BOULDERS COME OUT ON TOP OF OFFENSIVE ONSLAUGHT - FRONTIER DAILY ROUNDUP
WRITTEN BY: MIKE GUISTOLISE
BOULDERS EVEN SERIES WITH AIGLES
PONOMA, NY - The New York Boulders came out on top in an offense-filled game against the Trois-Rivières Aigles on Wednesday, defeating their visitors 9-8 at Clover Stadium.
The Boulders (29-16) are once again tied with the Capitales for first place in the Frontier League East division after evening their series with the Aigles (27-19). Trois-Rivières took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, inflating it to 4-0 in the third. RF Casey Dana got New York on the board with a two-run blast that cut the lead in half in the fourth. CF Isaac Bellony tied things up to start the sixth for the Boulders, knocking in two with a single to the shortstop. The Boulders then scored four more times in the innings to take an 8-4 lead headed into the back third of the game. The Aigles would threaten in the seventh inning, coming within one after a three-run home run and then again in the ninth after an RBI single. Unfortunately for Trois-Rivières, the Boulders were able to keep the lead throughout both surges and walk away with the victory. RHP Garrett Cooper earned the win for New York while RHP Colton Easterwood picked up his first save. LHP Didier Vargas took the loss for the Aigles.
The series in New York between the Boulders and the Aigles will be decided with a rubber game on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 PM EDT.
SLAMMERS BLANK OTTERS IN GAME TWO
JOLIET, IL - The Joliet Slammers shut out the Evansville Otters 6-0 on Wednesday at Duly Health & Care Field.
The Slammers (22-25) kept the Otters (18-29) to just two hits for the game. Joliet got off to an excellent start for the second day in a row, plating three on a double from DH Jonathan Sierra in the bottom of the first to take the game's first lead. Sierra would add to his huge day in the fifth inning, knocking in two more runs on a base hit through the left side. RF Giovanni Garbella capped the scoring in the fifth with an RBI single up the middle that made it 6-0 Joliet. RHP Geno Encina was on point for the Slammers in his start, surrendering just one hit to the opposition across seven scoreless frames. The former Blue Jays draft pick struck out four in his second winning decision of the season. RHP Tristan Harvin took the loss for Evansville.
The Slammers and Otters will play a rubber match on Thursday in Joliet. First pitch is set for 7:35 PM EDT.
CAUFIELD'S HOMER PUSHES WILD THINGS PAST Y'ALLS
WASHINGTON, PA - The Washington Wild Things used a late home run to propel them to a 6-3 victory over the Florence Y'alls on Wednesday.
The Wild Things (29-17) were able to send their fans home happy, thanks to a big three-run home run from 3B Tommy Caufield. The Y'alls (21-25) got to work right away, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Washington 1B Andrew Czech responded in the home half of the inning, singling to right-center to even things up. A bases-loaded and a sacrifice fly in the second put the Wild Things on top 3-1. Florence would not go away without a fight, getting a bases-loaded walk of their own in the fifth and then tying the game in the seventh on an RBI groundout. In the bottom of the seventh, the Wild Things set the stage with a lead-off walk and a base hit with one out for Caufield. The second-year pro tattooed a ball over the center field fence to give Washington a 6-3 lead. The back end of the Wild Things' bullpen closed things out to deliver a series-tying victory. LHP Brendan Nail picked up his first win of the season while RHP Gyeongju Kim picked up save no. 11 on the year. RHP Alex Wagner took the loss for Florence.
The Wild Things will attempt to take the series finale on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled to be thrown at 7:05 PM EDT.
CRUSHERS PITCHERS DEAL SHUTOUT TO WINDY CITY
AVON, OH - The Lake Erie Crushers defeated the Windy City ThunderBolts on Wednesday night by a final score of 6-0.
The Crushers' (30-17) bullpen has not given up a run since June 27th. Things were relatively tame throughout the first two-thirds of the game, with the only offense coming in the fourth inning via a solo homer from 1B Vincent Byrd Jr. In the seventh, the Crushers proceeded to bury the ThunderBotls (20-28); with the bases loaded, Lake Erie's SS Jarrod Watkins opened the inning with an RBI single. LF Ron Washington Jr. followed by crushing a grand slam to put the Crushers up 6-0. On the defensive side, LHP Darrien Ragins struck out three across six scoreless innings in his start to pick up his fifth win of the season. The three relievers that came after him did not allow a hit, keeping the ThunderBolts' offense at bay. LHP Buddie Pindel took the loss for Windy City.
The Crushers will go for the series sweep on Thursday. The series finale is scheduled to begin at 7:05 PM EDT.
