Fargo-Moorhead 3, Gary SouthShore 2 – 15 Innings — Box Score
The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks and the Gary SouthShore RailCats were tied at 2-2 after nine innings and they were still tied at 2-2 after five more but in the top of the 15th, 1B Brian Humphries doubled to score 3B Josh Mazzola and that made that difference as the RedHawks outlasted the RailCats 3-2.
Mazzola reached base with a one-out walk and Humphries, who went 3-for-6 in the game, plated him two batters later. In the bottom of the frame, Reliever Dan Sattler hit 1B Jeremy Hamilton but allowed no other baserunner, closing the door on the RailCats. Sattler earned the win for tossing the last three innings and allowing just one hit and striking out five.
The game needed extras thanks to a sacrifice fly from LF Cameron Newell in the bottom of the ninth that tied the score. Newell had both of the RailCats’ RBI.
Wichita 7, Kansas City 5 – 14 Innings
The Wichita Wingnuts rallied from four runs down in the ninth inning to force extras with the Kansas City T-Bones and, five innings later, RF Richard Prigatano tripled to score LF T.J. Mittelstaedt and 1B Dustin Geiger for what turned out to be the game-winning runs. Reliever Jesse Pratt sealed the Winguts’ 7-5 win in the bottom of the inning.
The T-Bones led 5-1 heading into the final frame but two moon shots from the Wingnuts quickly turned the tide. The first was a two-run blast from SS Leo Vargas that also scored C Brent Dean. The second came from DH Brent Clevlen – with two outs – and it also plated 3B Zack Cox.
For the T-Bones, both Robby Kuzdale and Tyler Massey went 3-for-7 with an RBI.
Sioux Falls 5, Lincoln 3 — Box Score
The Sioux Falls Canaries built an early lead and held off the Lincoln Saltdogs down the stretch to claim a 5-3 win in the series opener.
The Canaries took the lead in the top of the fourth inning when 2B Frank Martinez doubled home both 1B Jake Taylor and SS Blake Schmit. DH David Bergin added to that lead with a pair of home runs – a solo shot in the fifth and a two-run dinger in the seventh. The Saltdogs cut into the lead in the eighth after LF Jon Smith hit a lead-off home run and DH Curt Smith drew a bases-loaded walk later in the frame.
In the ninth, 1B Rene Leveret hit another Saltdog solo shot but that would be Lincoln’s only run of the inning. Sioux Falls starter Shawn Blackwell earned the win for working 7.2 innings and giving up two runs on eight hits while striking out five and reliever Jimmer Kennedy recorded the save.
Sioux City 12, Winnipeg 2 — Box Score
The Sioux City Explorers put up three runs in the first inning and never trailed on their way to a 12-2 win against the Winnipeg Goldeyes.
All nine Explorers recorded hits in the game and seven of them had more than one as Sioux City racked up 17 hits. 1B Noah Perio had a team-high three hits as he went 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored. RF Michael Lang went 2-for-5 with two RBI and 2B Jarek Cunnigham also a had a pair of hits as he went 2-for-3 with one RBI. C Ralph Henriquez added three RBI.
For the Goldeyes, LF Adam Heisler and RF David Rohm each had a pair of hits.
Texas 12, St. Paul 3 — Box Score
The Texas AirHogs scored in seven of the eight innings that they went to the plate as they picked up a 12-3 win against the St. Paul Saints.
Seven different AirHogs picked up two hits in the game and SS Juan Sanchez went 1-for-4 with an RBI and run scored as Texas belted out 15 hits on the night. Three AirHogs left the yard – LF Burt Reynolds, 1B Devon Rodriguez and C Michael Miller. Rodriguez’ three-run blast was his first of the season and Reynolds’ was his eighth, which leads the American Association.
Starting pitcher Ethan Carnes recorded the win after working seven innings and allowed three runs (one earned) on eight hits while striking out four. For the Saints, 3B Nate Hanson had a team-high three hits.
Laredo 9, Joplin 2 — Box Score
After falling behind in the first inning, the Laredo Lemurs more than made up for it as they took care of the Joplin Blasters 9-2.
The Lemurs tied the score at 1-1 in the second inning and moved ahead in the fourth with two runs coming after they loaded up the bases. Laredo stretched out that lead in the fifth as the Lemurs loaded up the bases again and then four straight batters reached base to push four more runs across.
For the game, Laredo’s RF Dennis Phipps went 3-for-4 with an RBI and was just a home run shy of the cycle and 1B Jesus Posso and CF Drew Martinez added three and two RBI, respectively. Starting pitcher Matt Sergey struck out 10 batters on his way to his second win of 2016. 2B Mitch Glasser went 2-for-4 for the Blasters.
