All four first round series got underway on Wednesday night, with two road teams surviving big comebacks to take a victory in hostile territory and a pair of underdogs starting off their upset bids with home victories.
All four Game 2’s are schedule for Friday night.
Milwaukee 4, Cleburne 1
No surprises here from the Milkmen, who were playing as the road team in their home ballpark.
Hours after being named AA Pitcher of the Year, Jhordany Mezquita showed why, spinning 6.1 innings of one run ball and allowing just two hits. The bullpen was splendid as well, with three relievers spinning 2.2 hitless innings in a completely drama-free finish.
Charlie Marion started the scoring in the second on a sac fly before Cleburne answered with a sac fly that brought home their only run.
The Milkmen gradually extended their lead on a third-inning RBI single from Alec Olund, and RBI singles from Griffin Doersching and Yordys Valdes, respectively, in the fifth and sixth frames.
Kane County 9, Lake Country 7
You’d think handing Konnor Ash a 6-0 lead would be the end of it, right? Wrong.
Zane Spinn and Josh Allen each crushed solo homers in the first three innings to give the Cougar ace a six-run cushion going to the fourth, but that’s where Lake Country got started.
Jake Allgeyer keyed a three-run frame with a two-run double, then in the fifth, newly-minted Player of the Year Joshua Mears ripped a two-run homer, then after Ash was lifted, Jake Snider gave the DockHounds a 7-6 lead with a two-run double.
Kane County came right back, though, tying the game on a Sam Dexter RBI double. The Cougars then pulled back in front on a two-out, two-run homer from Arnold Upshaw in the seventh.
With the league’s best bullpen, the Cougars locked it down. Winning pitcher Art Warren struck out four over 2.0 scoreless frames, then Reliever of the Year Jake Gozzo pinned down a save in the ninth.
Kansas City 12, Sioux Falls 6
Like Kane County, Kansas City took a whirlwind route to victory.
After each team scratched across a run in the first, Tyler Gentry homered and Saul Garza singled in a run to take a two-run lead in the third.
Geison Urbaez (6.0 innings, one run, nine strikeouts) and Thomas Dorminy (6.2 innings) locked in, staying 3-1 until Dorminy faltered in the seventh and Luken Baker doubled the lead with a two-run double.
The Monarch bullpen, though, walked four batters in the seventh and Mike Hart flipped the script with a two-out grand slam, putting the Birds ahead 6-5, which remained the score into the ninth.
The final frame came crashing down on Sioux Falls, as the first six men reached safely. A bases-loaded walk tied it, Onix Vega’s RBI single put the Monarchs in front, then two big blows followed. Sahid Valenzuela stroked a two-run double, then Gentry blasted a three-run shot to close the book on a seven-run frame that sealed the deal for Kansas City.
Fargo-Moorhead 5, Winnipeg 1
Kyle Crigger. That’s the story here. Even with a step back from last year, Crigger has been the best in Fargo-Moorhead’s often-shaky rotation—and he was at his best tonight.
The right-hander spun was one out from a shutout until the Goldeyes strung two hits and walk together with two outs to score a run and chase him. Crigger went 8.2 innings, allowing a run on six hits and one walk with nine strikeouts in a 116-pitch masterpiece. Tyler Jeans came on and got the final out.
Landen Bourassa was solid as well, with his only blemish in the first six innings being a three-run homer from Eric Filia in the third.
Bourassa tired in the seventh, though, and the RedHawks pulled further ahead on two-out RBI singles from Tripp Clark and Dillon Thomas.
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