[rink23]

Record: 87-66, 2nd/(Tied/w. Cedar Rapids), 3 GB Springfield
Manuel Coke hit a two-run home run in the top of the first inning, his 40th of the season, and Brad Monroe earned his team-leading 15th win as St. Louis downed Grand Rapids 3-2 at the Polo Grounds (1923).
Ryan Wibbenmeyer reached base just in front of Coke, connecting for a one-out single off Traders starting pitcher Brian Southers.
Coke then smoked a 2-1 pitch 428 feet over the right-field wall to put the River Walkers in front.
Grand Rapids got within 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth when Zach Simon led off with a triple off Monroe and scored on a one-out single by Bruce Herrera.
That ended Monroe's time on the mound.
Juan Munoz gave up an infield single to John Gel Gaudio to put runners at first and second.
Munoz, however, got out of the jam by getting Ricardo Santillan to hit into a double play.
St. Louis got that run back when Jackson Miller led off the seventh with a home run off Southers.
The Traders made it 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh.
Sal Rendon and Jake Klingenstein both singled with one out off Leo Hermosillo.
Maximilliano Minelli took over and issued two consecutive walks to force in a run.
But Minelli got Herrera to ground out to end the inning with St. Louis still in front.
Monroe (15-5) allowed one run on four hits in his 5.1 innings. He struck out seven and walked three.
Minelli returned to the mound for the eighth and struck out the first two Traders.
Kyle Smarr completed the strikeout hat trick by getting pinch-hitter Ubaldo Capponi to end the inning.
Grand Rapids' Edwin Palos opened the ninth by reaching on an error by Wibbenmeyer at second base.
But closer Craig Fritzler retired the next three for his 32nd save.