Lincoln 3, Gary 1 – Box
The Saltdogs edged the Railcats on Friday night to earn their 58th win of the season and it put them 20 games over .500 with two games left in the regular season. With the score tied 1-1 entering the seventh inning, DH Juan Martinez blasted a two-run home run to put the Saltdogs in front. Martinez was 1-5 with a run scored and two RBIs in the victory and the homer was his third of the year. RHP J.R. Bunda came in the sixth inning to record one out, but it was an important one as he received the win. Bunda (10-1) allowed a hit but limited the damage for the Saltdogs. RHP Michael Wagner pitched a scoreless ninth and picked up his 21st save of the season. 2B Cesar Valera produced a strong effort in the win, as he collected two hits and scored once.
Sioux City 8, Sioux Falls 2 – Box
The Explorers beat their rivals comfortably on Friday night, using a four-run fourth inning to propel them to victory. LF LeVon Washington contributed the big play of the inning as he collected on a two-run home run, his 12th of the year to make it a 2-0 lead. The Explorers took a 7-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth before the Canaries chipped away with two runs. However, the Explorers added two more runs in the seventh en route to the six-run victory. Washington was 3-5 in the win, scored once and knocked in four runs. LHP Cody Forsythe picked up the win with six two-run innings. Forsythe (6-8) allowed eight hits, but walked just two batters and struck out five.
Kansas City 4, St. Paul 1 – Box
The Saints drew first blood in the third inning courtesy of a RBI single from 1B Dan Johnson. The lead was short-lived, however, as the T-Bones exploded for four runs in the fifth inning. The big play of the inning was a two-run double from C Zane Chavez. The four runs were all the T-Bones needed, as their pitchers held the Saints scoreless over the next four innings. CF Cedric Hunter had a solid effort in the victory, collecting two hits and knocking in a run. RHP Gabe Perez pitched seven one-run innings to earn his eighth win of the season. Perez (8-6) allowed a run on five hits, walked four batters and struck out nine. RHP Cody Winiarski picked up the three-out save, his 20th save of the season.
Wichita 10, Salina 6 – Box
The Wingnuts won again on Friday night, thanks to a five-run outburst over the opening two frames. Before the Stockade had much time to react, DH T.J. Mittelstaedt connected on a two-run single to make it a 2-0 game. In the second, Mittelstaedt picked up another RBI by walking with the bases loaded. The Stockade countered by scoring four runs in the fifth and sixth innings, but the Wingnuts scored once in the bottom half of the sixth and exploded for four more runs in the seventh to take a six-run lead in the eventual 10-6 victory. Mittelstaedt collected three hits, scored twice and knocked in four runs. 2B Christian Stringer also produced a multi-RBI game, as he collected three hits, scored three times and knocked in two runs. RHP Josh Goossen-Brown pitched in relief and earned his first win of the season with 1.1 innings of scoreless ball.
Winnipeg 5, Fargo-Moorhead 0 – Box
LHP Kevin McGovern was dominant in the win on Friday night, as he pitched seven scoreless innings to earn his 13th victory of the year. McGovern (13-3) allowed six hits, walked two batters and struck out four. He was aided by 1B Shawn Pleffner who connected on a two-run home run in the sixth to give his team a 4-0 lead. Pleffner added a third RBI in the winning effort and contributed three hits. C Tanner DeVinny also hit a homer, his first of the season. CF Reggie Abercrombie produced a multi-hit effort and drove in a run for the Goldeyes in their 61st win of the season.
Cleburne 16, Texas 6 – Box
The Railroaders did not hold back on Friday night, producing twelve runs in the second, third and fourth innings en route to their 16-6 win. Three players knocked in at least two runs, including 1B Geraldo Valentin who collected three hits, scored twice and knocked in four runs. Valentin was aided by RF Blake-Grant Parks who contributed three RBIs and 3B Mitch Glasser who knocked in two runs. RHP Dylan Mouzakes was the beneficiary of the great run support and he threw six innings to earn his fifth win for the Railroaders. Mouzakes (5-6) allowed a run on four hits, walked five batters and struck out two.
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