American Association Insider: Sunday August 2nd Takeaways

 Kevin Luckow

(non member of IBWAA)

Seven games on the docket on Sunday along with the retirement of Zach Nehrir's #14 in a pregame ceremony. Nehrir was one of the best guests that Rob Pannier and I had on This Week in the Association. I'm glad to see he was honored by the Railroaders. Along with being a Railroaders legend, he was an All Start Game home run derby champion in 2023 and won a Miles Wolff Cup when he was on a one year loan to the Milwaukee Milkmen in 2020.

courtesy of Cleburne Railroaders


Gary SouthShore 4-11 Lake Country 2-4

Folks, this is why you do not bet on American Association. The RailCats stunned the second place DockHounds sweeping a doubleheader at home. In the first game, the RailCats were down 2-1 before scoring the last three runs of the game. Deyni Olivero went six innings, allowing two runs to pick up his first win since June 14. Ryan Leitch, former Monarch, doubled in two runs in the sixth inning to give the RailCats the lead. Leitch had three runs batted in. 

In the second game, the DockHounds jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning on a Peter Zimmerman grand slam, but it was all RailCats from there. Marc Flores drove in three runs and Korry Howell along with Kevin Watson both homered in the winning effort. Dawson Lane bounced back from the first inning to throw five innings to get the win. Former Cleveland Indians pitcher Zach Plesac threw the last two innings. It was Plesac's first outing since joining his brother on the RailCats. 

Kansas City 11 Chicago 4

The Monarchs scored the first eight runs of the game and had no problem finishing off the sweep of the Dogs at Impact Field. Austin Callahan went 2-6 with a home run and four runs driven in. Luken Baker hit his 12th home run, a three run shot. Baker now has 12 home runs in 30 games. He would be on pace to break the single season record if he had played a full season. Aaron Altherr went 3-5  for the Dogs to  bump his average up to .231 after struggling mightily to begin the season. 

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Andreachi


Winnipeg 7 Lincoln 6

The Goldeyes winning streak was at risk, down 6-5 with just six outs to work with, but the Goldeyes rallied for two runs in the eighth on a Adam Hall two run home run to pick up their eighth straight win. Noah Marcelo and Keyshawn Lynch also homered earlier in the game. Cary Arbolida and Tanner O'Tremba both had two runs batted in to lead the Saltdogs. 

Fargo-Moorhead 8 Sioux City 7

In a game that Fargo-Moorhead never trailed in, the RedHawks won by plating their automatic runner in the 10th inning. In the top of the 10th on a 3-1 pitch to the Explorers Zac Vooletich with runners on first and second,  a pitch "three feet outside" was called a strike. On the next pitch Vooletich grounded into a double play to short circuit the rally. Amazing how a strike call can change the game. Instead of bases loaded with nobody out and a multi run inning likely, there was two outs and a runner on third and the X's could not cash in. Dillon Thomas and Brian Fuentes both homered and Jesus Lujano drove in two runs for the RedHawks. Austin Davis, Braulio Vasquez and newcomer Yorman Rodriguez all had three hits for Sioux City. 

Kane County 4 Sioux City 3

In the game I was at, the Cougars jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, before the Canaries struck back with three of their own in the fifth inning. The difference proved to be a leadoff walk to Armond Upshaw in the seventh inning. After a groundout advanced Upshaw to second base, two wild pitches allowed Upshaw to score the eventual winning run. The Cougars bullpen was once again dominant as four relievers pitched an inning each allowing a total of two hits, striking out five Canaries. The Canaries were swept but were only outscored by a total of four runs. There is something about when these two teams match up. A Miles Wolff Cup rematch would be quite tasty. 

Cleburne 6 Milwaukee 2

Ben Hampton did something no other Railroader could do, shut down the Milkmen slavaging a split in the series. The Railroaders gave him the offensive support to win at home to split the series with the East Division leaders. Merik Carter kept up the hot start to his pro career with his first home run and three hits along with three runs batted in. Ryan Black is now 5-14 in his Railroaders career after a two hit night. Delino DeShields Jr. and Mallex Smith were both released, so it's going to be an opportunity for someone else to pick up the slack. Andy Blake had his 12th home run for the Milkmen. 

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