Blasters Explode Late to Beat Lincoln
July 3, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Joplin Blasters News Release
Joplin, MO - The Blasters continued their late innings mastery of the Lincoln Saltdogs with a five-run seventh to take the series opener 6-4 Friday night at Joe Becker Stadium.
Joplin (24-14) is ten games over .500 now for the third time this week. The Blasters opened the scoring with a single mark in the second. Jake Taylor led off the inning with a bouncing single in the hole to left. Taylor advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a ground out. Yenier Bello then drove Taylor in with a sacrifice fly to left. Lincoln (14-26) took its first lead of the night with a two-out rally in the fifth. Ryan Wiggins walked to reach base. The next batter, Aaron Payne, made it 2-1 Saltdogs with a home run to deep right field.
It remained a one-run game for the next two innings. In the bottom of the seventh, Joplin erupted to take the lead back for good. Jake Taylor led off with a base hit to left-center but was thrown out at second attempting to turn a single into a double. Omar Luna then smoked a line drive single up the middle. Luna advanced to second on a wild pitch. Yenier Bello followed with a walk. Steven Tinoco evened the score with a double up the right field line that plated Luna. With runners at second and third and the Lincoln infield drawn in, Jesus Solorzano chopped a ball to the shortstop. Tinoco ranged off second with Bello holding his ground at third. When the throw went to third, Tinoco raced back safely to second and the bases were loaded. Maikol Gonzalez gave Joplin the lead with a two-run scoring single up the middle that ricocheted off the second base bag and into left-center. Oscar Mesa reached on a fielder's choice and drove in Solorzano. Mesa then went first to third on a Yasser Gomez single to center. Mesa scored the fifth run of the inning for a 6-2 lead as Gomez attempted a delayed steal of second. Mesa scored before Gomez was tagged out as he was caught in a rundown.
In the ninth, Lincoln smashed its second home run of the night for the game's final margin. Jon Gaston had a one-out single and Curt Smith followed with a dinger deep to left-center that cleared the bleachers. It was Smith's third homer of the season.
In relief, Sam Agnew-Wieland notched another win for Joplin. Agnew-Wieland (3-0) worked one-and-two-thirds and struck out two. Conor Spink suffered the loss for Lincoln. Spink (3-4) went just one-third of an inning and allowed three earned runs on three hits with one walk. It's the second time Joplin has beaten Spink coming out of the bullpen this season.
Joplin outhit Lincoln 9-to-6. Jake Taylor and Steven Tinoco both collected two hits. Tinoco drove in a run and scored once. Maikol Gonzalez had a hit with two RBIs. For the Saltdogs, Curt Smith finished 3-for-4 with the homer, two RBIs, and a run. Aaron Payne homered and drove in two. The Blasters have either been tied for first or in first place outright since June 15th.
Joplin continues its holiday weekend series against the Lincoln Saltdogs with game two Saturday night. First pitch is set for 6:35. The Fourth of July Fireworks Extravaganza will take place following the game. For 2015 ticket information and promotion specials at Joe Becker Stadium, call 417-622-4838 or visit the Blasters website at www.joplinblasters.com.
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