Valentin Hits Walk-Off Homer in Wild Extra Inning Victory
July 17, 2016 - American Association (AA)
Joplin Blasters News Release
The Joplin Blasters won a wild extra-inning affair at Joe Becker Stadium on Sunday night over the Kansas City T-Bones, walking off in the bottom of the 12th inning on a moonshot home run from Geraldo Valentin. The 9-8 victory was Joplin's first extra inning win of the season, and gave the Blasters their first series victory in nearly a month. The contest saw the Blasters surrender a six-run lead in the final three innings before plating two clutch runs to win the game in extras.
For the second time in three days, the teams traded home runs in the first inning. Kansas City leadoff hitter Tyson Gillies hit the fourth pitch of the ballgame out of the park for his first home run of the season. The Blasters answered in a big way in the bottom half of the frame. After a single by Sean Smith and a walk to Valentin, Charlie Valerio belted a deep homer to right field, the sixth roundtripper of the season hit by the catcher.
Leading 3-1, the Blasters added to the advantage in the bottom of the fourth. Edwin Gomez hit a one-out single, and Brandon Tierney followed with a double to put runners on second and third. Rookie outfielder Mark Krueger drove in Gomez on a groundout, and Tierney crossed the plate on a Kansas City passed ball.
Valentin drove in the first of his three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, which gave Joplin a 6-1 lead. Mitch Glasser singled to center with two outs, and was able to steal second base on a great jump. From second, Glasser scored on a double by Valentin, who was thrown out trying to stretch the extra-base hit into a triple.
Krueger, a rookie from Utah Valley University, added another RBI in the bottom of the sixth. Valerio was hit by a pitch to start the frame, and advanced to third on Tierney's second double of the game. Krueger drove in Valerio on a ball that was misplayed by the T-Bones, pushing the Blaster lead to six runs at 7-1.
Kansas City began their comeback in the top of the seventh. A single by Vladimir Frias and a walk to Brett Wiley, as well as a wild pitch, had runners on second and third with no outs. Steve Swingle reached on an error that scored Frias, and a fielder's choice off the bat of Gillies cut Joplin's lead to 7-3.
Jake Blackwood further cut into the lead in the top of the eighth. On the fourth pitch from Keith Picht, Blackwood hit his tenth home run of the season, a solo shot. Still, the Blasters led 7-4 entering the ninth inning.
The T-Bones exploded for four runs in the top of the ninth, taking a one-run lead. The bases would be loaded with no outs on two walks and a single by Swingle. Gillies drove in his third, fourth, and fifth runs of the day on a bases clearing triple. He then scored the go-ahead run on a Starlin Rodriguez sacrifice fly, providing Kansas City with an 8-7 lead.
Twice down to their last strike, the Blasters tied the game in the bottom of the ninth. KC Huth hit a single with one out, but remained on first when the second out was recorded. On a 3-2 pitch, Glasser hit a ball to the left of the shortstop Frias, who could not get to the ball in time. Glasser's single put runners on first and second for Valentin. The veteran infielder singled into right field and Huth scored, partially due to a leap over the catcher Swingle, who was unable to handle the throw home.
In his Blasters debut, Ramirez was brilliant, allowing just one hit over 3.1 innings on the mound. He was only threatened in the tenth inning, when Wiley tripled with one out. The Venezuelan righty responded by inducing a popout and a groundout to get out of the inning. Ramirez earned the win in his first American Association appearance.
Valentin's heroics came on a 2-1 pitch from reliever Aaron Baker, who was charged with Sunday's loss. The first baseman crushed the delivery over the left field wall, which sparked a wild celebration at the plate. It was the first walk-off home run of the season for the Blasters.
After winning the series against Kansas City, the Blasters head on the road for a six game road trip. The adventure starts in Iowa on Tuesday night, as the Blasters battle the Sioux City Explorers. First pitch of the first 2016 meeting between the two clubs is set for 7:00 p.m.
American Association Stories from July 17, 2016
- 'Dogs Blank Lemurs Again to Win Weekend - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Valentin Hits Walk-Off Homer in Wild Extra Inning Victory - Joplin Blasters
- Explorers Run Away with Series Finale - Texas AirHogs
- Straka Strikes out Season High 11, But Saints Give up Six Home Runs as Win Streak Ends in 14-6 Loss - St. Paul Saints
- Canaries Fall to Wingnuts 15-5 on Sunday Afternoon - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Goldeyes Homer Six Times in Series Victory - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Graham Johnson Goes the Distance in X's 15-1 Victory over Texas - Sioux City Explorers
- Goldeyes Blowout RailCats in Series Finale - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Cox Hits for Cycle in Rout of Canaries - Wichita Wingnuts
- Saints Sign Two-Time Post-Season All-Star, Triple-A Infielder Trever Adams - St. Paul Saints
- Pugh's Extra-Innings Homer Gives RailCats 3-1 Win - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- RailCats Edge Goldeyes in 12 - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- Taylor Continues to Swing a Hot Bat, Birds Lose 10-2 - Sioux Falls Canaries
- X's Wn Game Two Of Three Game Series Over Texas - Sioux City Explorers
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