Blasters Post Fifth Straight Win, Sweep AirHogs
August 30, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Joplin Blasters News Release
Joplin, MO-The Blasters closed out their inaugural 2015 home schedule with a rousing 8-1 win Sunday over Grand Prairie on Fan Appreciation Night at Joe Becker Stadium.
Joplin (51-42) finished its final home stand of the season with a 6-1 record, including a four-game sweep of the AirHogs. The Blasters won 10 of 12 meetings this season with Grand Prairie (28-65). The AirHogs have lost ten straight games. Joplin remains one game back of wild-card leading Laredo after the Lemurs won at Amarillo.
The Blasters struck first in the opening frame. Leading off, Maikol Gonzalez was hit by a pitch. Oscar Mesa doubled to the gap in left-center and pushed Gonzalez to third. Jairo Perez then lined a single to center off the glove of the pitcher that scored both Gonzalez and Mesa for a 2-0 lead. Joplin scratched its third run of the game across in the second as Jesus Solorzano scored on a Gonzalez infield single. Solorzano led off the inning with a single and Aaron Brill moved him to third with a double to the wall in right.
Joplin widened the gap with a big inning in the fourth. With one out, Aaron Brill walked. Maikol Gonzalez singled to left-center. Oscar Mesa walked to load the bases. Brill scored to make it 4-0 on a sac fly by Jairo Perez. Matt Padgett followed with an RBI single bounced into center. Jake Taylor collected an RBI single. After a walk of Steven Tinoco and a Grand Prairie pitching change, Mason Morioka smacked a two-run scoring single to center that made it 8-0. The AirHogs lone run came in the sixth without the benefit of a hit.
On the mound, Carlos Fuentes notched the victory for Joplin. Fuentes (3-1) worked five scoreless innings and scattered just three hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Blake Oliver took the loss for Grand Prairie. Oliver (6-10) lasted just three-and-two-thirds and allowed eight earned runs on nine hits with two strikeouts and four walks.
The Blasters outhit the AirHogs 12-to-3. Jairo Perez had two hits with three RBIs for Joplin. Maikol Gonzalez, Oscar Mesa, and Jesus Solorzano all had two-hit games as well. Gonzalez and Mesa scored twice. Matt Padgett extended his hitting streak to ten with a single, one RBI, and a run scored. Mason Morioka drove in two.
Joplin closes out its final seven games of the regular season with a road trip through Lincoln and Sioux Falls. Game one of four against the Saltdogs is set for Tuesday night at 6:35. 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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