CAPITALES SCORE THREE TOUCHDOWNS AGAINST JACKALS - FRONTIER DAILY ROUNDUP
WRITTEN BY: MIKE GUISTOLISE (HEADLINE CREDIT TO MATT SOSLER)
CAPITALES AND JACKALS COMBINE FOR 30 RUNS, QUEBEC WINS BIG
PATERSON, NJ - The Québec Capitales demolished the New Jersey Jackals 21-9 at Hinchcliffe Stadium on Friday night.
All but two players registered at least one RBI for the Capitales (24-13) in their win over the Jackals (12-26). The score was tipped in Québec's favor early, with LF Tommy Seidl and 2B Fransisco Hernandez driving in runs in the second inning to make it 2-0. An error by New Jersey allowed another two runs to come across in the third. The Capitales broke out in the fifth, beginning with a two-run double from 1B Tyler Osik. C Anthony Quirion blasted a two-run home run to make it 8-0 two batters later; Quirion led the team with seven RBIs in the game. The Jackals were able to put four runs on the board with a grand slam in the bottom of the fifth, but the Québec offense was unstoppable and picked up right where they left off in the seventh with another four runs. They posted another two in the eighth, and then six more in the ninth to cross the 20-run threshold, including a grand slam from Quirion. SS Kyle Crowl went 4-for-6 with five RBIs as the Capitales continue to creep closer to first place in the Frontier League East division. RHP James Bradwell earned the win behind six innings of work with eight punchouts. LHP Jake Kuchmaner took the loss for New Jersey.
The Capitales will look to take the series in New Jersey on Saturday, with the first pitch coming at 6:05 PM EDT.
BOLTS BLAST OTTERS, SNAP THREE-GAME SKID
EVANSVILLE, IN - The Windy City ThunderBolts took the series' opening game against the Evansville Otters 8-2 on Friday night.
The ThunderBolts (16-22) came into Bosse Field on a three-game losing streak but were able to register 12 hits en route to a win over the Otters (14-23). Bolts' cleanup hitter Christian Kuzemka opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the first inning. A hit-by-pitch drove in another run in the second, followed in the next at-bat with SS Henry Kusiak's two-run single to make it 5-0. The Otters responded with two runs across the fourth and fifth to get within three, but CF Cam Phelts' fielder's choice put the lead back at four in the eighth. RF Kingston Liniak put the nail in the Otters' coffin with his two-run triple in the ninth, pushing the lead to six. LHP Buddie Pindel was sharp in his start, going for seven innings and striking out seven for the win. LHP Braden Scott continued his rough stretch of starts, losing his sixth decision for Evansville.
The ThunderBolts will look for the series victory on Saturday night in Indiana. First pitch is set for 7:35 PM EDT.
BOULDERS ROLL OVER KNOCKOUTS
PONOMA, NY - The New York Boulders completed a successful comeback against the New England Knockouts at Clover Stadium, winning the Friday night series opener 9-5.
After taking an initial lead in the first inning, the Boulders (25-11) fought back against the Knockouts (11-25) in a rain-shortened contest. New York took a 2-0 lead in the first on the back of a bases-loaded walk and an error from New England's catcher. The Knockouts came back in the second to tie the game, while the Boulders were able to take the lead back on a wild pitch in the third. New England then scored a run in each of the next three innings to take a 5-3 lead. DH Joe DeLuca evened things up with his two-run home run in the last of the fifth. In the seventh, New York took control of the game with a four-run outburst to take a 9-5 lead. The game was finalized early due to weather, giving the win to RHP Peter Allegro in relief and the loss to RHP Daniel Goggin.
The Boulders and Knockouts will face off for game two of their series on Saturday at 6:30 PM EDT.
WILD THINGS TAKE OPENER IN SCHAUMBURG
SCHAUMBURG, IL - The Washington Wild Things created some breathing room at the top of the Frontier League West division with their 10-5 win over the Schaumburg Boomers on Friday night.
The Wild Things (24-11) and Boomers (22-14) combined for 25 hits, but the Washington bullpen hunkered down with four shutout innings to secure the win. 1B Andrew Czech gave the Wild Things the initial lead with an RBI single in the first. LF Wagner Lagrange added on in the third with an RBI single of his own to drive in Czech. Schaumburg was able to tie things up with a two-run homer in the bottom of the third, but Washington swiped the lead right back in the fourth with 2B Evan Berkey's RBI base hit. The Boomers then posted three runs in the fifth to take a 5-4 lead. The Wild Things were able to tie the game in the seventh with a sacrifice fly before taking a two-run lead on CF Caleb McNeely's two-run double. Washington added three more runs across the final two frames to put the game out of reach. Recently-signed LHP Ryan Munoz earned his first win out of the Washington bullpen after he tossed two shutout innings in relief. RHP Dallas Woolfork took the loss for Schaumburg.
