Blasters Split Doubleheader with Amarillo
July 16, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Joplin Blasters News Release
Joplin, MO-The Blasters split a pair of seven-inning games against division foe Amarillo Thursday night, dropping game one 7-4 before winning game two 5-1 at Joe Becker Stadium.
In the process, Joplin (28-22) ended a season-high five game losing streak and also put to bed a five game slide against the Thunderheads in the season series. The Blasters used a nearly flawless performance on the mound in game two from Nestor Molina to halt the streak. Molina (5-3) pitched his first complete game of the season as he worked all seven innings and gave up just one earned run on six hits with seven strikeouts and no walks. The seven K's matched his season high. It was the second complete game by the pitching staff this season.
After three straight scoreless innings to start game two, Joplin opened the scoring with a single run in the fourth. Carlos Ramirez led off with a line drive single to left. Jake Taylor reached on a bunt single to third. Steven Tinoco sacrifice bunted the runners up to second and third and Jesus Solorzano drove in Ramirez with a sacrifice fly to center. The Blasters made it 2-0 on a bases loaded walk in the fifth. Amarillo cut the lead to 2-1 on an RBI single by Tyler Urps that scored Logan Vick. Vick had a one-out double. Joplin scored three times in the sixth for some insurance. Mitch Glasser banged a two-run scoring double to left-center and Yasser Gomez had an RBI single in the inning.
For Amarillo, Austin Kirk suffered the loss in game two. Kirk (0-2) worked six innings and allowed five earned runs on ten hits with four strikeouts and four walks. At the plate, Carlos Ramirez went 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run. Mitch Glasser collected two hits with two RBIs and one run scored.
The Thunderheads (26-27) broke open a 2-2 tie in game one with a five-run fifth that propelled them to victory. Joplin scored two in the third, while Amarillo matched it with two in the fourth on back-to-back solo home runs by Geraldo Valentin and Juan Martinez. In the fifth, Stefan Gartrell smashed an opposite field two-run homer to right-center that capped the scoring.
Leondy Perez racked up the win for Amarillo in game one. Perez (2-0) lasted five innings and gave up two runs (one earned) on six hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Matt Swilley took the loss for Joplin. Swilley (1-1) worked four innings and yielded three earned runs on three hits with five strikeouts and just one walk. Randy Hamrick posted his ninth save of the season. Hamrick pitched an inning-and-a-third with one strikeout and one hit.
Jake Taylor went 3-for-4 in game one for the Blasters. Taylor then stretched his hitting streak to a team best 15 games with one hit in game two. Yasser Gomez and Omar Luna both went 2-for-4 in game one. For Amarillo, Logan Vick had two hits with one RBI and a run scored. Juan Martinez and Stefan Gartrell each had one hit with two RBIs.
Joplin continues its home series against Amarillo with a single game Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35, and it features fireworks following the game. 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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