Sioux Falls 12, Gary SouthShore 5
DH Tim Pahuta’s (pictured) grand slam capped off an explosive seven-run inning for the Canaries that built them a lead which they rode all the way to a 12-5 win against the RailCats. Sioux Falls continued its barrage of runs with three more in the following inning, including a solo homer from 2B Stephen King and Pahuta’s fifth RBI of the game. 3B Jared Clark added another home run in the seventh. The RailCats put together a streak of four runs in the eighth, cutting a chunk out of the Canaries’ lead but falling well short of contending for the win.
RHP Kyle Ruwe gave up eight hits in his six innings, but earned the win for Sioux Falls by allowing just one run during his time on the mound.
Kansas City 8, Winnipeg 3
A dominant showing from Kansas City’s batters drove the T-Bones to an 8-3 victory over the Goldeyes. The T-Bones’ balanced attack included a 3-for-4 outing with two runs from DH Joey Gathright and a two-RBI performance from 3B Brandon Jones, who went 3-for-5. RF Luis Rivera and SS Felix Molina also provided two runs each. Kansas City tallied 16 hits in total.
LHP Rick Zagone earned the win, allowing just two runs in six innings.
El Paso 4, Grand Prairie 2
Three runs in the first inning establish an early lead for El Paso, helping them to outlast the AirHogs and earn a 4-2 victory. RF Welington Dotel played a key role, hitting an RBI single to put the Diablos on the scoreboard and crossing home plate later in the inning for what would be the game-winning run. Grand Prairie showed signs of a comeback with two runs in the fourth, but the Diablos sealed the deal with a ground rule double from 2B Jose G. Garcia that added another score in the sixth.
LHP Carlos Teller came to the mound in the fifth inning and earned the win after allowing just two hits and zero runs in three innings.
Amarillo 5, Laredo 4 (12 innings)
A string of home runs helped Amarillo come back from a 4-1 deficit on their way to defeating Laredo 5-4 in twelve innings. Sox 1B Kyle Nichols was the hero, hitting solo homers in the sixth and the eighth to send the game into extra innings. SS KC Serna’s RBI single in the twelfth provided the game-winner. Seven pitchers shared time on the mound throughout the game for the Sox until LHP Cory Patton finally earned the win for the Sox after pitching the final inning and allowing zero runs.
Despite the loss, Lemurs LF Daniel Poma had one of the best batting performances of the game, going 3-for-5 and hitting an RBI during Laredo’s three-run sixth inning.
Sioux City 6, St. Paul 0
An impressive complete game from LHP Ryan Lucero led the Explorers to a 6-0 shutout against the Saints. Lucero kept St. Paul scoreless and allowed just six hits throughout the game, collecting two strikeouts and zero walks. On the offensive end, Sioux City built an early lead in the opening innings behind an RBI double from LF Yusuke Inoguchi and a solo home run from C Adam Martinez. Martinez finished 2-for-4. CF Eliezer Mesa also provided a substantial contribution for the X’s, scoring twice.
Fargo-Moorhead 5, Wichita 4
Wichita came just short of completing a comeback in the ninth against the RedHawks, who claimed a 5-4 victory thanks to a five-run inning in the fifth. The Wingnuts struck early with two runs from 2B Jake Kahaulelio by the end of the third. But Fargo-Moorhead’s hot fifth inning, which included RBI doubles from both CF Nic Jackson and 1B Keith Brachold, quickly erased Wichita’s lead. Wingnuts 1B CJ Ziegler left his mark with a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth that brought the deficit to just one. But Wichita’s efforts came up just short.
RHP Brian Ernst earned the win for the RedHawks, striking out four batters and allowing just two runs in 5.2 innings.
Lincoln 3, Rockland 2 (13 innings)
After 13 innings of inter-league baseball, an RBI single from 2B David Espinosa finally claimed a 3-2 walk-off victory for the Saltdogs against the Boulders. Both teams were deadlocked in a scoreless tie for much of the game, until a double from DH Ian Gac brought Espinosa and SS Yasel Gomez home for Lincoln in the bottom of the eighth. RF Jerod Edmondson immediately answered back for the Boulders with a two-run home run in the ninth, sending the game into extra innings where Gomez’s second run would prove to be the winner.
The closely-contested match saw strong pitching outings from both sides. Though he did not receive the win, RHP Stephen Bougher struck out nine batters and allowed three hits and zero runs through eight innings. For the Boulders, RHP Pat Moran struck ten men out and allowed two runs in his nine whole innings on the mound.