The Wild Things will look to take the series on the road on Saturday. The second game of the series is scheduled to start at 7:30 PM EDT.
GRIZZLIES DEFEAT CRUSHERS TO OPEN BIG DIVISIONAL SERIES
SAUGET, IL - The Gateway Grizzlies took down the Lake Erie Crushers by a final score of 4-3 on Friday night at Grizzlies Ballpark.
The Grizzlies (21-15) are now only one game behind Schaumburg for third place in the West after its loss to Washington. The Crushers (23-14) opened the scoring by stealing home on a designed double steal in the third inning. The Grizzlies were able to tie things up in the fourth on a wild pitch, and then take the lead in the sixth on an RBI double from RF Kyle Gaedele. A solo blast from Lake Erie knotted things up in the top of the seventh, but Gateway responded with two runs in the bottom half to retake a 4-2 lead. The Crushers scored one to get within one in the eighth. In the ninth, Lake Erie was able to get the tying run in scoring position, but ultimately left him stranded as the Grizzlies took the victory. RHP Alec Whaley got the win in relief as RHP Matt Hickey picked up the save. LHP Cal Carver was tagged with the loss.
The Grizzlies will look to extend their winning streak to three on Saturday when they face the Crushers at 7:30 PM EDT.
AIGLES NEVER TRAIL IN WIN OVER TITANS
TROIS-RIVIERES, CAN. - The Trois-Rivières Aigles defeated the Ottawa Titans 8-1 on Friday night at Stade Quillorama.
The Aigles (19-17) registered 10 hits while only surrendering one run in their divisional matchup with the Titans (20-16). The Aigles were able to open the scoring in the fifth inning, in large part due to two mistakes by the Ottawa battery that led to two runs scoring. Trois-Rivières posted another four runs in the seventh, including a two-run single from C Willie Estrada. The Titans posted their only run in the eighth, but the Aigles took it right back on an RBI single from 1B Dalton Combs. RHP Tucker Smith picked up his second win of the season behind 6.1 shutout innings. RHP Jonah Jenkins took the loss for Ottawa out of the bullpen.
The Aigles will attempt to take the series on Saturday. First pitch is set for 6:05 PM EDT.
SLAMMERS BLANK Y'ALLS TO BEGIN HOMESTAND
JOLIET, IL - The Joliet Slammers shut out the Florence Y'alls 5-0 at Duly Health & Care Field on Friday night.
RHP Jake Armstrong led the way for Joliet (17-20) with his 6.2 innings of shutout ball, which came complete with a career-high seven strikeouts. The Slammers put the pressure on Florence (16-21) in the bottom of the first on an RBI single from 1B Matthew Warkentin. After a wild pitch put the Slammers up by two in the third, they would not score again until the seventh. An RBI groundout put the Joliet lead at 3-0 after the stretch. CF Chris Davis then put the game out of reach by scoring two runs on a line drive single to right field. Armstrong's victory is the second of his rookie season. RHP Edgar Martinez took the loss for the Y'alls.
The Slammers and Y'alls will play the second game of their series on Saturday in Joliet. First pitch is set for 7:05 PM EDT.
MINERS CRACK THREE DINGERS TO TAKE DOWN VALLEYCATS
TROY, NY - The Sussex County Miners posted five runs in the eighth to take down the Tri-City ValleyCats 8-5 at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium on Friday night.
The Miners (14-22) have now won three of their last four after taking their first matchup of the season with the ValleyCats (16-21). CF Gabriel Maciel got the Miners on the board in the third inning with an RBI single. 1B Gavin Stupienski added on with a solo shot to right field in the fourth to make it 2-0. Tri-City responded with a big sixth inning, posting three runs to take a 3-2 lead, adding on another in the seventh. Stupienski was able to tie the game at 4-4 with a two-run double in the eighth and then advanced to third on a ValleyCat error. 3B Evan Giordano gave the Miners the lead back with a three-run blast later in the inning. SS Cory Acton then led off the ninth with a solo shot to push the lead to 8-4. The ValleyCats were able to plate one run in the bottom half but ultimately came up short. RHP Eston Stull got the win out of the bullpen for the Miners. RHP Gino Sabatine took the loss for Tri-City.
The Miners will try to make it back-to-back series with a win on Saturday. The first pitch for the second game of their series with the ValleyCats is set to begin at 6:30 PM EDT.
