American Association Insider: Tuesday August 18th Takeaways

 Kevin Luckow

(non member of IBWAA)

As predicted, the games around the league have a playoff feel to it. Every game meaning so much as eleven of the twelve teams in the league have a claim that they are in the playoff race. It makes for fun viewing.

Milwaukee 6 Kane County 4

If you were a Kane County fan and I told you that you'll have Konnor Ash throwing six innings and Art Warren pitching the ninth, you'd say sign me up for a win, right? Well, not against Milwaukee as the Milkmen continue their domination against the Cougars winning their 10th game against no losses this season against their East Division rivals. With the game knotted at four in the ninth, two walks and a hit versus Warren contributed to a two run inning that proved to be the decisive runs. Delvin Perez and Alec Olund both had solo home runs for the Milkmen. Kane County relied on the power game too as Armond Upshaw hit a two run home run to make it a one run game and Jairus Richards had a solo home run in the seventh to tie the game. 

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Andreachi



Kansas City 3 Lincoln 2

A Tyler Gentry single walked off the Saltdogs in a surprisingly low scoring game at Legends Field. The teams exchanged two run innings early in the game before the ninth inning heroics from Gentry. Jimmy Endersby went seven innings allowing two runs, one earned for the Monarchs. Cam Dayton was just as good allowing two earned runs in seven innings. Not only is the pressure on for the teams these last few weeks, it's on for the starting pitchers as they try to showcase for their own team. It is so important in the first round to have a shutdown 1-2 punch in your rotation in a three game series. 

Winnipeg 9 Sioux Falls 6

Against a team rolling as well as Winnipeg is, you can't spot them a touchdown and expect to win. The Canaries did exactly that as the Goldeyes jumped out to a 7-0 lead. The Canaries made it a game but just ran out of time and runs. Noah Marcelo hit a pair of solo home runs late in the game to provide insurance runs. For the night, Marcelo was 5-6 with four runs scored and four driven in.  Trever Achenbach had a two run home run in the fourth inning to get the Canaries on the board. 

Fargo-Moorhead 9 Sioux City 6

This game had parallels to the Winnipeg vs. Sioux Falls, game. In this one the road team jumped out to a 6-0 lead and held on to win, with Sioux City having the tying run at the plate in the ninth. No Jose Sermo, no problem for the RedHawks. Eric Filia homered and went 3-5 with three runs batted in for the RedHawks. Tripp Clark also went 3-5 with a home run and two runs batted in. Alberto Osuna went 3-4 with a pair of runs driven in to lead the Explorers. 

Gary SouthShore 25 Chicago 2

I really don't know where to start with this one. But this one sums up the kind of season the Dogs are having. I can remember the late Herb Carneal trying to sum up a Minnesota Twins loss during a last place season in 1990. Carneal said "it reminds me of the story of walking up to someone and saying, smile, things could be worse. And they smile and you find out indeed they can be worse". Eight different Dogs pitchers including a position player, Aaron Altherr. Of those pitchers, starter Connor Lockwood sported the best ERA with a 7.31. Korry Howell had a grand slam and drove in five. Kevin Watson Jr. hit for the cycle with five RBI. Marc Flores homered twice and drove in six. Nick Podkul and Ozzie Martinez both had home runs. Lost in all of the run carnage with six shutout innings by Dawson Lane to get the win.  The 25 runs fell a run short of the league record of 26 by Sioux Falls on August 22, 2008. 

Lake Country 8 Cleburne 8 LATE or Suspended

On a night that produced tornadoes that caused a tornado warning in the city of Milwaukee, the game at Kamp Oconomowoc was forced into a thirty minute fog delay just before 11 pm. 

UPDATE: Winning answer is....Suspended.

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