Two-Out Scoring Launches Blasters to Win over Lemurs
August 7, 2016 - American Association (AA)
Joplin Blasters News Release
The Joplin Blasters snapped a seven-game losing streak at the hands of the Laredo Lemurs, winning their first game in a week with a 6-5 victory at Uni-Trade Stadium. The Blasters rallied from a 3-0 deficit for the win, their first over the Lemurs since June 14.
Saturday night's game did not start in a promising fashion for the Blasters, with the host Lemurs going up by three runs in the opening frame. Leandro Castro hit a single and Ty Morrison was hit by a pitch with one out. An errant pickoff throw moved both runners up 90 feet, and a double by Dennis Phipps scored both runners. Phipps himself scored when an attempted steal of third was misplayed by the Blasters.
Trailing 3-0, the visiting Blasters came to life in the top of the fourth inning. Mitch Glasser, who reached in all five of his plate appearances, clubbed a triple into the right field corner. He scored on the next pitch, when Will Soto hit a sacrifice fly to center field. With two outs, the Blasters launched a rally. Consecutive singles by Brandon Tierney, Mark Krueger, and KC Huth loaded the bases. Sean Smith drove in Tierney and Krueger with a single into left field, tying the game at three.
The Blasters took the lead for good in the top of the fifth inning with two more runs. Alex Polston drew a leadoff walk from losing pitcher Manny Martinez, and Glasser singled, moving Polston to third on an error. Soto brought Polston in when he bounced into a double play for the first two outs. For the second straight inning, the Blasters tacked on a run with two outs. Geraldo Valentin doubled, and Tierney drove him in with a single down the right field line.
Joplin's two run lead was trimmed back to one in the bottom of the sixth after Wander Perez left the bases loaded in the fifth. Against Keith Picht, a walk to J.D. Pulfer and a double by Jesus Posso put runners on second and third with no outs. Alvaro Rondon drove Pulfer in on a groundout, but Picht induced another groundout and a strikeout to strand Posso on third.
In the seventh inning, the teams traded runs to account for the final scoring of the contest. Joplin scored in the top half via a Tierney single, which brought Alex Polston across the plate. Laredo answered with a home run by Dennis Phipps, his 15th of the season.
Victor Capellan shut down the Lemurs in the eighth and ninth innings, retiring all six hitters he faced to earn his seventh- and longest- save of the season. Wander Perez, who worked the first five innings, moved to 2-1 on the season.
The Blasters' victory on Saturday night sets up Sunday's series finale, where the visitors can split with Laredo. Mario Morales, who made his professional debut on Thursday, makes his first start for the Blasters. The final game of four in Laredo is scheduled for a 7:05 first pitch.
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