American Association Insider: Saturday August 15th Takeaways

 Kevin Luckow

(non member of IBWAA)

Well, iScore or whoever was responsible for having the right names in the boxscore got me good last night. It was not the .144 hitting Cooper Edwards playing the hero for Gary last night, instead it was Kevin Watson Jr. Measure twice, cut once for the sake of us that rely on the box score to write a recap.

Sioux City 17 Winnipeg 7

The Explorers made a statement, pummeling the Goldeyes, racking up 21 hits. Do not make Alberto Osuna the Spare Ribs batter. Although he did finally strike out in the ninth inning, Osuna went 5-6 with four runs scored along with two home runs and five runs batted in. Six other Explorers had two RBI games with Braulio Vasquez homering. Winnipeg led this one 5-3 after two innings before Sioux City scored seven in the third inning. From there the Explorers went to the pen where five relievers allowed just two runs in seven innings to allow the Explorers to cruise. Ramon Bramasco and Ray-Patrick Didder both homered for the Goldeyes. Luke Boyd now has given up 15 runs in 6.2 innings after a long stretch of good outings. 

Lincoln 5 Kane County 3

Starting with the game that ended Winnipeg's winning streak, the Saltdogs have now racked up six wins in their last seven games. Could they be ready to make a run at a playoff spot? The difference in the game was a four run fifth inning that broke a 1-1 tie. Calyn Halvorson had a 3-4 night with a home run and two runs batted in to lead the Saltdogs. In spite of five walks in 5.2 innings, Jacob Hughes allowed one run in picking up the win. Jake Gilbert got the start for Kane County going four innings allowing just one. It was the first start for Gilbert. I've seen this with the 2019 St. Paul Saints where Tsamis added two relievers to the starting rotation late in the season on way to winning the Miles Wolff Cup. Could he be trying to do the same with Gilbert?

Sioux Falls 12 Fargo-Moorhead 10

Down 7-5 going into the seventh inning and looking at being just one game up on Sioux City for the final playoff spot, the Canaries scored the next seven runs to break a four game losing streak. Josh Rehwaldt, hitting second in the batting order, went 3-6 with a home run and five runs batted in to spark the Canaries. Jabari Henry chipped in with three runs batted in. Michael Curialle hit his 12th home run, a two run shot. Juan Fernandez collected three hits and five RBI, three of them on a bases loaded single in the first inning and Eric Filia had three hits for the RedHawks.

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Andreachi


Kansas City 12 Milwaukee 6

The news here would be that the Monarchs scored 12 runs WITHOUT Luken Baker driving in any runs. Tyler Gentry and Austin Callahan had three RBI each at the top of the Monarchs order with Callahan homering along with Saul Garza. J.D. Davis also knocked in three runs. Andy Blake hit a two run home run for the Milkmen. Michael Mariot picked up the win allowing three runs in 6.1 innings. 

Chicago 4 Lake Country 2

The longest winning streak in the American Association now belongs to the Dogs with four as they defeated Lake Country for the third time in two days. It was Giovanni DiGiacomo delivering the winning hit as his double in the eighth broke a 2-2 tie in the eighth inning. Dominic Guzman got his second win in two nights pitching the last two innings not allowing a run. A third inning Brett Roberts two run home run was the only offense for the DockHounds. Sebastian Rodriguez threw well again for Lake Country allowing two runs in six innings. Interesting weekend so far as the top three teams in the East have gone a combined 0-7.

Cleburne 14 Gary SouthShore 

The Railroaders broke out for seven runs in the third inning and tacked on two runs in each of the fifth through seventh to take this one running away. You hate to call it a must win for the Railroaders, but after losing the last three to the RailCats, they needed a win to stop the momentum. Merik Carter and Cody Thomas combined to go 5-12 at the top of the Railroaders order with four runs batted in, with Thomas connecting on a two run home run. Cade Foster had a three run shot in the seven run third inning and four runs driven in. Andy Nelson had a two run home run to try to get Gary SouthShore back into the game. Luke Short picked up the win allowing three earned runs in 6.1 innings.

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