Grand Prairie 6, Laredo 2 (Game 1 – 7 innings) – Box
The AirHogs raced out to a 6-0 lead in the first inning against the first-place Laredo Lemurs and that proved enough to clinch a 6-2 win. The first inning started with two routine outs before two hit batsmen and a walk loaded the bases for SS Ryan Pineda. Pineda drew a walk to bring home the game’s first run. With a 1-0 lead, RF Kenny Held recorded the AirHogs first hit — a two-RBI single — to keep the inning alive. Batting in the No. 8 spot, C Angel Flores (pictured) stepped to the plate next and capped the rally with a three-run homer to give AirHogs’ RHP Josh Strawn all the run support he would need. Strawn allowed two runs on six hits with five strikeouts in his six innings of work. Laredo 2B Jake Opitz and CF Sawyer Carroll drove in the Lemurs’ only two runs in the fourth inning.
Grand Prairie 5, Laredo 3 (Game 2 – 7 innings) – Box
Grand Prairie struck first again in the second game of its doubleheader with Laredo and came out with a 5-3 win. AirHogs’ 3B Juan Richardson kicked off the scoring in the second inning with an RBI, and Grand Prairie poured on four more runs in the third to seal the win. LF Brian Myrow led the AirHogs with two RBI, which he drove in on a third-inning double. After allowing a run and loading the bases, AirHogs’ relief pitcher Patrick Mincey got CF Sawyer Carroll to ground out to first to end the Lemurs’ final threat. Grand Prairie RHP Marshall Schuler was the game’s winning pitcher after he threw 1.1 innings of scoreless relief, striking out three.
Sioux Falls 6, Winnipeg 5 – Box
DH Tim Pahuta’s sixth-inning sacrifice fly proved the difference in Sioux Falls’ one-run win against the Winnipeg Goldeyes. The Canaries looked to sluggers Pahuta, 2B Jake Taylor and 3B Jared Clark for three home runs in the victory. Taylor and Pahuta led Sioux Falls with two RBI each. The Explorers’ bullpen combined for four innings of scoreless relief, allowing just two hits in that span. RHP Kyle Vazquez entered the game in the sixth and earned his second win of the season in relief. Closer Alan DeRatt recorded his fourth save of the season, allowing just one hit in the ninth.
Wichita 8, El Paso 1 – Box
Wichita got ahead early and never relinquished its lead, defeating the El Paso Diablos 8-1. Wingnuts’ 2B Jake Kahaulelio reached first on an error in the first inning, and Wichita made the most of the opportunity, batting all the way around the order to score five runs. SS Ryan Khoury and DH John Rodriguez led the Wingnuts with two RBI each. Wingnuts’ 3B Abel Nieves batted 3-for-4 and scored twice. Wichita lefty Anthony Capra pitched six innings of one-run ball, giving up just three hits to the Diablos to earn a win in his first start of 2013.
Gary SouthShore 6, Amarillo 2 – Box
The Gary SouthShore RailCats wore down Amarillo in the middle innings, winning 6-2 Tuesday night. After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, the RailCats responded with SS Chase Tucker’s RBI single, which drove in 3B Brian Kolb to tie the game. Kolb batted 1-for-4 and stole two bases in the win. Leading 4-1 in the sixth, DH Cristian Guerrero doubled to right field to seal the victory for Gary SouthShore. RailCats’ starter Ari Ronick recorded his third straight win, scattering two runs over 6.2 innings. All nine RailCats’ batters recorded a hit in the game.
Sioux City 2, Kansas City 1 – Box
Sioux City CF Eliezer Mesa scored on an error in the eighth inning to help the Explorers beat Kansas City 2-1. The Explorers had led off the scoring in the first inning when 1B Wally Backman connected for an RBI double, but the Explorers didn’t score again until Mesa’s winning run in the eighth. The T-Bones bats were also quiet, save for a second-inning home run by DH Ray Sadler. Explorers’ relief pitcher Cody Satterwhite pitched 2.2 scoreless innings to earn the win before handing it over to Chris Bodishbaugh for the save. Kansas City starter Lucas Irvine got a no-decision, despite throwing seven inning of one-run ball.
Rockland 4, St. Paul 3 – Box
An eighth-inning solo home run from Rockland DH Mike Gedman was the difference in the Boulders’ 4-3 win against visiting St. Paul. The Boulders started off the scoring in the third when CF Donnie Webb connected for a one-out solo home run. Rockland made it a three-run inning when C Billy Alvino plated two more runs with an RBI single. The Saints answered right back in the top of the fourth, though. DH Willie Cabrera drove in a run with an RBI single, and RF Brandon Tripp scored himself and Cabrera on a two-run homer to tie the game. The game remained tied at three until Gedman’s home run in the eighth. Rockland lefthander Nick Serino picked up his third win of the season in relief, and closer Kevin Fuqua recorded his fifth save.
Fargo-Moorhead 4, Lincoln 3 (Suspended – Top 4th)
The game between Lincoln and Fargo-Moorhead was suspended due to rain with Fargo-Moorhead leading Lincoln 4-3 in the top of the fourth. The game will be completed Wednesday beginning at 5 p.m. The teams will play a seven-inning game following the completion of the suspended game Wednesday.
