Gary SouthShore 4, Fargo-Moorhead 3 – Box
The Gary SouthShore RailCats scored two late runs to take the lead and the win over the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 4-3. The RedHawks were up 3-2 headed to the bottom of the eighth, but the RailCats bats came alive. CF Jon Jones laced a triple to score the tying and go-ahead runs. Fargo-Moorhead scored its three runs in the fourth and fifth off two sacrifice flies and a DH Stefan Gartrell RBI single.
In addition to the late game heroics for Gary SouthShore, their pitching staff performed well. After R Solis pitched the first five innings, three pitchers combined to shut the door. Paul Mittura went the first two innings, then Jessie Snodgrass and Andy Loomis each took an inning.
Sioux Falls 3, St. Paul 0 (Game 1 – 7 innings) – Box
In the first game of the doubleheader, the Sioux Falls Canaries shutout the St. Paul Saints to win 3-0. With no score on the board, CF Harrison Kain put Sioux Falls up 2-0 with a two-run homer in the fifth inning. The Canaries tacked on an insurance run in the sixth with an RBI double from C Tyler Shover. Sioux Falls starter Stephen Bougher picked up the win with six good innings of work, plus five strikeouts. Chase Johnson notched the save with a scoreless inning pitched. Saints hitters CF Alonzo Harris and 1B Angelo Songco each went 2-for-3.
St. Paul 6, Sioux Falls 2 (Game 2 – 7 innings) – Box
After being held scoreless in Game 1, the St. Paul Saints came back out for vengeance and got it with a 6-2 win over the Sioux Falls Canaries. A five-run inning in the second got the Saints off to a good start and lead. RF Mike Kvasnicka singled to score the first run, then C Vince DiFazio plated three with a home run, and finally 2B Alonzo Harris hit a solo homer. The Canaries had a bright spot with a LF Brian Humphries solo homer in the fifth inning, but they couldn’t muster enough offense. That’s because St. Paul starting pitcher Kramer Sneed went six innings only allowing two runs.
Sioux City 10, Winnipeg 4 – Box
The Sioux City Explorers shellacked the Winnipeg Goldeyes by outhitting them 16-6 and winning the game 10-4. The Explorers got off to a quick start with two runs in the first. Timely singles in the third, sixth, and eighth innings scored the other eight runs. Every player in the Sioux City lineup recorded a hit, and only two didn’t record multiple hits. 2B Ryan Court had the best overall offensive game, going 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. The Goldeyes got a two-RBI double by DH Jon Weber and a two-RBI single 2B Brad Boyer.
On the mound, Sioux City’s RHP Rob Wort pitched two strong innings with three strikeouts and no runs allowed. Starter Patrick Johnson turned in a quality start with eight strikeouts.
Amarillo 6, Trois-Rivieres 3 – Box
In an interleague match, starting pitcher Anthony Figliolia led the Amarillo Thunderheads in defeating the Trois-Rivieres Aigles 6-3. Figliolia picked up the win after seven innings pitched with three earned runs allowed and four strikeouts. Batting highlights for Amarillo include an RBI double by SS Juan Martinez and an RBI single by 1B Rene Leveret in the first inning. In the fourth, back-to-back singles by 2B Geraldo Valentin and CF Drew Heid scored three players.
Trois-Rivieres scored two in the first inning off a SS Pedro Lopez RBI triple and then a 2B Jose Cuevas RBI double. RHP Jadd Schmeltzer closed out the game for the Aigles on the mound with two scoreless innings pitched.
Lincoln 7, Wichita 6 – Box
The Lincoln Saltdogs held on by the slimmest of margins to grab the 7-6 win over the Wichita Wingnuts. 1B CJ Ziegler put Lincoln on the board in the first inning with an RBI single. But Wichita would respond with three in the second off two singles and a putout. Lincoln didn’t wilt, and CF Jon Gaston blasted a two-run homer in the third to tie the game back up at three. A trio of Saltdogs had really nice nights at the plate. SS Eddie Young went 2-for-4 with three runs; C Mitch Canham went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI; and Ziegler went 4-for-5 with two RBIs. The best Wingnuts batter was LF Dustin Geiger, who went 2-for-2 with two walks, two runs and an RBI.
Kansas City 8, Laredo 3 – Box
The Kansas City T-Bones easily handled the Laredo Lemurs 8-3 thanks to 16 team hits. 2B Ryan Cavan, CF Robby Kuzdale, SS Vladamir Frias, and C Brian Erie all went 2-for-5 at the plate. LF Kyle Robinson went 3-for-4 with a run and three RBIs, and RF Adam Bailey also had three hits. Offensive highlights for Kansas City include a three-run home run by Kuzdale in the seventh.
But as good as the hitting was, the pitching was just as good. They combined to allow zero earned runs, starting with Blake Holovach’s five innings and six strikeouts. RHP Joe VanMeter went 2.2 innings, and then RHP Jonathan Kountis finished the game with 1.1 scoreless innings.
