Home Runs Propel Sioux Falls to Win over Blasters
June 18, 2016 - American Association (AA)
Joplin Blasters News Release
The Joplin Blasters fell for the third consecutive game on Friday night, coming up short in a 9-7 defeat at the hands of the Sioux Falls Canaries. The nearly four-hour contest featured 27 total hits between the two teams.
Sioux Falls never trailed in Friday's game, scoring a run in the top of the first inning. Blake Schmit doubled to lead off the game, and scored after two groundouts. Jake Taylor drove in the run on a grounder to short in his first game back at Joe Becker Stadium.
The Blasters evened the game in the bottom of the second, scoring a run on a pair of singles. Geraldo Valentin hit safely with one out, and advanced to second base on a wild pitch with two outs. Juan Medina drove in Valentin with a single to score the first Joplin run of the game.
Home runs allowed the Canaries to retake the lead in the top of the fifth inning. Michael Pair hit the first pitch of the inning over the right field wall, his second home run in as many days. After Aaron Owen hit a single and stole second base, Ethan Chapman clubbed a homer, a two-run shot that increased Sioux Falls' lead to 4-1.
Joplin answered with two runs of their own in the bottom half, pulling the contest back within a run. Mitch Glasser and Oscar Mesa started the frame with singles, with a third hit from Charlie Valerio driving in Glasser for a run. Mesa proceeded to score on a sacrifice fly from Willie Cabrera, cutting the Sioux Falls lead to 4-3.
The lead for the Canaries became three runs again in the top of the sixth. Sioux Falls loaded the bases on two walks and a single. Schmit clubbed a single to score Ryan Lashley, which kept the bases full. Ozney Guillen followed with a sacrifice fly to score Owen, moving the Canaries' lead to 6-3.
Ronnie Richardson, who replaced Zack Burling in the fifth inning, drove in his third run of the season in the bottom of the sixth. Jesus Solorzano singled with one out, and stole second base. Richardson singled to score Solorzano from second. His RBI single set the score at 6-4 entering the seventh inning.
The Canaries hit their third home run of the game to take a 7-4 lead in the top of the seventh. Cameron Monger belted a homer to lead off the inning against Keith Picht, his third of the campaign.
In the top of the eighth, the Canaries loaded the bases on two walks and a single. Guillen, who reached on a walk to start the inning, scored on a passed ball to push Sioux Falls' lead to 8-4.
Joplin put together a final rally in the bottom of the eighth inning, coming within a run at 8-7. The Blasters loaded the bases on a single by Ronnie Richardson, the third hit of the game from Mitch Glasser, and a walk to Oscar Mesa. Richardson scored on a Valerio single, and Glasser crossed the plate on Cabrera's 30th RBI of the season, a second sacrifice fly. Mesa scored on a fielder's choice, but the Blasters could not come any closer. Sioux Falls scored a run in the top of the ninth to account for the final 9-7 margin.
The winning pitcher was Sioux Falls' Shawn Blackwell, while Joplin righty Carlos Fuentes took his second loss. Madison Boer earned his first save for a 1-2-3 ninth.
The series between the Canaries and the Blasters continues on Saturday night in Joplin, with Frank Del Valle starting for the Blasters at 6:35 p.m.
American Association Stories from June 18, 2016
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- Wingnuts Game Notes: June 18 vs. Fargo-Moorhead - Wichita Wingnuts
- American Association Results - AA
- Home Runs Propel Sioux Falls to Win over Blasters - Joplin Blasters
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