Texas 2, Sioux City 0 (Game 1 – 8 innings) – Box
The Airhogs won their seventh game of the season on Saturday afternoon, winning game 1 of their doubleheader against the Explorers. Both teams were tied heading into the eighth inning of play when the Airhogs got two runs to seal the win. LF Brian Ragira walked with the bases loaded to drive in the first run and DH Jake Taylor followed him with a sacrifice fly to give the Airhogs the 2-0 lead, as LHP James Russell closed the door in the bottom half of the inning for a complete game shutout. Russell struck out four and allowed five hits in his second win of the campaign. CF Trevor Sealey picked up two of his team’s five hits in the victory.
Sioux City 6, Texas 2 (Game 2 – 7 innings) – Box
The Explorers won the second game of their doubleheader against the Airhogs, scoring four runs in the first two innings to run their record to 16-10. The big play of the day came in the second inning when CF Jayce Ray unloaded for his third home run of the year. The Airhogs scored two runs in the fourth inning, making it a 5-2 game, but the Explorers held on for a 6-2 win. 1B John Nogowski also homered in the win, his fourth of the year, and raised his average to .422 on the year. RHP Ryan Flores earned his first win of the year, pitching two outs in the fifth inning and striking out one.
Sioux Falls 6, Cleburne 3 – Box
The Canaries won their second game in a row on Saturday night to move their record to 12-16 on the season. The Railroaders struck first, scoring a run in the opening frame on a RBI double from 2B Maikol Gonzalez. The Canaries took the lead in the second inning, picking up a run on a RBI single from CF Dan Motl. Motl finished the game with four hits and scored two runs. The Canaries scored another run on a sacrifice fly to take a 2-1 lead. The Railroaders stormed back, scoring twice in the fourth to take a 3-2 lead, but the Canaries added two more in the fifth. Just for good measure, the Canaries scored runs in the seventh and eighth innings, going on to win 6-3. RHP Grady Wood earned the win, pitching six innings and only allowing two earned runs. RHP James Jones picked up the six-out save, his first save of the year.
Lincoln 4, Gary 3 (Game 1 – 9 innings)
The Saltdogs won the first game of their doubleheader, taking the game 4-3 to win their fifth straight contest and their 19th of the season. The Saltdogs picked up their first run of the game on a RBI single from LF Brandon Jacobs. LF Reggie Wilson tied it with a two-out single in the seventh, but the Saltdogs added two runs in the seventh inning and went on to win 4-3. RHP Ben McKendall picked up his first win of the season, and RHP Michael Wagner earned his fifth save of the campaign.
Gary 5, Lincoln 4 (Game 2 – 8 innings) – Box
The Railcats had to go to eight innings to defeat the Saltdogs in the second game of their doubleheader, moving to 15-15 on the season. The winning run was scored in the eighth when 3B Randy Santiesteban scored on an error. Santiesteban also homered in the game, finishing with two RBIs. 1B Trever Adams homered in the loss, his seventh long ball of the season. RHP Jorge De Leon earned the win, his fourth of the year, pitching the last two innings and allowing one run. CF Anthony Cheky Jr picked up two hits and drove in a run in the victory.
Winnipeg 3, St Paul 2 – Box
The Goldeyes got revenge on the Saints one night after being defeated 8-3, by storming back to win 3-2 on Saturday, picking up their 17th win of the year in the process. The Saints scored two runs in the second inning to jump out to a lead, thanks to an error and a sacrifice fly. The Goldeyes got one back in the third on a RBI single by DH David Bergin to make it 2-1. Two innings later, they took the lead for the first and final time, thanks to solo home runs from SS Andrew Sohn and Bergin. It was Sohn’s second home run of the campaign and Bergin’s eighth. RHP Zach Nuding went 7.1 innings to earn his second win of the year, allowing two runs (none earned), while allowing two hits, walking five and striking out three. RHP Ryan Chaffee shut the door by picking up the last four outs, while striking out two batters, to earn his ninth save of the year.
Kansas City 5, Salina 2 (5 innings) – Box
The T-Bones beat the Stockade in a shortened game on Saturday, thanks to a four-run first inning that was started by a two-run single from RF Chantz Mack. Mack later scored the fourth run of the inning on a RBI single by C Tony Caldwell. The T-Bones scored their fifth run of the game in the second on 1B Chase McDonald’s second sacrifice fly of the game. The Stockade added runs in the second and fourth innings, but the T-Bones went on to win, picking up their 15th of the season. Mack finished the game 1-3 with a run scored and three RBI’s. RHP Gabe Perez pitched the five-inning complete game, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out two and walking two. It was his third win of the year.
Fargo-Moorhead 3, Wichita 2 (7 innings) – Box
The Redhawks defeated the Wingnuts in a rain-shortened game on Saturday, breaking open a tied game in the 7th with a RBI single off the bat of C Jesus Posso. Posso finished the game with two hits, as well as knocking in a run. RF K.D. Kang drove in two runs in the winning effort. The Redhawks used three pitchers in the win, with RHP Tyler Thompson going 1.2 scoreless innings for his first win of the season. RHP Richie Tate pitched a scoreless seventh to earn his second save of the year.
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