Blasters Doomed by Errors and Big Inning
Published on August 11, 2016 under American Association (AA)
Joplin Blasters News Release
A six-run seventh inning was too much for the Joplin Blasters to overcome on Thursday night, as the Blasters dropped a 9-2 decision to the Texas AirHogs at AirHogs Stadium in Grand Prairie. The Blasters have lost three of four road games to Texas this season, and each team has won five games in the overall season series.
The AirHogs struck first in the series opener, scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning via two hits and an error. Brian Bistagne recorded Texas' first hit, a single, and moved to second base on an errant pickoff throw. Michael Hur drove Bistagne in on a single of his own, giving Texas the 1-0 lead after an inning of play.
Two more Joplin errors helped Texas claim a 3-0 advantage in the bottom of the second inning. With one out, Leon Byrd and Cory Morales both reached base on Blaster miscues. Mike Miller hit a single to load the bases, and Michael Valadez brought Byrd in with a sacrifice fly. Juan Sanchez followed with a single that scored Morales, the second unearned run of the inning.
For the next four innings, Joplin starter Wander Perez kept the AirHogs at bay, retiring 12 of the 13 hitters he faced as the Blasters chipped back into contention. In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Blasters loaded the bases via a Mitch Glasser hit by pitch, a Geraldo Valentin single, and an Edwin Gomez walk. The first Joplin run of the game scored when Glasser crossed the plate on a Brandon Tierney double play ball. Valentin was stranded at third, leaving the Blasters down two runs after four innings.
Valentin would not be stranded on base in the sixth inning, doing the work himself. The veteran blasted his eleventh home run of the season over the left field fence, bringing the Blasters within 3-2. It was the 48th RBI of the season for Valentin, a team-best.
However, the AirHogs would respond with the decisive blow in the bottom of the seventh, scoring six runs on four hits. The outburst came almost entirely with two outs. Miller had reached on a one-out single, while a Sanchez hit batsmen and a Bistagne walk loaded the bases with two outs. Hur drove in his second and third runs of the game with a single, and Devon Rodriguez added his own RBI single. The scoring was capped off by Nick Akins, who blasted a three-run homer, his fifth longball of the season.
Perez, who was on the mound during Texas' seventh inning scoring, suffered his second Blaster loss. Texas starter Cody Hebner was the winning pitcher, upping his 2016 mark to 5-8.
The Blasters will look to tie the series on Friday night back in Grand Prairie. Rookie Mario Morales makes his second start for the Blasters, while Texas counters with lefty David Russo. First pitch at AirHogs Stadium is set for 7:05 p.m.
American Association Stories from August 11, 2016
- AirHogs Use Huge 7th to Down Joplin, 9-2 - Texas AirHogs
- Mamas and the Papas, New Dad Nate Hanson Has Big Game in 15-1 Saints Victory - St. Paul Saints
- Comeback Falls Short against Wichita - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Martinez' Heroics Propel RailCats to 6-5 Victory - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Blasters Doomed by Errors and Big Inning - Joplin Blasters
- Saints March Their Way to 15-1 Thumping of Canaries - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Chavez, Vargas Lead Wingnuts Past Goldeyes - Wichita Wingnuts
- Goldeyes Add Experienced Reliever - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- RailCats Trade Pugh - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Two-Out Hits Sink Blasters in Finale Loss - Joplin Blasters
- AirHogs Drop Series Finale vs. Laredo, 4-1 - Texas AirHogs
- T-Bones Come Back, Walk off to Complete Sweep - Lincoln Saltdogs
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