Blasters Can't Finish off Sweep; Lose Sunday Matinee in Wichita
July 24, 2016 - American Association (AA)
Joplin Blasters News Release
The Joplin Blasters were unable to close out a series sweep of the Wichita Wingnuts on Sunday afternoon, dropping a 10-2 contest to the first place Wingnuts. It snapped Joplin's three game winning streak at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.
Sunday's matinee started well for the Blasters, with a run in the top of the first inning. After leadoff hitter Mitch Glasser was retired, Geraldo Valentin stepped to the plate and blasted his ninth home run of the season. Valentin's solo shot gave the Blasters a 1-0 lead, the one and only advantage for the visitors.
Wichita answered with a home run of their own in the bottom half of the inning. On a 1-0 delivery from newly signed Blaster Luis Gonzalez, Zack Cox hit the ninth homer of his season, also of the one-run variety. The Wingnuts would also load the bases in the first, but Gonzalez escaped the jam with a popout.
The Wingnuts went ahead for good in the bottom of the third, sending seven hitters to the plate in a four-run frame. Cox drew a leadoff walk, and scored the second run of the game on a double by T.J. Mittelstaedt. Matt Chavez followed with the second Wichita homer of the day, a two-run home run that pushed the Wingnut lead to 4-1. A Richard Prigatano double followed by a Brennen Salgado single would add the fourth and final run of the inning.
An error allowed the Wingnuts to extend the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Consecutive singles by Mittelstaedt and Chavez put runners on the corners, and an error off the bat of Prigatano brought Mittelstaedt across the plate to give Wichita a 6-1 lead.
Joplin scored their final run of the game in the top of the sixth. Charlie Valerio hit a one-out single, and Mark Krueger drew a walk. After a flyout from Brandon Tierney moved Valerio to third, rookie outfielder KC Huth drove him in on an infield single.
Four runs in the final two at-bats sealed the game for the host Wingnuts. Prigatano scored Chavez on an error in the bottom of the seventh, and an RBI single from Cox and a two-run double by Chavez accounted for Wichita's eight run victory.
In his Joplin debut, Gonzalez was dealt the loss over six innings on the mound. Wichita starter Eddie Medina also worked six innings, and was awarded with his third victory of the season over the Blasters.
The Blasters, who went 2-4 on the road trip in Sioux City and Wichita, return home to Joplin for seven games before the Association's All-Star break. The homestand begins Monday with a divisional contest with the Texas AirHogs at Joe Becker Stadium on Monday. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. with Wander Perez on the mound for the home team.
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American Association Stories from July 24, 2016
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- Wingnuts Game Recap: Chavez, Wingnuts Blast Joplin in Matinee - Wichita Wingnuts
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- Blasters Clinch Series Victory with Shootout Win over Wingnuts - Joplin Blasters
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