Perez Gem, Five-Run Fourth Lead Blasters to Home Win
Published on July 26, 2016 under American Association (AA)
Joplin Blasters News Release
Behind a five-run fourth inning and a stellar start from Wander Perez, the Joplin Blasters cruised to a 7-1 victory over the Texas AirHogs at Joe Becker Stadium. It was the third win in the last four games for the Blasters, who have won four of the seven games played between the teams this season.
The Blasters struck first in Monday night's contest, scoring in the bottom of the first. Mitch Glasser led off the frame by getting hit by his ninth pitch of the season, the second highest total in the Association. Geraldo Valentin followed with a single into right field, which put Glasser on third base. Rookie Greyson Bogden drove in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly to center.
Texas evened the game in the top of the second inning. Former Blaster Cory Morales belted his second home run of the season on a 1-0 pitch from Perez with two outs.
From that point on, Perez was dominant, tossing five additional scoreless innings. He allowed just three total hits with seven strikeouts. The lefty walked just two hitters over his 105-pitch outing, and earned his first win of the season.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Blasters exploded for five runs to take an insurmountable 6-1 lead. Charlie Valerio and Mark Krueger walked to start the inning, and single by Brandon Tierney loaded the bases. Center fielder KC Huth put the Blasters back in front with an RBI single, which kept the bases loaded. A fielder's choice off the bat of Sean Smith saw Tierney tagged out at third, but Krueger scored to make the score 3-1.
After a strikeout, Mitch Glasser singled to score Huth from second and move Smith to third. Glasser then stole second base, which allowed Smith to score from third. Valentin completed the five-run frame with an RBI single of his own, bringing Glasser across the plate.
Huth, a rookie outfielder from West Virginia, was also involved in Joplin's final run of the ballgame. In the bottom of the sixth, Huth led off with a double down the right field line. Smith walked and Alex Polston moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt. Glasser brought the seventh and final run in with a sacrifice fly to right field. Huth and Valentin led the Joplin offense with two hits a piece, while Glasser drove in a pair of runs in the victory.
Raul Rivera pitched the final two innings for the Blasters, working a scoreless eighth and ninth innings, which included a 1-2-3 frame to end the contest. Texas starter Matt Shepherd worked six innings, and was charged with his sixth loss of the season.
The Blasters can win their second consecutive series, both total and against the AirHogs, Tuesday back at Joe Becker Stadium. Alex De La Cruz will get the ball for Joplin, and will be opposed by AirHog righty Cody Hebner. First pitch of the second game of the series is set for 7:05 p.m. -- Ryan Murphy Director of Broadcasting Joplin Blasters
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