Cabrera Leads Blasters to Comeback Victory
Published on June 20, 2016 under American Association (AA)
Joplin Blasters News Release
The Joplin Blasters rallied from a 7-1 deficit to claim a dramatic 9-7 victory over the Sioux Falls Canaries at Joe Becker Stadium. The Blasters scored the final eight runs of the game, including three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to take the lead. The win allowed the Blasters to win the series with two victories on Saturday and Sunday.
The first inning was not kind to the Blasters, as two Sioux Falls home runs allowed the Canaries to take a 5-0 lead before the Blasters could come to the plate. A leadoff walk to Blake Schmit and a Ozney Guillen single led to an RBI single from Jake Taylor. David Bergin followed with a three-run homer, pushing the early advantage to 4-0. After two outs were recorded, Michael Pair hit his fourth homer in four games, a solo shot that accounted for the fifth and final run of the frame.
Joplin replied with a run in the bottom of the first. Oscar Mesa led off the inning with a double, one of three on the day. After a wild pitch and a walk to Mitch Glasser, Geraldo Valentin hit into a fielder's choice to score Mesa, and put the Blasters on the board.
Sioux Falls increased the lead to six runs in the top of the third inning with another home run. The frame started with a single by Jake Taylor, but the next two hitters were put out by starter Patrick Mincey. Ryan Lashley then hit a two-run home run, his first of the season. Lashley's homer gave the Canaries a 7-1 lead through two and a half innings.
Mesa hit his second double in the bottom of the third, again to lead off the inning. Another walk to Glasser brought Valentin back to the plate, where he drove in Mesa on a groundout.
The Blaster comeback began in the bottom of the fifth inning with four runs on four hits. Mesa's third double led to a single by Valentin, putting runners on the corners for Willie Cabrera, who clubbed a two-run double to pull the Blasters within three runs. Charlie Valerio and Juan Medina both walked to load the bases, where new Blaster Bobby Webb doubled down the left field line, scoring two runs and cutting the Sioux Falls lead to one run.
After a scoreless sixth and seventh inning, the Blasters took the lead in the bottom of the eighth. Jesus Solorzano drew a walk to start the action, and moved to second on a Mesa bunt. Glasser then drew a walk of his own, but Valentin was struck out for the second out. With two on and two out, Cabrera stepped to the plate and launched a deep three-run home run. Cabrera's fifth home run of the season gave the Blasters the decisive 9-7 margin. The homer was the fifth RBI of the game for Cabrera, who leads the American Association with 36 runs batted in.
Winston Abreu retired his three hitters in the ninth to pick up his fourth save.
Victor Capellan pitched a spotless eighth inning, and got the victory for his efforts. Billy Waltrip was on the mound for Sioux Falls when Cabrera hit his game-winning homer, and was charged with the loss.
With the victory, the Blasters earned their first series win over a non-divisional opponent, taking two of three from the Canaries. The series win leads into a series with the Kansas City T-Bones, which begins on Tuesday at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Josh Hodges starts the opener in Kansas City.
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