Sioux City 3, Lincoln 2 – Box Score
The Sioux City Explorers took a 2-1 series lead with a 3-2 win on Wednesday night against the Lincoln Saltdogs.
The Explorers took the lead in the top of the third inning when 1B Jose Sermo hit a two-run home run that also scored SS Chris Clare (3-for-4). The blast marks Sermo’s 17th of the year, just two behind Milwaukee’s Adam Brett Walker II for the most in the American Association so far this season. In the top of the seventh, 3B Blake Tiberi drew a bases-loaded walk to take a 3-0 lead.
In the home half, LF Justin Byrd (2-for-3) hit a solo shot and, in the eighth, 3B Yanio Perez (2-for-3) singled home SS Josh Altmann to pull within one run but the Saltdogs stranded two runners in the ninth to fall just short of completing the comeback.
The series finale is set for tomorrow, Thursday July 8, at 7:05 p.m. CT.
Winnipeg 6, Fargo-Moorhead 4 – Box Score
The Winnipeg Goldeyes (20-23) rallied late to beat the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 6-4 on Wednesday evening.
The Goldeyes were trailing 4-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, but RF Max Murphy tied the score with a single that plated CF Tyler Hill. In the next inning, 3B Kevin Lachance tripled to score SS Raul Navarro (2-for-2, 3 R) and then scored when C Austin Rei (2-for-4, 3 RBIs) singled to left in the next at bat to take a 6-4 lead.
For the RedHawks, 1B Jordan George went 2-for-2 with an RBI and run scored and SS Sam Dexter went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Chicago 3, Gary SouthShore 0 – Box Score
The Chicago Dogs (28-18) shutout the Gary SouthShore RailCats 3-0 to win the three-game set.
The Dogs scored all three runs in the top of the first innings. RF Danny Mars (2-for-4) singled to score DH Michael Crouse (2-for-5) and then scored when SS Johnny Adams drew a bases-loaded walk. In the next at-bat, C Ryan Haug (2-for-4) reached on a fielder’s choice that allowed 1B K.C. Hobson to score. The Dogs’ pitching staff took care of the rest as starter A.J. Jones worked seven innings and allowed five hits while striking out five batters in the winning effort.
Reliever Cam Booser struck out the side in the eighth and closer Jeff Kinley earned the save by closing things out in the ninth.
For the RailCats, DH MJ Rookard and SS Thomas Walraven each had a pair of hits.
Cleburne 6, Milwaukee 1 – Box Score
The Cleburne Railroaders topped the Milwaukee Milkmen 6-1 to take their fifth win in a row and 12th in the last 15 games.
The Railroaders held the Milkmen to just six hits in the game and starting pitcher Jheyson Manzueta earned the win with a seven-inning performance in which he gave up five hits and struck out four batters. Offensively, 1B Ramon Hernandez went 4-for-5 with two RBIs to lead the way for the Railroaders.
LF Colton Pogue went 2-for-4 with two runs and 2B Alay Lago added a pair of hits with a run. SS Osvaldo Martinez pitched in a pair of RBIs.
3B Derek Reddy scored the Milkmen’s only run after CF Brett Vertigan lifted a sac fly to left in the bottom of the fifth.
Kane County 11, Houston 2 — Box Score
The Kane County Cougars used five doubles and three home runs to top the Houston Apollos on Wednesday afternoon.
2B Josh Allen went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored including his sixth homer of the season. DH Kacy Clemens also had three hits and two RBIs with a homer and LF Mark Karaviotis went 3-for-5 with a double and run scored. RF Mitch Reeves and 3B Luis Roman each finished the day game 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run and Roman tallied both a double and a four-bagger.
1B Gavin LaValley added an RBI double giving him a team-best 35 RBIs on the year.
For the Apollos, RF Aaron Takacs went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in the top of the third inning and 1B Hudson Bilodeau went 2-for-3. LF Blake Berry doubled home Houston’s only other run.
Kansas City 7, Sioux Falls 1 (Game 1/7 Innings) – Box Score
The Kansas City Monarchs jumped out to an early lead and took game one of their Wednesday doubleheader with the Sioux Falls Canaries 7-1.
In the top of the first inning DH Jan Hernandez doubled home 2B Ryan Grotjohn and scored when 1B Casey Gillaspie singled two batters later. LF Collin Willis (2-for-4) added an RBI single and then scored alongside Gillaspie when SS Morgan McCullough doubled. 3B Will Kengor scored in the third when McCullough reached on an error and in the fourth, Grotjohn scored again when RF Gabriel Guerrero (2-for-4) singled.
The Canaries’ lone run came in the bottom of the sixth inning CF Wyatt Ulrich doubled and then scored on a single form RF Cade Gotta.
Starting pitcher Jameson McGrane earned the win as he worked six innings and gave up one run on three hits while striking out nine batters.
Kansas City 8, Sioux Falls 6 (Game 2/7 Innings) – Box Score
The Kansas City Monarchs (27-17) completed the sweep of their doubleheader with an 8-6 win against the Sioux Falls Canaries in game two. The Monarchs have now won five in a row and eight of their last 10 contests.
The Monarchs were trailing 6-4 going into the fifth but CF Darnell Sweeney scored on an error to pull within a run. In the sixth, 3B Will Kengor doubled home LF Colin Willis and then scored on a wild pitch to give the Monarchs the lead. In the seventh, SS Morgan McCullough (2-for-3) singled home Willis to provide an insurance run.
For the Canaries, five different batters each had a pair of hits including SS Nick Gotta and 3B Zane Gurwitz (2-for-3) who also had a pair of RBIs.
