AA Joplin Blasters

Blasters Claim Dramatic Walk-Off Victory

Published on May 21, 2016 under American Association (AA)
Joplin Blasters News Release


The Joplin Blasters had been looking for the big hit throughout their opening series with the Winnipeg Goldeyes.

Those hits finally came in the bottom of the ninth on Saturday at Joe Becker Stadium, with the Blasters scoring three runs in the game's final inning for a dramatic 6-5 victory over Winnipeg. The walk-off win got Joplin in the win column for 2016.

For the first time, the Blasters scored first with two runs in the first frame. Mitch Glasser clubbed a one-out double, and scored when a Geraldo Valentin grounder eluded the Goldeye second baseman. Jake Taylor singled with two outs in the inning, and Jesus Solorzano added his own single that plated Valentin. Taylor was thrown out at third to end the inning.

Joplin's lead was extended to 3-0 in the third inning. Aaron Brill hit a double to start the frame, and moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt from Glasser that was misplayed. With runners on the corners, Valentin drove in Brill on a fielder's choice. The Blasters would load the bases in the third, but could not push any more runs across.

Winnipeg began chipping into the Blaster lead in the fourth inning on their fifth home run of the series. After two outs, Jacob Rogers launched a deep homer to left, his second of the season. The home run cut the Joplin lead to 3-1 after four innings.

Carlos Fuentes, the Joplin starter, exited in the fifth inning after four frames of solid work.

The Blaster lead was then cut to one run in the sixth inning after Winnipeg pushed their second run across. David Rohm doubled with one out, and took third on a wild pitch. Rohm crossed home on a Wes Darvill groundout, bringing Blaster advantage to 3-2.

Winnipeg took the lead in the top of the seventh off Joplin reliever Patrick Mincey. Ridge Hoopii-Haslam singled and stole second base with one out. After Maikol Gonzalez was retired, consecutive singles from Adam Heisler and Reggie Abercrombie gave the Goldeyes a 4-3 lead.

A Gonzalez double and an RBI groundout by Heisler gave Winnipeg a 5-3 lead in the top of the ninth, leading to the Blaster heroics against closer Jailen Peguero.

Peguero retired two of the first three Blasters in the bottom of the ninth, surrendering just a walk to Will Soto. He then struck out Zack Burling for what would have been the third out. However, the ball skipped away from catcher Tanner Murphy, and allowed both runners to reach.

With runners on first and second, Brill singled up the middle to bring the Blasters within one run. Soto scored, and Burling stood on second base. The Brill single brought up Mitch Glasser. Glasser shot a single through the right side to tie the game. On the single, Brill broke for third base, and an errant throw from the Goldeyes skipped out of play, allowing Brill to score and the Blasters to claim a dramatic victory.

Keith Picht pitched the final two innings of the game for the Blasters, and picked up the victory. Peguero took the loss after being the winning pitcher on Friday night.

The Blasters now have the opportunity to earn a split with the Goldeyes during Sunday's series finale. Sunday's game is set for 2:05 p.m. at Joe Becker Stadium, and is the team's first Sunday Family Fun Day. Josue Montanez will climb the hill for the Black and Gold, and will be opposed by Winnipeg righty Edwin Carl.

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