Late Surge Propels Texas over Blasters in Series Finale
Published on June 5, 2016 under American Association (AA)
Joplin Blasters News Release
The Joplin Blasters dropped the final game of three to the Texas AirHogs, coming short of completing a sweep against their South Division rivals on Sunday afternoon at Joe Becker Stadium. The AirHogs scored seven runs in the final three innings to pull away from the Blasters in an 8-1 victory.
For the first time in the three game set, the AirHogs scored first, plating a run in the top of the first. Michael Hur recorded a leadoff single, and advanced to third on two wild pitches. Austin Gallagher then drove in the opening run of the game on a groundout to the first baseman.
The first five innings were marked by tremendous starting pitching for both teams. Noel Arguelles allowed just one run on three hits in his five innings of work in his Joplin debut, and Texas lefty Griffin Russell struck out eight hitters over six frames en route to the victory.
Joplin evened the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. In his first game back with the team, Ronnie Richardson was hit by a pitch with two outs in the inning. He advanced to second when an attempted pickoff throw by the Texas catcher sailed into right field. Mitch Glasser proceeded to tie the game with an RBI single that easily scored Richardson.
Patrick Mincey tossed a perfect inning in the sixth, striking out all three hitters he faced. It was the first perfect, three strikeout inning of the season for the Blasters.
Texas retook the lead for good in the top of the seventh inning. Against eventual losing pitcher Jose Ortega, Brian Bistagne hit a leadoff home run, his third of the season. The scoring continued for Texas, as four of the first five hitters in the inning reached base. Gallagher drove in his second run of the day on a sacrifice fly, and Devon Rodriguez followed with an RBI single. A wild pitch allowed Burt Reynolds to give the AirHogs a 5-1 lead.
Two home runs allowed the AirHogs to put the game away in the eighth and ninth innings. Will Dupont hit a solo shot in the ninth inning, and Bistagne followed with a two-run shot in the ninth, his second of the game.
Willie Cabrera and Will Soto led the Blaster offense with two hits each in the losing effort, and Richardson extended his team-best on base streak to seven games, dating back to last season.
The Blasters, having finished a seven-game homestand, now take to the road for seven games. The roadtrip begins with three contests at Uni-Trade Stadium in Laredo. The series gets underway with lefty Josue Montanez on the mound for a 7:05 first pitch in south Texas.
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