American Association Insider: Thursday September 3rd Takeaways

 Kevin Luckow

(non member of IBWAA)

The playoff picture remains muddled a bit as six series wrapup with just the next four game sets left for the twelve teams in the American Association.

Kansas City 5 Sioux City 4

It was the Monarchs using what they use so well at Legends Field, the long ball, to salvage the series finale with the Explorers. With the score tied at one in the fifth, a Luken Baker three run blast gave the Monarchs a 4-1 lead. The Explorers had an answer however as a Zac Vooletich two run home run tied the game at four in the seventh. Then the Monarchs used their head, as in Hudson Head, hitting a solo home run that proved to be the difference. With the win, the Monarchs will need to win just one game versus Winnipeg at Legends Field this weekend to win the West Division. The Explorers drop a game plus tiebreaker behind Sioux Falls because......

Sioux Falls 6 Cleburne 5

It was another walk off winner, this time a single by Joe Vos driving in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth. The Canaries led this game 5-1 after six, but the Railroaders chipped away at the lead late with a two out Frankie Tostado home run knotting the game at five in the ninth. Carter Aldrete homered and drove in three for the Railroaders. Josh Rehwaldt and Anthony Hall both homered for Sioux Falls. Chase Gearing went six innings allowing one run for the Canaries. Gearing had allowed 35 runs in 28.2 innings over five starts before tonight's outing. 

Fargo-Moorhead 3 Winnipeg 1

The RedHawks led 3-0 after three due in part to a Jose Sermo home run, his 32nd. RedHawks pitching took it from there shutting down the Goldeyes. Parker Harm who had seemed to be more of an opener for the RedHawks, went six shutout innings, allowing seven hits and striking out four to pick up the win. The RedHawks now sit three games behind Winnipeg for second place, two ahead of Sioux Falls and three ahead of Sioux City. The RedHawks have their last four games in Milwaukee who swept them last weekend in Fargo. Meanwhile the Canaries host last place Lincoln. So there is still work to be done to clinch a playoff spot.

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Anrdreachi


Lincoln 5 Milwaukee 4

The Saltdogs have won their last two games after being eliminated from playoff contention. That could make them a dangerous club for Sioux Falls to deal with for the last four games. Calyn Halvorson drove in three runs as the Saltdogs led 5-2 heading into the ninth. Charlie Marion hit a two run home run to get the Milkmen to within a run in the ninth, but Griffin Doersching was struck out with runners in scoring position to end the game. The Milkmen now lead Kansas City by just one game for best overall record.

Lake Country 11 Gary SouthShore 6

Big innings carried the DockHounds as they scored four in the fifth inning and five in the eighth to ruin the RailCats last home game of 2026. Joshua Mears extends his single season home run total to 36 with an eighth inning home run. Former MLB pitcher Zach Plesac played third base and drove in three runs for the RailCats. With the win the DockHounds kept faint hopes of a division title alive as they sit three games behind Milwaukee. 

Chicago 8 Kane County 4

The Cougars saw their odds of a home field advantage for the Divisional first round take a blow with a 8-4 loss to the Dogs. The Dogs end an eight game losing streak with the win. Of bigger concern for the Cougars has to be Konnor Ash. Ash has allowed four or more runs in four of his last five starts, 24 runs over all in 27 innings, an 8.00 ERA. Ash will likely be starting Game 1 against Milwaukee or Lake Country next Wednesday and the Cougars will need him to find a way to get back to form if they are to get off to a 1-0 series lead. Tyreque Reed and Chance Sisco both departed Impact Field for the Dogs. 

















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