AA Joplin Blasters

Blasters Win Streak Ends in Home Loss to Laredo

June 23, 2015 - American Association (AA)
Joplin Blasters News Release


Joplin, MO-The Blasters saw their season-high five-game winning streak end at the hands of the Laredo Lemurs with a 20-5 defeat Monday night at Joe Becker Stadium.

Laredo (15-15) lit the fire early and never let up the rest of the night. The Lemurs opened the scoring with a five-run top of the first. With one out, Abel Nieves lined a single to right. After a walk of Kevin Taylor, Denis Phipps hit a towering home run to left that barely cleared the fence. Following another walk, Juan Silverio launched a home run into the left field bleachers for a 5-0 cushion.

Joplin (17-9) scored its first run in the bottom of the first. Oscar Mesa reached on a two-out infield single that deflected off the pitcher's glove. Carlos Ramirez later drove in Mesa. The Blasters cut the lead to 5-2 with another mark in the third. Maikol Gonzalez reached on an infield single up the third base line. Following a fly out, Oscar Mesa drove in Gonzalez with a base hit to center.

The Lemurs broke the game open with a four-run fourth. Juan Silverio doubled to lead off the inning. D'Vontrey Richardson singled to right-center. Luke Bailey then smashed his first of two home runs on the night deep to left-center. After a Joplin pitching change, Jeudy Valdez walked and later scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Kevin Taylor that made it 9-2.

Laredo padded its lead in the fifth with eight more runs, including a two-run home run from Jeudy Valdez and a grand slam by Byron Wiley. Eleven Lemurs batted in the inning. It was 17-2 after six. Down 18-2 in the seventh, Joplin put its own crooked number on the board with a three spot. Jesus Solorzano led off with a triple to deep center and scored on a ground out by Gabe Suarez. With two outs, Mitch Glasser singled. Oscar Mesa and Yenier Bello then put together back-to-back RBI doubles. Laredo socked its sixth home run of the contest in the eighth for two more runs.

On the mound, Scott Garner posted the win for the Lemurs. Garner (4-2) lasted six-and-two-thirds and gave up four runs (three earned) on nine hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Rob Tejeda took the loss for Joplin. Tejeda (1-2) worked only three innings and allowed eight earned runs on six hits with one strikeout and two walks. It was Tejeda's shortest outing of the season.

Seven Laredo batters had multi-hit games. Luke Bailey went 3-for-5 with two home runs, five RBIs, and three runs scored. Byron Wiley finished 2-for-4 with a grand slam, five RBIs and two runs. Denis Phipps homered and drove in three. Juan Silverio was 2-for-6 with a homer, two RBIs and two runs. Jeudy Valdez had a dinger with two RBIs and two runs. For the Blasters, Oscar Mesa went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs. Yenier Bello and Carlos Ramirez each collected two hits with one RBI.

Joplin continues its three-game home series with South Division foe Laredo Tuesday night at 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.



American Association Stories from June 23, 2015


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