Blasters Fall in First Game After All-Star Break
August 4, 2016 - American Association (AA)
Joplin Blasters News Release
The Joplin Blasters resumed play on Thursday after the American Association All-Star break, falling to the Laredo Lemurs, 4-3, at Uni-Trade Stadium. Laredo has now won six consecutive games between the two teams dating back to June 15.
The Blasters' bats wasted no time in getting on the board, scoring a run in the top of the first. Mitch Glasser led off the game by getting hit by his eleventh pitch of the season. A flyout brought Edwin Gomez to the plate, whose single put runners on first and third with one out. Brandon Tierney got the Blasters on the board with a fielder's choice, which saw Gomez retired at second base.
Laredo answered with a run in the bottom of the second, tying the game. Catcher Zane Chavez started the frame with a double, and advanced to third on a flyout from JD Pulfer. Cesar Valero evened the score with a groundout to the second baseman, which brought Chavez in from third.
In the top of the third, the visiting Blasters responded with a pair of runs to retake the lead. Glasser drew a leadoff walk, and Geraldo Valentin followed with a single. Edwin Gomez laid down a perfect bunt for a single, and the attempted throw to first sailed out of play. Glasser scored, Valentin moved to third, and Gomez stood on second. Tierney drove in his second run of the game with a single, and a hit by pitch to Ermindo Escobar re-loaded the bases. However, the Blasters were unable to get any more runs across, and took a 3-1 lead into the fourth inning.
That 3-1 lead lasted into the bottom of the fourth inning, when the Lemurs tied the game again. Ty Morrison hit a single to start the action, and Laredo evened the game on a home run by Dennis Phipps, who hit his 14th homer of the season over the left-center field wall.
The game's decisive run was plated in the bottom of the sixth against Joplin starter and eventual losing pitcher Luis Gonzalez. With one out, Phipps singled and proceeded to steal second on a delayed steal. Chavez drove in what proved to be the game-winning run with a single, scoring Phipps.
Alex Polston would lead off the top of the seventh with a single, but was stranded on third in what was the last, best chance for Joplin to even the contest.
Kamakani Usui was the winning pitcher for the Lemurs, who used six pitchers in the contest. Jeff Inman tossed a 1-2-3 inning in the ninth, and picked up his eighth save.
The second contest of the four-game set takes place at Uni-Trade Stadium on Friday night. Santos Arias takes the mound for the Blasters, and is opposed by Troy Marks. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
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