Wichita 1, Laredo 0 – Box
Despite a pitcher’s duel for the majority of the game, Wichita came through with a run in the bottom of the ninth inning to walk off as 1-0 victors over Laredo. With two men on, SS Luis Hernandez hit a double to score C Brent Dean and walk off as the hero. Up to that point, hits were hard to come by as both pitching staffs gave it their best.
Wichita’s Jason Van Skike, Frankie Reed and Dakota Watts combined for the six-hit shutout. Meanwhile, Laredo’s starting pitcher, Matt Loosen, had a great outing. His quality start consisted of seven innings and zero runs allowed while allowing just three hits.
Laredo’s RF Denis Phipps led was the only batter on either squad to record two hits.
Kansas City 3, Grand Prairie 2 (11 Innings) – Box
The Kansas City T-Bones rallied in extra innings for the 3-2 comeback win over the Grand Prairie AirHogs. With the score knotted at one apiece after nine innings, Grand Prairie scored a run in the top of the 11th. That’s when LF Ronnie Richardson doubled to bring the runner, who began the inning on second base due to league rules, home.
Kansas City would come back for two runs in the bottom of the inning to walk off, however. A series of wild pitches, errors and singles allowed 2B Ryan Cavan and DH-LF Adam Bailey to tie the game and then win.
Several pitchers on both squads pitched well. On the T-Bones side, the bullpen allowed zero earned runs. Aaron Baker was the star of those relievers, as he went three innings while allowing just two hits. For Grand Prairie, Blake Oliver started the first eight innings and allowed just one run but couldn’t get the win.
Amarillo 8, Joplin 6 (Game 1 – 7 Innings) – Box
Just when it looked like the Joplin Blasters would score and take control of the game, the Amarillo Thunderheads battled back to equalize. With six runs in the fifth and sixth innings, Amarillo defeated Joplin 8-6. The first highlight in the pair of innings came in the fifth when 2B Juan Martinez hit a two-RBI triple. DH Geraldo Valentin followed that up with a solo home run in the sixth inning. Two Thunderhead batters finished with perfect hitting lines: RF Logan Vick went 3-for-3 and 3B Taylor Smart went 2-for-2.
Although Joplin lost, it had a big play in the first inning courtesy of 1B Carlos Ramirez. With two men on, Ramirez took one out of the park to put his team up early. Ramirez finished the game 2-for-3 with two runs, three RBIs and a walk.
Joplin at Amarillo (Game 2) – Postponed
The second game between Joplin and Amarillo has been postponed due to rain. Since the two teams already play a doubleheader Thursday, this game will be made up on Wednesday, July 15 in Joplin.
Winnipeg 3, Fargo-Moorhead 2 – Box
The Winnipeg Goldeyes fended off a ninth inning rally from the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks to win 3-2. Winnipeg had scored its runs off a trio of RBI singles and looked to close out the game, but Fargo-Moorhead had other plans. C Zach Wright hit an RBI single for the RedHawks’ first run, and then a second run immediately came in on a putout. However, it was a costly putout as it was a double play, giving the RedHawks a very slim margin for error. They would put the tying run on first base, but Winnipeg got the third out to hold on for the win. Winnipeg’s C Ryan Babineau had the only three-hit performance of the night.
Pitchers on both sides had noteworthy outings. Fargo-Moorhead’s Brandon Mann took the loss, but he pitched a complete game and allowed just three runs while striking out 11 batters. Winnipeg’s Matthew Jackson recorded the win after six scoreless innings and seven strikeouts.
Sioux City 6, Gary SouthShore 0 – Box
The Sioux City Explorers blew open a 1-0 game by scoring five runs in the sixth inning and cruised to a 6-0 win over the Gary SouthShore RailCats. RF Michael Lang had given the Explorers that one-run lead off an RBI triple in the fifth inning. Then in the sixth, 13 batters came to the plate. The five runs came in off two singles, a double from Lang and a triple from SS Noah Perio. Every Sioux City batter recorded a hit, and Lang led the team with three RBIs and a run to go along with his two hits.
Meanwhile for Gary SouthShore, it couldn’t score despite eight hits. RF Drew Martinez recorded two of those hits.
The Sioux City pitching staff should be commended for a combined shutout between three pitchers. Starter Patrick Johnson struck out eight in the first seven innings, and then Jimmer Kennedy and Billy Bullock each pitched a scoreless inning to close out the game.
St. Paul 7, Ottawa 5 – Box
The St. Paul Saints one-upped an Ottawa Champions four-run inning with a five-run inning to help win 7-5. Ottawa scored four in the first inning off three timely hits – two singles from CF Sebastien Boucher and RF Chris Winder, and a double from C Bryce Massanari. However, St. Paul responded with five runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by back-to-back two-RBI hits from 2B Dan Kaczrowski and CF Alonzo Harris. Then in the fifth inning, RF Angelo Songco hit a two-run homer to give the Saints the breathing room needed to win.
Songco had a stellar night at the plate. He went a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Meanwhile for Ottawa, Massanari finished 3-for-4 with a run and two RBIs. Boucher also had three hits on the night.
