Laredo 4, Sioux City 1 – Box
Laredo clinched the wild card spot in the American Association playoffs tonight as they beat the Sioux City Explorers, 4-1. Lemurs RF Denis Phipps went 1-for-3 in the contest and scored the go-ahead run in the sixth inning. Laredo SS J.D. Pulfer went 1-for-2 with two walks and two RBI while 1B Travis Denker drew a pair of walks and scored a run. The bullpen for the Lemurs was terrific tonight as the duo of Luis De La Cruz and John Brebbia combined to toss 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief giving up only a walk and striking out three batters. De La Cruz picked up the win and improved his mark to 3-2 on the season.
Joplin 6, Sioux Falls 4 – Box
The Joplin Blasters pulled off a late inning rally to upend the Sioux Falls Canaries by the score of 6-4. Joplin scored two runs in the seventh inning to tie the game up at 4-4 and then plated the go-ahead run in the eighth to go along with one more insurance run in the ninth. Blasters DH Matt Padgett went 2-for-4 on the night with a run scored and two RBI while C Mason Morioka had three hits in four at-bats and plated a run. Joplin hurler Victor Capellan tossed two scoreless innings to earn his sixth win of the year. Capellan gave up only a hit and struck out four Sioux Falls hitters.
St. Paul 3, New Jersey 2 – Box
St. Paul SS Anthony Phillips singled home PR Sam Maus from third base in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Saints a 3-2 walk-off victory over the New Jersey Jackals. St. Paul 2B Ryan Cavan went 2-for-4 on the night with a home run and two RBI. Saints 1B Nate Hanson scored a run in a 1-for-3 night and RF David Espinosa drew two walks. St. Paul starter Dustin Crenshaw tossed seven solid innings in trying to pick-up his 15th win of the season and tie three others for the league record for most wins in single season. However, Crenshaw drew a no decision and Kevin Cravey collected the win after tossing a scoreless ninth.
Fargo-Moorhead 5, Amarillo 4 – Box
The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to rally from a 4-2 deficit and beat the Amarillo Thunderheads, 5-4 in walk-off fashion. Fargo-Moorhead LF Chad Mozingo had two hits in five at-bats including the game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth. RedHawks SS Zach Penprase and DH Michael Leach each had two hits in the game and CF Drew Muren, RF Joe Dunigan and 3B Jordan Tescher all drove in a run. Fargo-Moorhead pitcher Alex Kreis threw two scoreless innings of relief to earn his first win. For Amarillo in the loss, 1B Rene Leveret and DH Stefan Gartrell hit home runs.
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