Lincoln 8, Joplin 1 – Box
1B CJ Ziegler lived up to his billing as the cleanup hitter tonight. Ziegler was the only player on either team to reach base every time he stepped up to the plate. He went 2-2 with two walks, a run scored and four RBI. He hit for power with a home run and a double. Ziegler was one of seven Lincoln players to reach home plate in the game. DH Curt Smith was the only player to score multiple times, going 1-3 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored. Starter Casey Collins pitched all nine innings and only allowed two hits and took a no-hitter into the fifth inning.
The lone run for the Blasters came from 2B/SS Maikol Gonzalez, who hit a solo home run in the ninth inning.
Sioux Falls 1, Winnipeg 0 – Box
1B Daniel Bergin changed the course of this pitcher’s duel with one swing of the bat in the top of the second inning. His solo home run was his 14th of the season and the only run for either team. Starters Joe Bircher and Anthony Smith both went deep into the game. Bircher edged Smith, but both pitched well. Bircher Allowed five hits over seven innings and struck out seven. Smith went eight innings, allowing five hits and an earned run. He struck out three. Reliever Chase Johnson shut down the ninth inning to pick up his 14th save of the season.
LF Adam Heisler flashed his speed once again for Winnipeg. He went 1-3 with a walk and stole his 41st base of the season.
New Jersey 7, Fargo Moorhead 3 – Box
DH Adam Kirby-Jones continues to do what he’s done all season, hit home runs and drive in runs. Jones hit his 17th home run of the season, good enough for second in the Can Am League. His three RBIs put him at a team-leading 68 for the season. Jones reached base four times, going 2-3 with two walks and two runs scored. LF Matt Helms also had a good day at the plate, going 1-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Starter Brian Ernst struck out seven in five innings to pick up a win.
The RedHawks were led by the combination of CF Dan Murren and C Luke Bailey. Murren reached base four times, going 2-3 with two walks and a triple. Bailey hit a home run and went 2-5 with two runs and two RBI.
Amarillo 7, Wichita 2 – Box
Tonight it was the bottom of the order which gave the spark for Amarillo. SS Kori Melo went 3-3 with two runs and two RBIs as he hit ninth in the order. The Eighth batter, C Corey Bass also had a strong performance going 2-4 with two runs scored. Melo’s two RBIs were his first of the season. Starter Matt Larkins kept the Wichita offense in check as he only allowed two earned runs in seven innings pitched. Larkins struck out six and brought his season ERA down to 3.29.
Leadoff hitter Nick Van Stratten gave the Wingnuts everything he could tonight. On the second pitch of the third inning, Van Stratten drove it over the wall and rounded the bases. He finished 2-3 with a run, and RBI and two walks.
Sioux City Explorers 8, Grand Prairie 6 – Box
Grand Prairie jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead, but eight unanswered runs by Sioux City and a dominating bullpen performance gave them the victory. The bullpen pitched 7.1 innings of scoreless baseball and only allowed two hits. Rob Wort earned the victory after striking out two over 1.1 innings. Jose Flores closed the game and picked up the save. 2B Ryan Court gave the Explorers the spark on offense they needed. Court went 2-2 with a home run, two runs scored and two walks. DH Brock Kjeldgaard added two more RBI.
DH Victor Diaz powered Grand Prairie. He hit two doubles and drove in five runs. Diaz now has 49 RBI on the season.
St. Paul 6, Gary Southshore 2 – Box
Leadoff hitter CF Alonzo Harris gave the Saints all of the offense they needed as he scored two runs and hit a three run home run. Harris finished the game 1-4 with two runs, three RBI and a walk. The RBIs were his 60th of the season. LF Willie Argo also did his part. He reached base three times thanks to patience at the plate. His three walks resulted in one run for the Saints. Starter Reyes Dorado got the win after going five strong and striking out four.
The two runs scored by Gary Southshore came from 1B Dustin Geiger. His double brought home RF Adam Taylor. A few batters later he would come around to score. He finished 1-4 with a run and an RBI.
Laredo 14, Kansas City 11 (11 Innings)
In this long affair, Laredo came out on top after scoring 5 runs in the top of the 11th inning. The two teams combined for 34 hits and 25 runs in this high scoring game. Laredo in particular saw a lot of guys cross the plate, with eight different players scoring runs in the game. They were led by Ty Morrison and Abel Nieves, who both scored three times in the game. They combined to go 5-10 with six runs and three RBI. Reliever Luis De La Cruz came on at the end of the game and earned the victory. He pitched 3 innings and struck out five.
Nate Tenbrink led the charge for Kansas City. He reached base the most out of anyone in the game, going 3-4 with two walks, a run scored and three RBI. He raised his season batting average to .329. Leadoff hitter Starlin Rodriguez went 2-7 and scored three runs.