
Winnipeg scored first in the opening inning, but Trois-Rivieres quickly climbed back, shutting down the Goldeyes’ offense and scoring four in the fourth to capture a 6-4 victory. The Aigles’ pitching duo of LHP Alexander Burkard and RHP Nick Purdy played a big role in their team’s success, allowing just five combined hits from the Goldeyes in their eight total innings. Burkard allowed just one run while Purdy held Winnipeg scoreless in the inning he pitched.
The early comeback was highlighted by DH Drew Miller’s RBI triple to tie things up and C Emerson Frostad’s three-run double, which included the eventual game-winning run.
After Purdy’s substitution in the ninth inning, the Goldeyes finally put together a rally to threaten the Aigles’ lead. With three runs and the bases loaded, Winnipeg was in position to steal the game, but RHP Nick Sarianides provided Trois-Rivieres with two much-needed strikeouts to clinch a save for himself and a win for the team.
