AA Joplin Blasters

Blasters Level Series in Sioux Falls, Playoff Hopes End

Published on September 6, 2015 under American Association (AA)
Joplin Blasters News Release


Sioux Falls, SD-The Blasters evened their final three-game series of the season against the Canaries with a 6-4 victory Sunday at Sioux Falls Stadium.

Joplin (55-44) improved to 4-2 on its final road trip of the season and 8-0 in day games. The Blasters, however, fell out of playoff contention as Laredo wrapped up the wild-card berth with a win Sunday at home over Sioux City.

Sioux Falls (38-60) took an early lead for a second straight game. In the first, Jason Repko poked a one-out single to center. Jerome Pena followed with a single to right. David Bergin then lined a base hit to right that scored Repko for a 1-0 lead. In the third, the Canaries made it 2-0 on a one-out solo home run deep to left-center by Repko. It was his 13th dinger of the season.

The Blasters plated their first run of the night in the fourth. With one out, Matt Padgett walked and later scored on a double to left by Omar Luna. After David Bergen smacked a home run to left-center in the fifth for a 3-1 Canaries lead, Joplin scored a single run to start the sixth. Jake Taylor walked with one out and Luna reached on a ground ball error. A wild pitch advanced both runners, and Taylor then scored on an RBI groudout to short by Mitch Glasser. In the bottom of the sixth, Sioux Falls made it 4-2 with an unearned run. Brett Balkan singled to center and Chris Grayson doubled to right. Balkan scored on an errant throw back to second on Grayson's double.

In the seventh, Joplin tied the game with a two-spot. Mason Morioka led off the inning with a single to left. Maikol Gonzalez walked. Both runners advanced to second and third on a Steven Tinoco sac bunt. Jairo Perez drove in Morioka for a one-run deficit. With two outs, Matt Padgett singled home Morioka with the tying run.

The Blasters took their first lead of the night and the series with a run in the eighth. Omar Luna reached on an infield single. Mitch Glasser was hit by a pitch. Oscar Mesa walked. Joplin took a 5-4 lead on a sacrifice fly to center by Maikol Gonzalez. Matt Padgett added an insurance run with another RBI single in the ninth.

Victor Capellan posted the win in relief for Joplin. Capellan (6-3) worked two innings and gave up just one hit with four strikeouts. Garrit Granitz took the loss for Sioux Falls. Granitz (0-2) did not record an out in the eighth and allowed one earned run on one hit with one walk. Winston Abreu collected his 23rd save of the season after striking out the side in the ninth. Abreu hit the first two batters he faced but left them stranded at second and third.

The Canaries outhit the Blasters 11-to-9. Sioux Falls stranded 10 base runners and made two errors. Matt Padgett and Omar Luna both had two hits for Joplin. Padgett drove in two and Luna had one RBI with a run. Mason Morioka led the way with three base hits, all singles. For Sioux Falls, David Bergin went 3-for-5 with the homer, two RBIs, and a run. Jason Repko had two hits, a homer and two runs.

Joplin plays its final regular season game on Labor Day Monday afternoon in Sioux Falls. First pitch at The Birdcage is scheduled for 12:05. For 2016 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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American Association Stories from September 6, 2015


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