Blasters Drop Second One-Run Game to Laredo
August 5, 2016 - American Association (AA)
Joplin Blasters News Release
For the second night in a row, a run in the bottom of the sixth inning proved to be the difference as the Joplin Blasters dropped a 3-2 decision to the host Laredo Lemurs at Uni-Trade Stadium on Friday night. The Blasters have lost three straight games overall, and seven consecutive at the hands of Laredo.
A night after the Blasters got on the board in the first inning, the Lemurs followed suit with two in the game's opening frame. Joplin starter Santos Arias, who took his first American Association loss, walked the bases loaded, dealing free passes to the first, fourth, and fifth hitters of the inning. With two outs, JD Pulfer struck with a two-run single, scoring Alvaro Rondon and Dennis Phipps. Arias then struck out Cesar Valera to end the inning, keeping Laredo's initial lead at 2-0.
Laredo's 2-0 would hold until the sixth inning, thanks to stellar pitching on both sides. Lemur starter Troy Marks allowed just a first inning single in his first five frames, while Arias was able to keep the Lemurs off the board in his next four innings of work.
The Blasters broke through in the top of the sixth inning, tying the game at two. KC Huth and Sean Smith started the inning with singles, placing runners on the corners with no outs. Mitch Glasser, who saw a 15-game on base streak snapped, hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Huth from third and moving Smith to second. Geraldo Valentin followed with a single, putting runners back on the corners. Edwin Gomez added a single, scoring Smith to even the contest. An attempted third run was cut down, as Valentin was unable to score on a Brandon Tierney single. Joplin left the bases loaded after an error off the bat of Ermindo Escobar and a strikeout.
The decisive run of Friday's contest followed soon after, as Laredo scored what proved to be the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth. Zane Chavez led off with a double, and stood on third with no outs after a Pulfer single. Valera brought in the go-ahead run with a single of his own, providing a 3-2 lead to the Lemurs. Relief pitchers Keith Picht and Roby Romero would retire the final nine hitters of the game after the winning single.
Joplin threatened in each of the final three innings, getting runners to scoring position in every frame. The closest the Blasters would come was getting Huth to third in the ninth, but Jeff Inman earned his ninth save with a five-out effort.
The Blasters enter the weekend looking for their first post-All Star break victory. Joplin plays the third of four games with the host Lemurs on Saturday night at Uni-Trade Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., and the Blasters will send lefty Wander Perez to the mound. -- Ryan Murphy Director of Broadcasting Joplin Blasters
• Discuss this story on the American Association message board...
American Association Stories from August 5, 2016
- 'Dogs Climb out of Deep Hole to Beat 'Nuts - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Hamburger's Eight Innings Not Enough as Saints Fall to RedHawks 4-2 - St. Paul Saints
- Blasters Drop Second One-Run Game to Laredo - Joplin Blasters
- Late Onslaught Dooms Wingnuts in Lincoln - Wichita Wingnuts
- Bircher Pitches Canaries to Third Straight - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Explorers Pitching Dominates In Victory Over Kansas City - Sioux City Explorers
- AirHogs Downed by Canaries Despite 2 Reynolds HR - Texas AirHogs
- After Storms, 'Dogs Outhit Nuts But Drop Opener - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Salgado Homer Lifts Wichita over Lincoln - Wichita Wingnuts
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
