Blasters Drop Finale to RailCats
Published on May 29, 2016 under American Association (AA)
Joplin Blasters News Release
The Joplin Blasters dropped a fourth game in a row on Sunday afternoon, suffering a series sweep to the Gary SouthShore RailCats. The RailCats won the series finale by a 7-6 score at the U.S. Steel Yard in northwest Indiana.
For the second day in a row, the Blasters fired the opening salvo, scoring a run in the top of the first inning. Aaron Brill led off the ballgame with a double to left field. Brill then took third on a wild pitch, and scored when the throw to third sailed into left field. The early run put the Blasters ahead 1-0 in the opening frame.
Gary answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the first. Masato Fukae drew a one-out walk, and proceeded to steal second base. With two outs, Jeremy Hamilton clubbed a single to plate Fukae and tie the game after one full inning.
The RailCats took the lead for good in the bottom of the second with three runs off Joplin starter Josue Montanez. Mike Falsetti and Elbert Devarie both reached to start the inning, and stood on second and third after a sacrifice bunt. A walk to Cameron Newell loaded the bases, and a Fukae single gave the RailCats the lead. Two more runs scored on a Brennen Metzger sacrifice fly and a wild pitch.
Former Detroit Tiger Jose Ortega made his Blasters debut in the bottom of the second, striking out the first three hitters he faced. He did surrender a run in the bottom of the fourth, but recorded four total strikeouts in his first game with the team.
In the top of the fourth, the Blasters moved to within 4-3 by putting the first four hitters of the inning on base. Mitch Glasser was hit by a pitch, and Geraldo Valentin doubled to center field to put runners on second and third. Willie Cabrera then drove both runners with a single. Charlie Valerio also singled, but the Blasters were unable to tie the game.
After extending the lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the fourth, Gary SouthShore scored another two runs in the fifth to take a four run lead. Back-to-back doubles by Devarie and Jarred Mederos scored Tillman Pugh and Devarie to give the RailCats a 7-3 advantage.
The Blasters tried to rally in the bottom of the sixth, pulling within two runs of the home team. Valentin started the inning on third base after a fly ball was misplayed by the Gary center fielder. The third baseman then scored his second run of the game on Cabrera's third RBI, a single. A walk to Valerio and a single by Jesus Solorzano loaded the bases, with a double play ball off the bat of Jake Taylor scoring the fifth Joplin run.
A combined bullpen effort kept the RailCats off the board in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings. Keith Picht, Patrick Mincey, and Victor Capellan each threw a scoreless inning, combining for four strikeouts.
The ninth inning saw a final rally attempt by the visitors. Singles by Juan Medina, Brill, and Mitch Glasser loaded the bases with one out. Valentin drove in a run on a sacrifice fly, but a groundout was able to secure the sweep for the RailCats.
Josue Montanez took the loss for the Blasters, while Karl Triana earned his first RailCat victory. The win moved Gary SouthShore to 5-6 on the season, and dropped the Blasters to 4-6.
The Blasters return to Joe Becker Stadium on Monday. In honor of Memorial Day, the Joplin Blasters will be offering free general admission tickets to Monday's contest with the Saint Paul Saints. Monday's game at Joe Becker Stadium is Nerd Night, and is also the team's first Margarita Monday. Josh Hodges will make his third start for the Blasters.
American Association Stories from May 29, 2016
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- American Association Game Recaps - AA
- Blasters Drop Finale to RailCats - Joplin Blasters
- Anderson â??Lights Out' in Rubber Match Win - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- RailCats Hold on to Get 7-6 Win and Complete Series Sweep of Joplin - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Leveret Goes Deep But 'Dogs Fall in Finale - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Wingnuts Use Big Inning to Topple RedHawks 14-4 - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
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- American Association Results - AA
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- Goldeyes Split with Lincoln - Winnipeg Goldeyes
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