Winnipeg 16, Fargo-Moorhead 4 – Box
The Winnipeg Goldeyes exploded for nine runs in the second inning and five runs in the fourth to cruise to the 16-4 win over the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. In the second, 14 batters went to the plate, which resulted in seven hits. SS Josh Mazzola led the inning off with a solo homer, but that would just be a sample of the offensive fireworks to come for him. After the Goldeyes scored three more, they had the bases loaded for Mazzola once again. He cleared the bases with a grand slam and his second homer of the inning. He would end the night 2-for-5 with a walk, four runs and five RBIs. LF Adam Heisler, C Luis Alen and 2B Brad Boyer also recorded three hits each.
With a 14-1 deficit headed to the bottom of the fourth, the RedHawks faced a massive hole that they couldn’t climb out of. LF Chad Mozingo had a nice game, though: 2-for-3 with two walks, a run and two RBIs. RedHawks relievers LHP Tyler Alexander and LHP Jonathan Chudy each pitched two innings without allowing any earned runs.
Kansas City 6, Wichita 3 – Box
A four-run fourth inning propelled the Kansas City T-Bones to a 6-3 victory over the Wichita Wingnuts. With the score knotted at 1, the T-Bones then strung together several hits in the big fourth inning. SS Vladamir Frias, who hit a solo homer in the third, then brought in another run off a putout. A couple batters later, 2B Ryan Cavan cleared the bases with a three-RBI double. Wichita would score two more in the eighth with a two-run 3B TJ Mittelstaedt homer, but it wouldn’t be enough.
Kansas City pitcher Blake Holovach got the win to go along with a nice stat line: seven innnings and just one run allowed. Wichita’s bullpen pitched well – no runs were allowed as RHP Daniel Bennett went an inning, and RHP Brad Mincey went the final two.
Sioux City 6, Sioux Falls 1 – Box
A grand slam in the fifth inning gave the Sioux City Explorers all the offense it needed to go along with stellar pitching to beat the Sioux Falls Canaries 6-1. LF Tim Colwell reached base on an error, then a single and a walk loaded the bases. 1B Brock Kjeldgaard then cleared the bases to put the Explorers up 4-1. 3B Tommy Mendonca would add a solo homer in the sixth. Toeing the rubber for Sioux City was John Straka, who went seven innings and allowed just one run while striking out eight. RHP Eric Wordekemper went the final two innings and threw zeroes.
DH Richard Stock brought in the only run for Sioux Falls off a solo home run in the fourth.
St. Paul 15, Gary SouthShore 2 – Box
The St. Paul Saints shot out of the gate with eight runs in the first inning and would go on to dominate in a 15-2 win over the Gary SouthShore RailCats. The Saints batted around the lineup in the first inning. Highlights included a 3B Joey Paciorek two-RBI double, a 2B Steve Nikorak two-RBI single and a three-run homer from CF Alonzo Harris. Four Saints players ended the night with three hits. Harris had the best line: 3-for-4 with a walk, four runs and four RBIs. C Vinny DiFazio also had a great night at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance with two walks, two runs and three RBIs.
Gary SouthShore just couldn’t get much going Friday, but 2B Zac Mitchell singled home one run and 1B Michael Schroeder doubled home the second.
Joplin 4, Lincoln 1 – Box
Behind 13 hits, the Joplin Blasters defeated the Lincoln Saltdogs 4-1. Neither team scored until the fifth, when Joplin’s CF Gabe Suarez tripled to bring in the first run. Skip to the eighth and the Blasters still clung to the 1-0 lead but would score three more. 1B Carlos Ramirez hit an RBI single and RF Steven Tinoco hit a two-RBI single himself. RF Brian Joynt would score the only run for Lincoln in the bottom of the inning off an error.
The Joplin pitching staff combined to allow just one run, though it was unearned. Jorge Martinez received the win after pitching seven innings and striking out six. Victor Capellan allowed the unearned run but also struck out three in his inning of work. Winston Abreu got the save and shut the door with a scoreless inning.
Grand Prairie 4, Trois-Rivieres 2 – Box
After the Grand Priarie AirHogs and Trois-Rivieres Aigles went into extras tied at 1, the AirHogs won in dramatic fashion off a two-run walk off homer in the 11th from Ridge Hoopii-Haslam. Trois-Rivieres actually struck early with a Craig Hertler solo home run in the first. Neither team would score again until Jamodrick McGruder tied it up in the eighth.
Both starting pitchers played well with Trois-Rivieres’ Mike Bradstreet going 7.2 innings with just one earned run and Grand Prairie’s TJ Bozeman going seven innings with one earned run as well. The Aigles would take the lead 2-1 in the 11th, but then Victor Diaz tied it up in the bottom of the inning for Grand Prairie, setting the stage for Hoopii-Haslam’s heroics.
Amarillo 10, Laredo 8 – Box
The Amarillo Thunderheads fended off a late-game rally by the Laredo Lemurs to win 10-8. Laredo scored a run in the top of the first inning, but Amarillo would respond with three. The Thunderheads would slowly increase their lead through the middle innings, but the Lemurs would tie the game in the top of the eighth. Abel Nieves doubled home a run, then Denis Phipps blasted a three-run homer to tie the game 8-8. But Amarillo would respond with a two-run homer from Stefan Gartrell.
Several players on both teams had impressive batting stats. Amarillo’s Drew Heid and Juan Martinez each recorded three hits. Laredo had three players who recorded at least three hits as well, including Kevin Taylor’s 4-for-4 performance with two walks, two runs and two RBIs.
