American Association Insider: Tuesday July 7th Takeaways

 Kevin Luckow

(non member of IBWAA)

Five games and a doubleheader kicked off the last week of action before the All Star Break. An interesting reel was posted on the league Facebook page today. A sleeveless kid sitting in an apartment was talking up the American Association Hall of Fame selections. He referred to Chris Coste as Chris Cos-tee. It's frustrating as a fan of the league to see the drop off in the league socials. We had Carter Woodiel and Matt Yeazel, broadcasters wearing a nice shirt with the league logo in the background representing league media. Now we have some 20 something wearing a sleeveless shirt looking like he just got done playing Call of Duty or whatever the kids play today to narrate a reel from his dorm. If we are, and I say we because I care about this league, to be taken serious, let's have some standards in the content we're producing. You don't break a game open by getting the first run and you don't play OT.

Kane County 7 Lake County 5 10 innings, not OT

Lake Country led this one most of the way until the Cougars came off the mat with three runs in the eighth and ninth to take it to extra innings. A Charles Mack double scored the automatic runner and Mack later scored himself to provide the difference. Mack had also homered in the 7th inning, his ninth of the season. Zach Veen pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up the win. Veen now has a 1.53 ERA and has become a force out of a deep Kane County bullpen. Jake Gozzo picked up his seventh save pitching a scoreless 10th inning.

Fargo-Moorhead 5 Sioux City 4

The sometimes heated rivalry had its first of 12 installments tonight in Sioux City. With the game knotted up at four in the ninth inning, a two out double by Juan Fernandez scored the deciding run, sending the Explorers to their fifth straight loss. Four of the five have happened in the not so friendly confines of Lewis and Clark Park. Jose Sermo hit his league leading 16th home run for the RedHawks. D'Shawn Knowles and Henry George had three hits apiece for the X's. Obviously the pitching was better tonight for the X's, but this is a team that's just on the cusp of winning, but it's one pitch or one play that has been their kryptonite in this five game slide. 


Photo courtesy of Jennifer Andreachi


Cleburne 5 Kansas City 2

After a one game hiccup, the Railroaders got right back on track tonight (see what I did there?). John Baker threw his best game of the season, going seven innings allowing just two runs to a hard hitting Monarchs club. Caleb McNeely hit a two run home run and drove in three runs, while Frankie Tostado had three hits versus his former team. J.D. Davis and Luken Baker both his solo home runs for the Monarchs. Baker now has six home runs in 30 at bats. Don't get too hooked on him Monarchs fans, that's a bat that Mexican League teams would love to have. 

Sioux Falls 18 Chicago 2

It was a night the Dogs would like to forget about right after the 27th out. The Canaries pounded out 16 hits and coupled with five Dogs errors, it was only a night for actual dogs that enjoyed a night out on Dog Night at Impact Field. Mike Hart drove in five runs including a two run home run. Trevor Achenbach, still looking to find his 2024 form, went 3-6 with a home run and four runs batted in. Josh Rehwaldt and Mike Curialle both homered for the Birds. What stood out to me was four Canaries relievers combining for four hitless innings. Maybe that will be a confidence booster to a beleaguered bullpen. 

Milwaukee 4 Winnipeg 3

After a bludgeoning by the Goldeyes on Monday night, the Milkmen bounced back with a one run victory. The Milkmen manufactured two runs in the last of the eighth which proved to be the difference. Delvin Perez had two hits and Wendell Marrero drove in two runs for the Milkmen. Mitch Lambson threw real well for the Goldeyes going 6.2 innings allowing two runs on four hits.

Linclon 6 Gary SouthShore 5, Gary SouthShore 6 Lincoln 1

A two run home run by Nick Shumpert proved to be the difference as the Saltdogs took game one. Jake Hjelle homered and drove in three runs and Cary Arblolida homered for the Saltdogs. Korry Howell, becoming one of the better lead off men in the league, homered for the RailCats. 

Frank Plesac went all seven for the RailCats and the offense scored the last six runs of the game as the RailCats gained a split of the doubleheader. Plesac only allowed an unearned run and struck out three in his longest outing of the season in his third start. 



























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