American Association Insider: Wednesday August 26th Takeaways

 Kevin Luckow

(non member of IBWAA)

Happy National Dog Day to all that celebrate.

L to R Yoshi, Millie, Mayzie, Ovi

I'd love to come on here and give you my reactions to the action of another thrilling night of American Association Baseball. But other than late inning heroics in Milwaukee and Cleburne, it was a rather uneventful night in the Association.

Gary SouthShore 5 Sioux City 3

It was a 12:00 start at venerable U.S. Steelyard, and it looked like the RailCats at least remembered to eat their Wheaties, getting off to a 3-0 first inning lead. The Explorers got their wake up call in the second and third inning as they tied the game before the RailCats countered with a Kevin Watson Jr. home run in the bottom of the third that gave the RailCats the lead for good. Deyni Olivero won his second start in a row allowing three runs in six innings. 

Fargo-Moorhead 8 Sioux Falls 1

The Canaries knew before they got on the bus at the Holiday Inn for the short drive to Newman Outdoor Field that they had a chance to pad their 1.5 game lead over Sioux City. The RedHawks would have none of it, scoring the first seven runs of the game, rolling to a blowout victory. Juan Fernandez homered twice and drove in four while Kyle Crigger threw seven shutout innings to pick up the win. Seven innings was Crigger's longest outing since June 24.

Winnipeg 11 Kansas City 6

With the RedHawks knocking at the door of second place, one game out, technically tied when you consider the teams will be picking up a 11-1 RedHawks lead in the fourth inning next week, the Goldeyes were in must win mode. Five different Goldeyes had two RBI games including the 7th-9th batters. Boy that bottom of the order is real dangerous with Max Murphy hitting seventh. The Goldeyes scored runs in every inning except the first. No home runs for Luken Baker, dare we call it a drought.

Milwaukee 4 Lincoln 3

With a playoff spot wrapped up and a 2.5 game lead over Lake Country, the Milkmen could feel a little comfortable. There is however the brass ring to reach for with the best overall record in the league, pretty handy in late September. With their win tonight and the Monarchs loss, the Milkmen now are up by a game in the race for best overall record. It was ninth inning dramatics. With two out, Alec Olund doubled in a run to tie the game and Charlie Marion singling in Olund to walk off the Saltdogs. With the loss the Saltdogs remain five games out of a playoff spot. Not out of it when you have four coming up against Sioux Falls to end the season if they're still in fourth, but you cannot hang your hat on being four out and sweeping the Birds in Sioux Falls. 

Lake Country 7 Kane County 2

The two closest contenders to Milwaukee in the East met for the seventh game in the last six days, it was the DockHounds winning the rubber game in spite of being out hit 10-9. If these teams are to meet again after Labor Day, both clubs best have their bullpens rested. Sebastian Rodriguez won for the fifth time with no losses. Todd Lott had the only home run of the game at Kamp Oconomowoc.

Cleburne 10 Chicago 8 (10 innings)

With a very interested audience in Northwest Indiana, the Railroaders who were down 6-0 after an inning, clawed back to tie the game in the ninth. Then trailing by a run in the 10th, a throwing error on a bunt tied the game. Up came Brantley Bell who whiffed on a bunt attempt before parking a two run home run just over the left field wall to walk off the Dogs. With the win, the Railroaders maintain their 4.5 lead over Gary SouthShore in the race for the last East Division playoff spot. The RailCats do not have much wiggle room left and will have to take care of business the rest of the week at home (1 vs. SC, 3 vs. SF).












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