American Association Insider: Friday July 31st Takeaways

 Kevin Luckow

(non member of IBWAA)

Is July all over with already? Boy this Summer and season is going fast. Keep in mind however there will be a full week of play in September before Labor Day. Six games in the Association kicking off five series and continuing another in Texas. 

Kansas City 4 Chicago 3

Remember the State Farm commercial where the guy with the fishing pole is taunting someone with money hanging from the hook, only to jerk it away, "oooh, you almost had it!!!". The Chicago Dogs have to be feeling like this right now. The Dogs carried a 3-0 lead into the eighth only to have the Monarchs score four to take the lead and the win. Luken Baker singled a run in, Grant Richardson singled to drive in two  on an error on the right fielder, before J.D. Davis gave the Monarchs the lead with a single. The Dogs tried to rally in the ninth but stranded runners on the corners. Richardson and Sahid Valenzuela had three hits each for the Monarchs. Tyreque Reed had two RBI for the Dogs. Andres Diaz threw great for the Dogs allowing two runs, one earned in 7.2 innings picking up a no decision.


Photo courtesy of Jennifer Andreachi


Lake Country 11 Gary SouthShore 5

The DockHounds weren't messing around even out of the friendly confines of Kamp Oconomowoc. They put up ten runs in five innings off of RailCats ace Peyton Long. Anthony Garcia once again led the attack going 3-4 with a three run homer and four runs driven in for the night. Jack Blomgren and Brett Roberts both homered for the Hounds. Korey Howell had three hits and Marc Flores homered to highlight the night for the RailCats. 

Kane County 7 Sioux Falls 6

There is just something about when these two teams get together. The lead is rarely large enough and each game goes down to the wire. Tonight was no different between the 2025 Miles Wolff Cup participants. The Cougars were seemingly in command up 7-2 before the Canaries scored two in the seventh and eighth innings. The tie and lead runs were in scoring position before Logan Nissen struck out Jabari Henry to end the eighth. The top four batters in the Cougars lineup all had two hits. Of the four, Matt Bottcher drove in three runs. The Cougars have found a way to keep putting up big offensive numbers even without Alex McGarry and Claudio Finol. They could get another boost as they traded for Jairus Richards from Fargo-Moorhead on Friday. Vin Timpanelli threw well for the Cougars allowing two runs, one earned in six innings, striking out 10 to get the win. Anthony Hall went 3-3 in a lineup minus Mike Hart and Josh Rehwaldt. I will be on hand in Geneva for the final two games of the series. 

Sioux City 5 Fargo-Moorhead 2

You couldn't blame the Explorers after they rolled into Fargo at 10:30 am to go over to Hornbacher's buy some stamps and mail the game in on Friday night. Instead behind seven innings of two run ball by Zach Willeman the Explorers took the win at Newman Outdoor Field. Henry George led the attack for the Explorers with three hits and an RBI. Tucupita Marcano made his debut for Fargo-Moorhead tonight, likely the reason for Jairus Richards being expendable in a trade. I knew nothing about Marcano, but upon a Google check (BTW, my Google stock has been rocking the last two days) found that Marcano has been banned for life by MLB for gambling, including games involving the Pittsburgh Pirates while he was on the team recovering from injury in 2023. Tonight was the first game he played in the States since his ban. This begs the question. Should he be allowed to play for the RedHawks if the American Association is truly a MLB Partner League game? Personally I'm fine with it. The RedHawks had Marcano on their Inactive list as he dealt with Visa issues, so it was not a surprise to the American Association offices. Mark Hamburger pitched for St. Paul when he was under suspension by MLB for a drug violation. BUT at the time the American Association was not a MLB Partner League. It will be interesting to see if there is any backlash from other teams. 

Winnipeg 11 Lincoln 4

Four Goldeyes had multi RBI games led by Noah Marcelo with three as the Goldeyes led 11-0 after three innings, cruising to a win on Friday night at Blue Cross Park. Calyn Halvorson once again had a multi hit game for the Saltdogs with three, his batting average is now up to .315 for the season. 

Milwaukee 16 Cleburne 7

Only thing hotter than the 100 degree heat to begin the game in Cleburne was the Milkmen bats as the Milkmen scored all their runs in the first six innings. Delvin Perez had a 5-5 night with a home run and three runs batted in for the Milkmen. Griffin Doersching had two hits, homering and driving in two runs, Andy Blake also chipped in with a solo home run. Jhordany Mezquita went six innings allowing two runs to pick up the win. Frankie Tostado had a two run home run on a 2-3 night for the Railroaders in defeat. 











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