Blasters Slide Past Amarillo for Second Straight Win
July 17, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Joplin Blasters News Release
Joplin, MO-The Blasters scored two key runs in the seventh and hung on for a 4-3 victory over Amarillo Friday night at Joe Becker Stadium.
Joplin (29-22) evened the series at two games apiece and made it two straight victories over the Thunderheads. The Blasters took an early lead with a single tally in the second. Jake Taylor led off the inning with a single to right. The base hit stretched Taylor's team-high hitting streak to 16. Omar Luna then reached on a fielder's choice. Mitch Glasser followed with a fielder's choice of his own as the pitcher threw wildly to second in an attempt to get the lead runner. Luna moved up to third on the throwing error, and scored the game's first run as Glasser was caught in a rundown between first and second on a delayed steal attempt.
The Blasters made it 2-0 with another run in the fourth. Yasser Gomez doubled up the left field line to start the inning. Gomez tagged up and went to third on a line out to center by Carlos Ramirez. Jake Taylor then hit a sacrifice fly to left that scored Gomez from third.
Amarillo (26-28) drew the lead down to one with a mark in the fifth. Rene Leveret led off with a single to right. Jason Martin doubled to the wall in right-center. After Tyler Urps walked, Corey Bass singled to right and scored Leveret. The Thunderheads leveled the game with a run in the sixth. With two outs, Leveret doubled to the gap in right-center. Martin followed with a single to center. Tyler Urps then grounded a ball to first that was bobbled and allowed Leveret to run home for a 2-2 tie.
In the seventh, Joplin scratched two runs across to reclaim the lead. Mitch Glasser was hit by a pitch leading off. Jesus Solorzano moved Glasser to second with a sacrifice bunt. Glasser stole third and a throwing error by the catcher up the left field line on the play allowed him to race home for a 3-2 lead. Aaron Brill then tripled up the right field line. Maikol Gonzalez reached on a fielder's choice as Brill was thrown out at the plate. Gonzalez proceeded to steal second and scored the Blasters fourth run on a line drive single to left by Oscar Mesa. Amarillo cut the lead to one in the eighth with a solo home run to deep right-center by Rene Leveret. It was Leveret's eighth round-tripper of the season.
On the mound, Victor Capellan posted the win in relief. Capellan (4-1) worked two innings and gave up one earned run on two hits with three strikeouts and no walks. Richard Barrett suffered the loss for Amarillo. Barrett (0-2) allowed two earned runs on two hits. Winston Abreu picked up his eighth save of the season as he struck out the side in the ninth. Former Major League reliever Alberto Castillo made his starting debut for the Blasters and lasted five innings with one earned run on five hits, three strikeouts, and three walks. He worked out of a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the fifth inning and left with a 2-1 lead. Amarillo outhit Joplin 10-to-8. For the Blasters, Oscar Mesa and Yasser Gomez both went 2-for-4. Aaron Brill finished 2-for-3. For the Thunderheads, Rene Leveret was 4-for-4 with the homer and three runs. Jason Martin and Corey Bass both had two hits in defeat.
Joplin wraps up its home series against Amarillo Saturday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35. 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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