American Association Insider: Saturday August 22nd Takeaways

 Kevin Luckow

(non member of IBWAA)

First of all, I have to admit I didn't see much of the action on Saturday night so some takeaways will be color by numbers with the boxscore. I spent the night with my family at the County Fair. Bourbon Chicken Mac and Cheese, Shrimp and Steak Baked Potato with Tom Thumb mini donuts for dessert. 

I have to share a baseball story from today. I had a random 1981 MLB Game of the Week on YouTube. It was right before the strike. Since it was 1981, of course it was a Dodgers game as they were in Cincinnati. Tony Kubek was talking about Pete Rose's run at Joe DiMaggio's 56 game hitting streak. He said maybe nobody will break that record, just like nobody will break Lou Gehrig's consecutive game streak of 2,131 games. The next season Cal Ripken Jr. debuted.

Lake Country 5 Kane County 4

The DockHounds led this one 3-0 with help from a couple of unearned runs. In the seventh the Cougars scored a run, and in the eighth, Jairus Richards hit a dramatic three run home run to give the Cougars a one run lead heading to the ninth. But Jake Gozzo did not have it tonight. Gozzo allowed a bases loaded walk to tie the game, one of four walks in the inning. The winning run scored as a runner strayed off third too far on a pitch in the dirt, but a Charles Mack throw to third got away allowing the run to score. Neither of the starters factored into the decision. Marc Davis allowed one in seven innings for Lake Country. Reese Sharp looked like he had his early season form going seven innings, allowing three runs, but one was earned. Both teams have to feel better about their starting pitching. Davis has been the most consistent starter for Lake Country. Sharp may be the #3 guy Kane County will need in a playoff run behind Konnor Ash and T.J. Sikkema.

Winnipeg 12 Sioux City 7

Down 4-3 in the fifth, the Goldeyes scored seven and took the middle game of the series at Lewis and Clark Park. The big blow of the inning was a three run home run from Noah Marcelo. Ray-Patrick Didder and Max Murphy also homered for the Goldeyes. Didder knocked in four runs and Ramon Bramasco drove in three as the top three batters for Winnipeg all went 3-5. Jackson Van De Brake had a three run home run for Sioux City. 

Fargo-Moorhead 12 Lincoln 7

The RedHawks led 10-3 after four innings and cruised to victory once again at Haymarket Park. Jose Sermo homered in the second inning, a two run shot. That home run gave Sermo the all time single season record for the RedHawks in their long proud existence, his 29th. Matt Kroon also homered for the RedHawks, a three run shot in the first inning. Jake Hjelle had a garbage time home run in the ninth, a solo shot, his 13th. 

Milwaukee 8 Cleburne 2

Down 2-1 in the last of the sixth, Jeremy Rivas had a two run home run to give the Milkmen the lead. The Milkmen tacked on five runs in the seventh inning to build an insurmountable lead. Four Milkmen relievers combined to pitch 3.2 innings of shutout baseball to hold the lead. 

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Andreachi


Gary SouthShore 19 Chicago 11

The RailCats paid tribute to Falkville, Alabama tonight as they put their zip code up in the first five innings. 3-5-6-2-2, enroute to a slugfest victory at Impact Field. Korry Howell went 4-5 with a home run and four runs driven in while Nick Podkul homered and drove in five runs for the RailCats. Jaxx Groshans homered and drove in four runs while Zach Stokes homered and drove in three for the Dogs. Steven Lacey did not make it through two innings allowing eight runs. Lacey has won only once since July 4th. 

Kansas City 13 Sioux Falls 1

If it was a Pee Wee baseball game in Faribault, Minnesota in 1980, the Canaries would've lost a tight 3-1 game in five innings. But.... the sixth and seventh innings happened and the Monarchs added on ten runs. The Canaries are now 3-17 in their last 20 versus the Monarchs. They may as well start making their hotel reservations for Kansas City for games two and three of the first round if they can hold off Sioux City and Lincoln for fourth place. Jose Torres hit his first home run with the Monarchs, Tyler Gentry had two home runs and Luken Baker hit his 20th because it was a day that ended in the word "day". Those three combined for 10 of the 13 runs batted in for the night. Geison Urbaez went six innings allowing one run for the win. 

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