American Association Insider: Tuesday August 25th Takeaways

 Kevin Luckow

(non member of IBWAA)

I now know how the people on Hoarders feel when they arrive at a house. They take a look inside, and the feeling is, where can we even start? That's how I felt as the night went on tonight following the games. Let's try to clean up the carnage.

Cleburne 9 Chicago 8

This one is going to be a box score regurgitation. With Chicago on the outside by quite a ways, it was hard to justify lending much attention to this one. Cleburne got into the endzone and kicked a PAT in the second inning. But Chicago got back to within a point after the fourth period, I mean inning. Frankie Tostado had one of several grand slams around the league tonight in the second inning. Chance Sisco, Sam Biller and Jaxx Groshans all homered for Chicago as they tried to rally. Sisco drove in four and Groshans knocked in three runs.

Sioux Falls 13 Fargo-Moorhead 12

This one had to be seen to be believed. It was your innocent 2026 garden style 8-7 in the ninth before the Canaries scored five runs that included a misplayed fly ball that may have ended up the difference in the game. In the last of the ninth, down by six, the RedHawks scored five off of Canaries closer Charlie Hasty, highlighted by an Eric Filia grand slam. Will Levine came in to strike out Tripp Clark and Jose Sermo to end the game. Filia had six runs batted in for the RedHawks. Mike Hart and Michael Curialle homered and drove in three apiece for the Canaries. 

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Andreachi


Sioux City 3 Gary SouthShore 1

Three unearned runs in the seventh inning was the difference in this one as the RailCats lost a valuable game in the standings. The victory may have proved costly for the Explorers as Trey Morrill left the game in the bottom of the ninth without throwing a pitch. It's going to be tough sledding for the X's if Morrill is out for an extended time. Rob Hughes ran into trouble and yielded to Tanaj Thomas who walked in a run and had the bases loaded before Ozzie Martinez lined to center field to end the game. 4,5 games back with the Railroaders on a week long engagement with Chicago may be impossible to make up. The trade deadline is at the end of the week, Jeff Isom needs to decide if they can perform a miracle or build for next season.

Kane County 12 Lake Country 10

These two teams need to get away from each other as soon as possible because they are beating the heck out of both pitching staffs. When Todd Lott homered in the sixth to give Kane County a 7-6 lead, I gave it about as much attention as a solo home run in the second inning. I knew it wasn't going to be a game deciding blow. The Cougars cruised into the last of the ninth up four runs. But a grand slam by Peter Zimmerman off Cougars closer Jake Gozzo tied the game at 10. The Cougars scored a pair in the 10th and Logan Nissen closed the game in the 10th. Gozzo has racked up a ton of saves this year, but when he has blown saves, it has been in meltdown mode. Last week he allowed four walks in blowing a save, and then tonight happened. Art Warren has shown cracks as of late. Good thing for the Cougars will be getting out of Kamp Oconomowoc and getting their starters to go later in the game and rest and experiment with the bullpen. The addition of Jameson McGrane who closed for George Tsamis in St. Paul in 2020 could be an X factor. 

Kansas City 8 Winnipeg 3

After the Goldeyes walked off the Monarchs and a Keyshawn Lynch single to win the continutation of last night's game in the 10th inning, the Monarchs gained a split of the day. J.D. Davis homered twice and drove in four runs, three of them on a three run home run that broke open a tight game.

Lincoln 7 Milwaukee 4

After the Milkmen scored four in the last of the fifth inning to tie the game, the two teams went scoreless until the 10th inning. Jairo Pomares hit his 15th home run of the season in the 10th inning, a three run shot, proved to be the difference. Frustratingly for the Saltdogs, both teams they're chasing in Sioux City and Sioux Falls both won tonight, so they gained no ground. Five games back with 12 left to play. I think James Frisbie has some real nice pieces in his lineup that could fetch a nice return. If there is no substantial ground gained in the next two days, it may be time to look towards 2027. 



















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