Joplin 3, Fargo-Moorhead 0 (10 Innings) – Box
After nine scoreless innings, the Joplin Blasters and Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks headed to extra innings to settle the tie. Joplin didn’t let the game go much further, scoring three runs in the 10th and preserving the shutout. After the first two batters in extra innings singled, LF Yasser Gomez hit an RBI single. Two batters later, DH Jake Taylor blasted a two-run RBI triple. Four Blasters pitchers combined for the shutout, including RHP Nestor Molina, who went seven innings and threw six strikeouts.
Fargo-Moorhead’s RHP Tyler Herron shined in his start. He pitched 7.2 scoreless innings with five strikeouts. LF Chad Mozingo led the RedHawks in batting with a 2-for-5 performance.
Lincoln 3, Gary SouthShore 2 – Box
The Lincoln Saltdogs held off a furious rally in the ninth inning by the Gary SouthShore RailCats to win 3-2. The Saltdogs scored all three of their runs in the fifth inning. CF Jon Gaston doubled, scoring SS Mike Gilmartin and DH Jeremy Hamilton, who had both walked to reach base. The next batter, 1B CJ Ziegler, brought in the third run, which would be all Lincoln needed.
Everything looked good for Lincoln until Gary SouthShore made its rally with its final shot. With two men on, 1B Roger Bernal hit an RBI single to cut the lead to 3-1. Then with the bases loaded, DH Carlton Salters, in to pinch hit, drove in another run off a sacrifice fly, creating a close game with two outs. But Saltdogs RHP Kaohi Downing settled down and recorded the final out to get the save for Lincoln.
Quebec 7, Sioux Falls 5 – Box
In an interleague match, the Quebec Capitales defeated the Sioux Falls Canaries 7-5 thanks to 13 team hits and a four-run fifth inning. Down 3-2 headed into the fifth, three consecutive RBI hits from DH Jean-Luc Blaquiere, CF Kalian Sams (pictured), and 1B Tim Smith to score the four runs. Sams added a solo blast in the seventh and finished the game 2-for-4. RHP Karl Gelinas picked up the win for the Capitales after six innings of work.
Sioux Falls made a rally in the seventh inning, cutting the deficit to 7-5 off a two-run homer by RF Vickash Ramjit. Ramjit led the Canaries in hitting and finished the game 2-for-3 from the plate with two RBIs.
Wichita 2, Winnipeg 0 – Box
In a low scoring game, Wichita’s two runs were all it needed to defeat Winnipeg 2-0 thanks to good pitching and defense. The Wingnuts got on the board in the first inning when RF David Espinosa’s RBI single brought in SS Alberto Gonzalez. They added an insurance run in the fourth off 1B Dustin Geiger’s solo home run. Geiger led the Wingnuts in batting with a 2-for-4 performance. The pitching staff for Wichita threw a combined gem, allowing zero runs, one hit, and striking out 13. Four pitchers entered the game, including starting RHP Omar Bencomo, who went six innings and received the win. RHP Matt Nevarez got the save after striking out the side in the ninth.
The Goldeyes pitching staff also performed well. RHP Matthew Jackson turned in a quality start, and RHP Anthony Smith and RHP Mark Pope each pitched one scoreless inning to finish the game.
St. Paul 10, Amarillo 1 – Box
The St. Paul Saints raced out to a six-run lead in the first two innings and never looked back, winning 10-1 over the Amarillo Thunderheads. RHP Dustin Crenshaw picked up the win with a stellar stat line: seven innings, one run allowed, four strikeouts. All nine batters in the Saints lineup recorded a hit, led 2B Sam Maus, who went 3-for-6 with three RBIs.
SS Juan Martinez drove in CF Jason Martin for Amarillo’s one run off an RBI single in the bottom of the second. RHP Colin Allen pitched an inning of scoreless relief for the Thunderheads.
Sioux City 9, Kansas City 0 – Box
Using two four-run innings, the Sioux City Explorers easily dispatched the Kansas City T-Bones 9-0. With two men on base in the third inning, RF Michael Lang cleared the bases with a two-run RBI double to center field. Lang later scored off a two-run home run by 1B Brock Kjeldgaard. RF Nate Tenbrink led the T-Bones at the plate, hitting 2-for-3 and a walk.
RHP Patrick Johnson picked up the win on the mound after pitching six innings with no runs allowed and five strikeouts. RHP Eric Wordekemper threw two scoreless innings, and LHP Wil White got the save with a scoreless ninth.
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