VALEYCATS GET THE EDGE IN PITCHERS' DUEL
TROY, NY - The Tri-City ValleyCats got past the Québec Capitales with a 2-1 victory at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium on Wednesday night.
The ValleyCats (24-23) took the series victory against one of the top teams in the East and have now won five straight. Québec (30-17) got rolling early in the second inning, taking a 1-0 lead off an RBI double. Things were quiet from there for the Capitales, only managing one hit afterward. 2B Elvis Peralta Jr. tied things up for Tri-City in the third, scoring a run with a single into center field. The ValleyCats then caught a break in the eighth inning and were able to steal a 2-1 lead thanks to an error on the Québec defense. RHP Easton Klein did not get a decision in the game, despite only giving up one run on four hits over seven innings. Instead, RHP Austin Dill got the winning decision out of the bullpen, not allowing a hit in two innings of work. LHP Franklin Parra took the loss for the Capitales.
The ValleyCats are now set up to sweep the top team in their division on Thursday. The series finale is scheduled to start at 6:30 PM EDT.
GRIZZLIES GET EVEN WITH BIG OFFENSIVE DAY
SAUGET, IL - The Gateway Grizzlies blasted the New England Knockouts 10-2 at Grizzlies Ballpark on Wednesday to even the series.
The Grizzlies (25-21) registered 15 hits in the victory, three times as many as the visiting Knockouts (13-33). Things were close early, with New England taking the lead in the top of the first with a solo homer. The Grizzlies were able to knot things up with a home run from LF Kevin Krause in the bottom of the second. The third inning started with a solo shot from RF Peter Zimmerman and quickly evolved into an offensive clinic for Gateway: the Grizzlies sent 10 hitters to the plate and scored seven of them, capped with a three-run bomb from 3B DJ Stewart that made it 8-1. The Knockouts would get one run back in the sixth, but Gateway pulled away in the eighth with two more runs. RHP Deylen Miley was sharp in his start, allowing only two runs across seven innings while punching out 12. RHP Matt Cronin took the loss for New England after only getting through three innings.
The Grizzlies and Knockouts will battle for the series on Thursday in a rubber match. First pitch is at 8:05 PM EDT.
MINERS ENSURE JACKALS' LOSING STREAK CONTINUES
AUGUSTA, NJ - The Sussex County Miners took the series victory on Wednesday at Skylands Stadium with an 8-2 victory over the New Jersey Jackals.
The series victory was the first for the Miners (16-30) since June 18th. The Jackals (13-33) on the other hand have now lost seven in a row. Sussex County had things in hand early, taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning before opening the game up in the third. 1B Gavin Stupienski, 3b Evan Giordano, and C Jason Agresti combined to bring in four runs in the third to increase the Miner lead to 5-0. The Jackals were finally able to score in the seventh inning, plating two runs to cut it to 5-2. In the eighth, the Miners were able to create more distance for themselves, thanks to an RBI single from 2B Hunter D'Amato and a two-run base hit from CF Alec Sayre. RHP Jose Ledesma Jr. got his fourth win of the year while RHP Eston Stull picked up his second save to close things out. RHP Jalon Tyson-Long took the loss for New Jersey.
The Miners will go for the series sweep in the finale on Thursday. First pitch is at 6:35 PM EDT.
TITANS SCORE THREE IN THE NINTH TO BEAT BOOMERS
SCHAUMBURG, IL - The Ottawa Titans used a big ninth inning to take down the Schaumburg Boomers 5-3 on Wednesday night at Wintrust Field.
The Titans (27-18) continue to climb up the standings in the East division, now just two games outside of first place. 2B Jackie Urbaez gave Ottawa the initial lead in the first inning, doubling home a run to make it 1-0. CF Taylor Wright added on in the second, stealing third base and then coming home to score, thanks to an error by the Schaumburg (27-20) catcher. The Boomers caught up in the sixth inning, tying the game on a two-run home run. They then took a 3-2 in the seventh on a sacrifice fly. Down one with one out in the ninth, 1B Jake Guenther came through in the clutch for the Titans, giving them the lead on a two-run single to center field. Aaron Casillas was then called upon to pinch-hit with two outs; he came through with an RBI single to give Ottawa a much-needed insurance run. RHP Erasmo Pinales then came into the game in the ninth and shut things down for his 10th save of the season. LHP Matt Voelker got the win out of the Ottawa bullpen while RHP Mitch White took the loss for Schaumburg.
The Titans and Boomers will play a rubber match on Thursday to determine the series winner. First pitch is at 7:30 PM EDT.
