June 27 Recap
Grand Prairie 7, Sioux Falls 6 (Game one – Seven innings)
Ryan Pineda’s (pictured) three-run home run was the difference for the AirHogs in a back and forth game against Sioux Falls. Pineda’s home run broke a 4-4 tie and Grand Prairie held on the rest of the way for a 7-6 win.
The Canaries had tied the game with a three-run rally in the fourth. Down 4-1, Sioux Falls RF Nate Baumann singled to score Tim Pahuta. Then, Nick Van Stratten hit a two-run single to tie the game.
After Pineda’s home run gave Grand Prairie the lead, Sioux Falls plated runs in the fifth and sixth to draw within one run again. The Canaries tried to tie the game in the seventh, putting the tying and go-ahead runs on base. But, Patrick Mincey induced a game-ending double play to secure the win for the AirHogs.
Grand Prairie 4, Sioux Falls 0 (Game two – Seven innings)
Grand Prairie starter Jared Mortensen shutout the Sioux Falls Canaries in game two of a doubleheader. Mortensen pitched all seven innings, as the AirHogs won, 4-0.
The AirHogs right-hander struck out four and allowed only three hits to pick up his second win of the season. However, he was not the only pitcher who went the distance. Sioux Falls starter Ben Moore also pitched seven innings, though he took the loss. Moore surrendered four runs on seven hits, but struck out eight.
Offensively, the AirHogs picked up their runs on two homers. Angel Flores connected first with a three-run shot in the second. The following inning, Ryan Pineda hit a solo home run to lead off the inning. Pineda’s home run was his second of the day, as he hit a three-run homer in game one of the doubleheader.
Winnipeg 9, Sioux City 2
Winnipeg rallied behind a strong offensive performance by Leonard Davis to beat Sioux City, 9-2. Davis struck early with a two-run home run in the top of the first. He then doubled home a run in the second inning to finish 2-for-4 with three RBI. Other Goldeyes delivered at the plate, as well. Michael Coles and Luis Alen each drove in two runs, while Nate Samson had one RBI.
Goldeyes starter Peter Gehle earned the victory. The left-hander pitched seven innings and gave up two runs on seven hits. He improved to 3-1 with the win.
Gary SouthShore 4, Kansas City 3
The RailCats scored early and escaped a late T-Bones rally to beat Kansas City, 4-2. Gary SouthShore got on the board in the first with an RBI single by Ryan Babineau and an RBI double by Brian Kolb. The RailCats might have scored more in the first, if Babineau was not cut down at home on a strong relay through from left field. T-Bones LF Brandon Jones fielded the ball and fired it to SS Devin Goodwin, who directed it to C Steve Yoo for the tag.
Gary SouthShore tacked on another run the next inning on a Daniel Pulfer single and Babineau delivered another run-scoring single in the sixth for insurance. That final insurance run turned out to be crucial, as Kansas City rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh.
Yoo singled to score Ray Sadler and Kody Hightower came home on an error on the same play. Later in the inning, Kennard Jones singled home Yoo, but that was all the T-Bones could muster. RailCats reliever Kyle Lindquist entered after Jones’ single to finish the seventh and pitched a scoreless eighth to hold the lead. That paved the way for Ian Durham, who nailed down the save in the ninth.
Amarillo 13, El Paso 11
The Sox battled back with a five-run bottom of the eighth to defeat El Paso, 13-11. After a wind storm delayed play at the start of the half inning, Amarillo loaded the bases with nobody out. Amarillo entered the inning trailing by three, but Jermel Lomack singled home a run and Joe Weik added a tally with a bases-loaded walk to pull the Sox within one run. Two batters later, Cory Patton cleared the bases with a double to centerfield, giving the Sox a 13-11 lead. Amarillo held on in the ninth, as Erik Draxton secured his sixth save of the year.
Photo courtesy of the Grand Prairie AirHogs