Texas 3, Lincoln 1 – 10 Innings — Box Score
The Texas AirHogs’ CF Michael Hur broke a 1-1 tie with the Lincoln Saltdogs in the top of the tenth inning with a two-out double that scored PR Will DuPont and DH Cody Lenahan. Those two runs made the difference as the AirHogs held on for a 3-1, extra-inning win.
The score was tied at one after nine innings because Lincoln’s 3B Christian Ibarra singled home LF Brandon Jacobs in the bottom of the third and Texas’ C Michael Miller hit a solo shot to lead off the eighth. In the 10th, 1B Devon Rodriguez – who went 2-for-4 – hit a leadoff single and after Miller flew out, Lenahan drew a walk to put two runners on base. DuPont came on to run for Rodriguez after Lenahan’s base on balls and both scored two batters later on Hur’s double. Hur had a game-high three hits on the night.
In the bottom of the frame, DH Curt Smith and C Luis Alen both singled but Reliever Carlos Misell retired the next two batters to end the game. Misell earned the save and Reliever Alan Oaks picked up the win.
Sioux City 8, Fargo-Moorhead 7 — Box Score
The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks came roaring back in the bottom of the ninth inning but Sioux City cut the comeback just short and the Explorers held on for an 8-7 win.
Sioux City lead 8-4 heading into the final frame thanks to four RBI from 2B Noah Perio and one each from RF Michael Lang, SS Nate Samson and 1B Jarek Cunningham. But the RedHawks put together a threatening rally in the bottom half of the final inning. CF Chad Mozingo hit a two-out double and then scored when 2B Ryan Pineda hit a double of his own. Pineda scored as LF Keury De La Cruz singled and De La Cruz scored to bring the RedHawks within one run on a double from 3B Josh Mazzola.
But with Mazzola representing the tying run and standing on second base, Sioux City Reliever Tayler Scott forced 1B Brian Humphries to ground out to second base to end the game. For the RedHawks, Pineda went 3-for-4 to lead the way. For the Explorers, Perio, Samson, LF Derrick Robinson and DH Tim Colwell each had two hits in the game.
Winnipeg 3, Sioux Falls 2 — Box Score
Despite giving up a run in the top of the first inning, the Winnipeg Goldeyes won their 2016 home opener 3-2 against the Sioux Falls Canaries.
The Canaries took the early lead on a double from 1B David Bergin that scored CF Ethan Chapman and then in the bottom of the frame, Sioux Falls turned a triple play on a line drive from LF Josh Romanski. The Goldeyes tied the score in the second on a sacrifice fly from RF David Rohm and then took the lead in the fourth when Romanski hit a lead-off solo home run. DH Adam Heisler, who went 3-for-4 in the game, added a crucial insurance run in the fifth with a single that scored 3B Wes Darvill, who tripled earlier in the inning.
The Canaries drew within one run in the sixth when Bergin singled to score Chapman for a second time in the game but that would be Sioux Falls’ final run of the night. The Winnipeg pitching staff combined to allow just five hits and one walk in the game. Starter Mikey O’Brien picked up the win for working 5.2 innings and striking out six. Reliever Jailen Peguero earned the save for striking out the side in the ninth.
Wichita 9, Laredo 6 — Box Score
Six different Wingnuts recorded at least one RBI as Wichita dropped the Laredo Lemurs 9-6.
Every Wingnut that had a hit in the game also ended up with an RBI and four of those batters had multi-hit games. 1B Dustin Geiger led the way as he went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and an RBI single in the seventh. 2B Christian Stringer, DH Brent Clevlen and SS Leo Vargas each added two hits apiece for the Wingnuts.
For the Lemurs, C Matt Koch had a team-high two hits and three RBI. On bump, Reliever Fabian Roman earned the win for working the eighth inning and Reliever Frankie Reed picked up the save for tossing the ninth. Both allowed just one hit in their frame.
Kansas City 7, Gary SouthShore 1 — Box Score
The Kansas City T-Bones scored six unanswered runs in the final five innings of the game to pull away from the Gary SouthShore RailCats and claim a 7-1 win.
The T-Bones’ leadoff man CF Robby Kuzdale reached base in all five of his plate appearances – drawing four walks and hitting a single – and his teammates brought him around to score three times. Kuzdale’s first run of the game came in the top of the first when LF Anthony Gallas hit an RBI groundout to first base. The RailCats tied the score in the third when LF Cameron Newell hit an RBI single but 1B Brandon Tierney scored on a double play in the fifth to give the lead back to the T-Bones.
RF Tyler Massey tacked on another run in the sixth with an RBI double and Kuzdale scored again in the seventh, this time on a single from DH Jake Blackwood. Kansas City put the game away with three more runs in the top of the ninth – two coming on an RBI triple from SS Vladimir Firas. Blackwood and Frias each had two RBI and for the RailCats, both Newell and CF Brennan Metzger had a pair of hits.
St. Paul at Joplin – Postponed
The game between the St. Paul Saints and the Joplin Blasters has been postponed to Tuesday, May 31 due to rain. The Saints and the Blasters will play at doubleheader on Tuesday, beginning at 4 p.m. CT.