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AA Joplin Blasters

Blasters Rock Doubleheader Sweep at Wichita

June 26, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Joplin Blasters News Release


Wichita, KS-The Blasters used solid pitching and costly Wichita errors to sweep a doubleheader Thursday night at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, winning game one 4-2 and claiming game two 6-4.

With the series-opening victories, Joplin (19-11) moved two games ahead of the Wingnuts for first place in the South Division. The Blasters took a one-run lead in the third inning of game one. Jake Taylor led off with an infield single on a high chopper behind the mound. After a sacrifice bunt moved Taylor to second, he came around to score on an RBI single to center from Maikol Gonzalez. Joplin expanded its lead with a three-run fifth. Taylor again led off the inning with an infield single. Jesus Solorzano reached base on a fielder's choice. On the play, two throwing errors by the pitcher and the center fielder allowed Taylor to score and advanced Solorzano to third. Gonzalez brought Solorzano in with a sacrifice fly. After Mitch Glasser stroked a single into center, Oscar Mesa drove him in with a double up the left field line and it was 4-0 Joplin. Wichita (18-14) scored twice in the seventh for the game's final margin. Jayce Ray had a two-run scoring single following a single by Matt Padgett and a double from Brent Dean.

On the mound, Nestor Molina picked up the win for the Blasters. Molina (3-1) lasted six-and-a-third and gave up two earned runs on six hits with four strikeouts and one walk. Former Toronto Blue Jays starter Scott Richmond took the loss in his first start of the season. Richmond (0-1) went five and gave up four runs (one earned) on six hits with two strikeouts and no walks. Winston Abreu bounced back from his first loss the night before to earn his sixth save of the season. With the tying run at the plate, Abreu induced a fly out and a strikeout to end the game. Jake Taylor had a two-hit game and scored twice for Joplin. Maikol Gonzalez drove in two.

In game two, the Blasters jumped on Wichita early with a single mark in the first. Maikol Gonzalez reached on an error by the third baseman. Mitch Glasser followed suit with a single to center. Oscar Mesa then loaded the bases as he made it to first on an error by the catcher picking up the ball. Following a pickoff of Gonzalez at third, Yenier Bello was hit by a pitch. Glasser scored the game's first run on a fielder's choice from Carlos Ramirez that turned into a force out at third. Joplin stretched its lead in the fourth. Jake Taylor started with another infield single. Steven Tinoco reached on a soft line drive to right-center. Jesus Solorzano loaded the bases with a hit by pitch. Gonzalez then bounced a ball right back to the pitcher and Taylor was forced out at home but the relay throw to first sailed high and into the right field corner allowing all three runners to race home for a 4-0 cushion. Tinoco added to the lead with a two-RBI single to right in the fifth. Wichita scored one in the bottom of the fifth and added a solo home run by Matt Padgett in the sixth. In their last at-bat, the Wingnuts used a lead-off walk to their benefit. Back-to-back two-out doubles cut the lead to 6-4. Representing the tying run, Brent Dean flied out to center to end the night.

Jake Meiers posted his first win of the season in game two. Meiers (1-1) came out of the bullpen to make the start and went three-and-two-thirds with just two hits. He struck out two and walked two. Daniel Bennett (0-3) suffered the loss as he worked four innings with four unearned runs on five hits, one strikeout and one walk. Victor Capellan registered his first save of the season as he came on to record the final out. Oscar Mesa and Steven Tinoco each had two-hit games. Jesus Solorzano picked up two RBIs. Dustin Geiger and Matt Padgett both collected two hits for Wichita. Padgett smacked a home run and had a double with two RBIs.

Going into the day, the Wingnuts were tied for the fewest errors in the American Association. They committed seven in the two games combined, including five errors in game two. They also had the league's best fielding percentage. Of the ten runs scored on the day for the Blasters, only one was earned.

Joplin continues its nine-game, eight-day road swing through Wichita and Laredo with game three against the Wingnuts Friday night. First pitch is set for 7:05. 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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