American Association Insider: Wednesday May 27 takeaways

 Sorry for missing the last couple of days. I planned on writing last night after skipping Monday night due to only two games on the docket. After coughing up blood at the paying job, it was another day at Urgent Care. Whatever antibiotics I was given yesterday really knocked me out. I fell asleep right before the Sioux City vs. Milwaukee game last night. Other than a few brief moments of being awake, I slept till 10:15 this morning. That's enough about me, you're hear to read takeaways from American Association action.

Chicago 7 Cleburne 6

After narrowly holding a lead to hold off the Railroaders on Tuesday night, the Dogs had to do it in walk off fashion after the Railroaders tied the game in the top of the ninth. Seven batters in the Dogs lineup are now hitting above .300 topped by who else, Chance Cisco. Man has bitten Dog pitching staff with signings and injuries, which have held the Dogs back early in the season.

Kane County 4 Sioux Falls 0 (Game 1)

Sioux Falls 1 Kane County 0 (Game 2)

The Wolff Cup finalists exchanged matinee shutouts in Geneva. RBI hits by Alex McGarry and Clutch Claudio Finol were the difference in Game one. Both players were factors in the Wolff Cup win for the Cougars. Reese Sharp was exactly that for the Cougars allowing two hits and striking out nine in five innings to pick up the win. 

A first inning home run by Jabari Henry held up as the Canaries gained the split with the Cougars. Dylan Kirkeby went four innings. Unfortunately not qualifying for a win. But I'm seeing a pattern developing with the Canaries with Will Levine, Spencer Bauer and Charlie Hasty being a late inning combo capable of shortening games for teams trying to come back late against the Canaries. 

Gary SouthShore 2 Winnipeg 1

As would be expected by a 2-1 score, this was a night for the pitchers. Deyni Olivero who had struggled, cobbled together six shutout innings for the RailCats. A pretty impressive feat considering the roll the Goldeyes had been on. Landen Bourassa got the tough luck loss for the Goldeyes allowing a pair of runs on five hits and striking out ten. 

Lincoln 4 Kansas City 1

Greg Loukinen threw six innings of one run ball with nine strikeouts. Loukinen has been an enigma in his year plus with the Saltdogs. There's been nights I've tuned in and he's looked real good and on other occasions looked very hittable. But there had to be something Lincoln liked to bring him back and he paid dividends tonight. The Saltdogs will need him to stay consistent if they hope to get back in the West race. 

Lake Country 7 Fargo-Moorhead 5 (10 innings)

Last night was an old fashioned pounding for the DockHounds as they hung 14 on RedHawks pitching cruising to a 14-1 win. Tonight however it took extras as a two run shot by Joshua Mears sped the DockHounds by the RedHawks. Are the DockHounds ever going to return home? I just assumed they did after last weekend. But they are now 5-4 on the road trip. The old saying is go .500 on the road and make hay at home. The Hounds are in good shape if they eventually head home to Oconomowoc. 

Milwaukee 7 Sioux City 3

The only highlight of the night for the Explorers was Alberto Osuna who crushed two solo home runs accounting for most of the Explorers offense. Meanwhile the Milkmen guaranteed a split of the four game series with a series finale for tomorrow. Michael Hallquist, acquired in the now infamous Erik Ostberg trade if you ask Fargo-Moorhead, has proved his tear last year was no fluke. Hitting from the lead off spot, Hallquist is batting .400 with four home runs and 10 runs batted in thus far. In trades like that, it used to be the local player getting traded away would magically end up back with his hometown team. But that did not happen in this case. Hallquist isn't looking homesick thus far.