Blasters Score Late to Drop Lincoln
September 4, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Joplin Blasters News Release
Lincoln, NE-The Blasters produced back-to-back, two-out RBI singles in the eighth to defeat the Lincoln Saltdogs 4-2 on Thursday night at Haymarket Park.
Joplin (53-43) has won two of three in the four-game series, and now leads the season series 9-to-3. The Blasters have won five of six meetings against the Saltdogs (34-62) in Lincoln. Joplin remains one-and-a-half games back of wild-card leading Laredo after the Lemurs won at Kansas City Thursday.The Saltdogs loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the second but only managed one run in the frame. Mitch Canham led off with a walk. Juan Medina singled to center. Mike Gilmartin singled to left. Brian Joynt drove in Canham with a sacrifice fly to center.
Joplin broke through with a two-spot in the fourth. Oscar Mesa led off the inning with a line-drive single to right. Jairo Perez doubled to deep right to place runners at second and third. With one out, Jake Taylor poked a line-drive single up the middle that tied it. The next batter, Steven Tinoco lined a base hit up the middle as well that scored Perez for a 2-1 lead. Lincoln quickly answered in the bottom of the fourth to level it at 2-2. With one out, Mike Gilmartin reached on a hit-by-pitch. Brian Joynt singled to left. Matt Forgatch brought in the tying run on a ball hit in the hole to short that was stopped but went for a single.
The Blasters reclaimed the lead in the top of the eighth. After a ground out started the inning, Jairo Perez singled to right on a liner and later stole second. With two outs, Jake Taylor chopped a single into center that barely scored Perez and gave Joplin a one-run lead back. Taylor took second on the throw home. Steven Tinoco followed again with an RBI single that plated Taylor for the game's final margin.
Both starters on the mound factored in the decision. Frank Del Valle posted his second straight win for Joplin. Del Valle (2-0) lasted seven innings and gave up two earned runs on seven hits with one strikeout and two walks. Shairon Martis took the loss for Lincoln. Martis (6-3) worked eight innings and allowed four earned runs on nine hits with a season-high 11 strikeouts and one walk. Winston Abreu gave up one hit and walked one in the ninth but posted his 21st save of the season.
Each side had nine hits in the contest. Jairo Perez led the Blasters offensively with a 3-for-4 night. Perez had two doubles and scored twice. Jake Taylor and Steven Tinoco each had two singles and two RBIs. For the Saltdogs, C.J. Ziegler went 3-for-4. Lincoln stranded 10 base runners on the night.
Joplin wraps up its series in Lincoln with game four against the Saltdogs Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05. For 2016 ticket information and promotion specials at Joe Becker Stadium, call 417-622-4838 or visit the Blasters website at www.joplinblasters.com.
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