Complete Effort Leads Blasters to Second Straight Win
July 15, 2016 - American Association (AA)
Joplin Blasters News Release
The Joplin Blasters won their second consecutive game on Friday night, riding a stellar start from Alex De La Cruz and some timely hitting to a 7-2 victory over the Kansas City T-Bones at Joe Becker Stadium. The Blasters have now won back-to-back games for the first time since June 18-19.
Home runs were traded in the first inning between the T-Bones and Blasters. Jake Blackwood hit the homer in Kansas City's half, his eighth of the season. Sean Smith answered in the bottom of the frame, belting his second home run of the season to left field.
Kansas City retook the lead in the top of the second. Starlin Rodriguez was hit by a pitch, and advanced to third base on a single by Vladimir Frias. After De La Cruz struck out Steve Swingle, the T-Bones were able to score. Frias broke for second base, and the throw down to second allowed Rodriguez to score. Kansas City's 2-1 lead would not last long, as the Blasters would answer in the bottom half of the frame.
Brandon Tierney was hit by a pitch to start the second, and a walk to Mark Krueger and an error off the bat of Alex Polston loaded the bases with no outs. Rookie outfielder KC Huth continued his hot hitting with a sacrifice fly to left, tying the game. After Smith flew out for the second out, Mitch Glasser singled into center to give Joplin a 3-2 lead, an advantage the Blasters would not relinquish.
In the game's final seven innings, the T-Bones were kept off the scoreboard and only managed one hit. The first five of these innings were courtesy of De La Cruz, who assembled one of the Blasters' best starts of the season. The Puerto Rican righty struck out six hitters and walked only one, allowing just the two runs on three hits. De La Cruz won his first game in a Blasters uniform, while Keith Picht and Roby Romero added scoreless innings to finish off the victory.
The Blasters extended their lead to two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Polston drew a walk and Huth singled to lead off the inning's action. A fielder's choice from Smith could not produce an out, and the bases were again loaded. Glasser drove in his second run of the game with a fielder's choice of his own, giving Joplin a 4-2 lead.
Joplin put the game away with three more runs in the bottom of the eighth. Huth clubbed a one-out double, and Smith reached for the third time with a walk. Glasser then drove in his third run of the game with a single, and an error in right field allowed Smith to score as well. Geraldo Valentin and Charlie Valerio, who had three hits, added singles to score Glasser and provide the final 7-2 score.
After winning the opener of the series, the Blasters have a chance to clinch the series on Saturday night at Joe Becker Stadium against former pitcher Josh Hodges. Joplin's starter for the 7:05 first pitch has yet to be announced. Saturday's game is Hurley's Heroes Comics and Games Night, which will be accompanied by a free comic giveaway.
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