Blasters Power Surge Sinks Saltdogs
Published on September 2, 2015 under American Association (AA)
Joplin Blasters News Release
Lincoln, NE-The Blasters slugged a season-high four home runs in a 7-4 come-from-behind victory over Lincoln on Wednesday afternoon at Haymarket Park.
Joplin (52-43) moved within one game of wild-card leading Laredo with five left. The Lemurs play Wednesday night at Kansas City. The Blasters evened the four-game series and are now 4-1 against the Saltdogs (34-61) in Lincoln this season. Joplin leads the season series 8-to-3.
The Blasters used a two-out, solo home run deep to left by Jairo Perez to start the scoring in the top of the first. It was Perez's seventh of the season. In the bottom of the inning, Lincoln leveled the game with an unearned run. Aaron Payne doubled and later reached third on an errant pick-off throw to second. Payne then scored on a throwing error from center field following a fly out.
The Saltdogs took the lead with a single mark in the second and added to the lead in the fourth. Mike Gilmartin led off the second with a single to right. Juan Medina singled to left. The runners moved up on a ground ball out. After a hit-by-pitch, Eddie Young drove in the go-ahead run on a grounder to second. Lincoln made it 4-1 with two more in the fourth. Gilmartin again led off with a base hit. Medina reached on a fielder's choice. Jeremy Hamilton walked. Tucker White lined an RBI single to right, and Young scored the fourth run on a sacrifice fly to left.
Joplin changed the complexion of the game in the sixth. With one out, Jairo Perez smacked his second solo home run of the day deep to left to cut the lead in half. It was his eighth of the season. Matt Padgett followed with a bouncing single to left. Padgett later scored on a wild pitch to make it one-run deficit. With two outs, Steven Tinoco kept the line moving as he punched a line drive single to center. The next batter, Jesus Solorzano, walloped a two-run home run over the grassy berm in left-center for a 5-4 Blasters lead. Joplin added two insurance runs in the ninth, including a solo home run from Mason Morioka. It was Morioka's first dinger since joining the team.
On the mound, rookie Josh Evans picked up his third straight win for Joplin. Evans (3-1) lasted five-and-two-thirds and allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits with four strikeouts and one walk. Jesse Smith took the loss for Lincoln. Smith (3-9) worked six innings and gave up five earned runs on nine hits with three strikeouts and no walks. Smith surrendered three of the four Blasters homers. Winston Abreu pitched a 1-2-3 ninth with one strikeout to earn his 20th save of the season.
Joplin outhit Lincoln 12-to-8. Every Blasters batter in the lineup posted at least one hit. Jairo Perez went 2-for-4 with the two homers, two RBIs, and two runs. Jesus Solorzano finished 2-for-4 with the homer, two RBIs, and a run. Steven Tinoco collected two hits with a run. For the Saltdogs, Mike Gilmartin and Tucker White each had two hits.
Joplin remains on the road in Lincoln for game three of four against the Saltdogs Thursday night. First pitch is set for 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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