Wichita 1, Lincoln 0 — Box Score
The Wichita Wingnuts scored the game’s only run on a pass ball in the sixth inning and beat the Lincoln Saltdogs 1-0 in a pitcher’s duel.
Wichita starting pitcher Anthony Capra went eight innings to earn the win and allowed just three hits and three walks. He struck out eight batters in the game and reliever Matt Nevarez, who picked up the save, had two more strikeouts as he retired the side in the ninth inning in order to finish off the game. For the Saltdogs, starting pitcher Jesse Smith went six innings and allowed just the one unearned run on six hits.
SS Alberto Gonzalez had three hits to lead the Wingnuts and LF Joash Brodin added a pair of hits in addition to scoring the winning-run.
Joplin 3, Grand Prairie 2 (Game 1 – 9 Innings) — Box Score
The Joplin Blasters and Grand Prairie AirHogs were scheduled to play seven innings in the first game of a doubleheader but needed nine anyway. The Blasters walked off on the AirHogs in the bottom of the ninth to claim a 3-2 win.
The Blasters and AirHogs each put up two runs in the first inning and the score line remained there for the next eight innings. In the bottom of the ninth, DH Jake Taylor led off with a double and then RF Jesus Solorzano doubled to score him one pitch later to end the game. Solorzano was 2-for-4 in the game. Blasters 1B Carlos Ramirez went 3-for-4 to lead both teams. Three AirHogs had two-hit games including DH Willie Cabrera who added an RBI.
On the bump, both starters went seven innings and allowed two runs; Joplin’s Nestor Molina had seven strikeouts and Grand Prairie’s Danny Gutierrez had five. Reliever Victor Capellan earned the win for working the ninth.
Grand Prairie 5, Joplin 3 (Game 2 – 7 Innings) — Box Score
The Grand Prairie AirHogs bounced back after dropping the first game of their double header with the Joplin Blasters to split the afternoon with a 5-3 win in the night cap.
The Blasters took the lead early with two runs in the first inning on RBI doubles from CF Oscar Mesa and 1B Carlos Ramirez but the AirHogs tied the game in the third with a home run from 2B Jamodrick McGruder. Grand Prairie took the lead in the fifth inning after 1B Victor Diaz singled with the bases loaded and DH Wille Cabrera followed with another RBI single.
Starting pitcher Blake Oliver earned the win for tossing 6.1 innings and giving up three runs (two earned) on eight hits.
Fargo-Moorhead 6, Gary SouthShore 3 — Box Score
The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks scored six unanswered runs to climb out of an early three-run hole and beat the Gary SouthShore RailCats 6-3.
The RailCats scored two runs in the first and another in the third but the RedHawks scratched out a run in the third and took the lead for good in the top of the fourth with three runs. RF Joe Dunigan doubled home a pair of runs to tie the score and then scored to take the lead on a sacrifice fly from 2B Frank Salerno. Fargo-Moorhead added another pair of runs in the top of the seventh.
Starting pitcher Tyler Herron earned the win for pitching seven innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits while striking out nine batters. Reliever Michael Noteware picked up a six-out save and added three strikeouts of his own.
Kansas City 3, Laredo 0 — Box Score
The Kansas City T-Bones held the Laredo Lemurs to just five hits and picked a 3-0 shutout win Saturday night at Uni-Trade Stadium
The T-Bones took the lead in the top of the third inning as they scored a pair of fielder’s choices and then added another run in the fifth on an error. 2B Ryan Cavan, the leadoff hitter, set the tone at the plate as he had four hits and scored a twice. RF Adam Bailey went 2-for-3 and 3B Jake Blackwood added a hit and a run scored. For the Lemurs, DH Byron Wiley went 2-for-4.
Starting pitcher Robert Duran allowed just three hits in his six innings on the mound as he earned the win.
St. Paul 9, Sioux Falls 3 — Box Score
The St. Paul Saints put the hammer down early and never looked back as they took care of the Sioux Falls Canaries 9-3.
The Saints scored four runs in the opening frame and backed that up with three more in the second and another pair in the third. The heart of the Saints’ order was very efficient as the three-through-six hitters each had multi-hit games and RF Willie Argo led the way as he went 4-for-5 with three RBI, three runs scored and a home run. C Vince DeFazio also went 2-for-5 with three RBI.
For the Canaries, C Richard Stock had three this and two RBI to pace Sioux Falls and OF Jason Repko also had a pair of hits.
Trois-Rivieres 10, Amarillo 3 (Final/8 Innings – Weather) — Box Score
The Trois-Rivieres Aigles wasted no time on offense as they put up four runs in the top of the first inning and went on to beat the Amarillo Thunderheads 10-3 in an interleague affair.
SS Pedro Lopez scored the first run of the game on a single by 1B Daniel Mateo and in the next at bat CF Steve Brown cleared the bases with a three-run home run. The Thunderheads picked up a run in the bottom of the frame when RF Logan Vick, who went 2-for-3, scored on a triple from CF Drew Heid, who also had two hits, but Amarillo scored just two runs the rest of the way and the Aigles put the game away with a six-run fifth inning.
For the game, the Aigles had twice as many hits as the Thunderheads as Trois-Rivieres racked up 12 hits from nine different hitters. The game was called after the top of the eighth inning due to rain.
Sioux City 6, Winnipeg 2 — Box Score
The Sioux City Explorers scored a pair of runs in the first and starting pitcher John Straka provided eight strong innings of work on the mound to pave the rest of the way to a 6-2 against the Winnipeg Goldeyes.
The top three batters in the Explorers order combined for seven hits as CF Matty Johnson and RF Michael Lang had two hits and 1B went 3-for-4. Each had an RBI and Lang had a pair. DH Brock Kjeldgaard and SS Noah Perio also had RBI for the Goldeyes. LF Nic Jackson provided the Goldeye’s offense with a two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning.
That blast marked the end of Straka’s night but those were the only runs he allowed and he earned the win after allowing just six hits and striking out eight batters.
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