Gary SouthShore 10, Milwaukee 9 (13 Innings) – Box Score
The Gary SouthShore RailCats (1-2) walked off on the Milwaukee Milkmen 10-9 in 13 innings on Thursday afternoon to deny the defending champs the season-opening sweep.
The Milkmen (2-1) started off strong with a pair of runs in both of the first two innings including the fourth home run of the year from red hot 2B Aaron Hill. Milwaukee pushed the lead to 5-0 in the top of the sixth thanks to an RBI double from C Christian Correa (2-for-6) but the RailCats came to life in the bottom of the frame. The RailCats sent 13 batters to the plate in the bottom of the sixth and scored seven runs on six hits.
C Cameron Comer (2-for-6), 2B Nikola Vasic, RF Zach Welz (3-for-6) and SS Vaibhav Desai (2-for-4) each had RBI base hits and 3B Phil Caulfield drew a bases-loaded walk. In the seventh, Welz added a triple that scored Caulfield and Vasic to give the RailCats a 9-6 lead.
But the Milkmen didn’t go quietly as 1B David Washington (4-for-5) homered in the seventh and, in the eighth, CF Brett Vertigan (3-for-7) doubled home Hill and then scored when 3B Logan Trowbridge (2-for-7) doubled, tying the score at 9-9. The score remained level until the bottom of the 13th when Welz hit a lead-off triple and scored the game-winning run as LF Raymond Jones lifted a sac fly to center field in the next at-bat.
Chicago 3, Kane County 2 – Box Score
The Chicago Dogs claimed their season-opening series with the Kane County Cougars by winning game three on Thursday 3-2.
Kane County RF Mitch Reeves opened the scoring with a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning. The Dogs moved in front in the fourth as 1B K.C. Hobson and 3B Johnny Adams hit back-to-back home runs to lead off the fourth inning but the Cougars tied the score in the seventh when LF Mark Karaviotis (2-for-4) scored after a single from DH Brandon Chinea.
In the eighth, RF Danny Mars (2-for-5) scored what turned out to be the game-winning run when 2B Grant Kay (2-for-3) singled him home with two outs.
Reliever Jeff Kinley picked up the win for the Dogs as he worked the seventh inning and allowed one run on three hits while striking out two batters and Paul Schwendel earned the save for closing things out in the ninth.
Fargo-Moorhead 4, Cleburne 0 – Box Score
The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks shut out the Cleburne Railroaders 4-0 to take the season-opening series.
Starting pitcher Kevin McGovern threw a complete game shutout for the RedHawks and allowed just four hits and struck out eight batters. He faced 30 batters and needed just 109 pitches, 69 for strikes, to finish the Railroaders.
The RedHawks backed McGovern up with more than enough run support, starting with three runs in the top of the second. 3B Leobaldo Pina (2-for-4) scored the game’s first run when LF Kevin Krause bounced out and, in the next at-bat, C Dylan Kelly singled to score RF John Silviano. Kelly scored the final run of the rally when SS Sam Dexter (2-for-5) singled with two outs.
Kelly scored again in the sixth when 2B Trace Loehr singled to give the RedHawks the 4-0 lead.
For the Railroaders, SS Osvaldo Martinez had three of the team’s four hits.
Sioux Falls 8, Winnipeg 1 – Box Score
The Sioux Falls Canaries (2-1) rolled to an 8-1 win against the Winnipeg Goldeyes on Thursday night despite being out hit 10-8.
The Canaries took control in the bottom of the second as 3B Ed Reichenbach hit a three-run home run. CF Logan Landon (3-for-5) added an RBI double in the fifth and, in the sixth, C Charlie Valerio scored on a sac fly from RF Mike Hart. Landon and LF Troy Alexander added back-to-back home runs in the seventh and Hart added another solo shot in the eighth.
The Goldeyes’ lone run came in the top of the ninth when 3B Dakota Conners (2-for-3) singled home RF Max Murphy.
Starting pitcher Ty Culbreth picked up the win for the Canaries as he worked six scoreless innings and allowed five hits while striking out six batters.
Sioux City 10, Houston 0 – Box Score
The Sioux City Explorers completed the sweep of the Houston Apollos with a 10-0 shutout win Thursday night at Mercy Field at Lewis and Clark.
The Explorers found the scoreboard in the bottom of the second when 1B Jared Walker (2-for-4) hit a solo home run. In the seventh, CF Chase Harris reached on an error and allowed LF Joseph Monge to score. In the next at-bat, 2B Chris Clare scored on a sac fly from C Mitch Ghelfi and then Harris scored when 3B L.T. Tolbert (2-for-4) singled to center.
Sioux City put the game out of reach with a six-run eighth inning where they sent 10 batters the plate, tallied four hits and benefitted from an error. With two outs, DH Sebastian Zawada drew a bases-loaded walk, moved to third when Walker singled home Tolbert and RF Michael Lang and then scored the final run of the day on a pass ball.
For the Apollos, CF Nick Anderson went 3-for-5 and LF Blake Berry went 2-for-4.
Lincoln at Kansas City – Postponed/Rain
The game between the Lincoln Saltdogs (2-0) and the Kansas City Monarchs (0-2) was postponed due to rain. The game will be made up at a date to be determined.
