2023 St. Louis River Walkers -- Postseason or bust

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Record: 46-46, 3rd (Tied/w. Quad City), 12 GB Des Moines
Michael Toglia hit two solo homers and Argenis Batista bounced back from a series of lousy starts by allowing just one run over 5.1 innings to help St. Louis end a five-game losing streak with a 2-1 win over Green Bay at War Memorial Stadium (Buffalo).
Toglia struck first with a homer off Long Haulers starter Stiward Aquino in the second inning.
His second homer came in the eighth, breaking a 1-1 tie, and it came off reliever Ryan Zeferjahn.
Green Bay had tied it in the sixth inning on a RBI double by pinch-hitter Yo****omo Tsutsugo off Batista.
In his 5.1 innings, Batista allowed one run on three hits. He struck out six and walked one.
Phil Maton finished the sixth inning.
The seventh and eighth innings belonged to Jake Brentz, who earned his sixth victory.

Tommy Kahnle worked around a walk in the ninth to earn his 13th save.

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Record: 46-47, 4th, 13 GB Des Moines
Anthony Rendon hit a solo homer in the first inning and Addison Russell connected for one in the second, and that was enough to power Green Bay to a 2-1 win over St. Louis at War Memorial Stadium (Buffalo).
With the win, the Long Haulers took three of four games from the River Walkers.
St. Louis got its lone run in the third inning, from an Andrew Benintendi homer off Haulers starting pitcher Francisco Lopez.
However, that was it for the scoring.
Lopez worked 4.2 innings, giving up the one run on five hits. He struck out five and walked one.
Five relievers followed Lopez to the mound -- Luis Angel Medina (1.1 IP), Kenley Jansen (0.1), Jason Jester (0.2), Ryan Zeferjahn (1.0) and Nick Burdi (1.0) -- with Medina earning his second win of the season and Burdi notching save No. 21.

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MBL news: Week 14 awards and standings

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Thus far in July, the St. Louis River Walkers have 5-13 and 7-17 going back to the final week of June.
At 46-47, this places them in third place in the National League South Division, some 13.5 games behind first-place Des Moines with 69 games remaining.
With no wild card in the Midwest Baseball League, this means the Walkers would have to go 48-21 over the remainder of the season if Des Moines should play no better than .500 ball.
I don't see that happening.
So, for the first time since founding the league in 2018 I am going to sell off some players -- all of whom are slated to be free agents in the offseason.
RHP -- Kyle Hendricks -- After going 21-6 with a 3.06 ERA in 2022, Hendricks has struggled mightily this season sitting at 5-9 with a 4.73 ERA. He also is averaging giving up two homers per game.
At 33, Hendricks is asking for a seven-year deal at around $23 million per. Don't see that happening, so he'll go on the block.
1B/3B -- Nick Delmonico -- The team leader in RBIs (54), Delmoinco has seen his production drop as the season has progressed. He's currently batting .227. At 31, he's looking for a two-year deal at $10M per, but his defense at third base has fallen off each season and Rhys Hoskins is firmly ensconced at first base.

CL -- Tommy Kahnle -- Kahnle is having another outstanding season as the River Walkers closer -- 13 saves in 14 attempts and a 0.47 -ERA - but is coming up on free agency and is 33 years old. Closers are a dime a dozen on the free agent market, and if I can get some value for him in a trade I may do so.
C -- J.T. Realmuto -- The 32-year-old Realmuto has done about what I expected of him as a placeholder while a couple of young catcher's mature. (He is batting .260 with three homers and 15 RBIs). But with the playoffs out of reach, I'd like to see what Jared Thomas, who is batting .189 with three homers and 12 RBIs as JTR's backup and AAA catcher Michael Amditis, .282 with 15 homers and 52 RBIs, can do splitting time down the stretch.

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Record: 47-47, 4th, 12.5 GB Des Moines
A day after the announcement the team would be bagging the season, St. Louis put together its best offensive performance of the season pounding Twin Cities 15-3 at Busch Stadium (1997).
The Snow Cats did strike first with a solo homer from Jordan Prendiz off River Walkers starting pitcher Brendan Spagnuolo in the top of the first inning.
St. Louis, however, struck back with two in the bottom half of the inning, Andrew Benintendi driving in both with a homer of his own off Snow Cats starter Hector Alonso Garcia.
Two innings later, the Walkers had a 4-1 lead, Benintendi once again doing the honors with a two-run double.
After five innings, it was a blowout as St. Louis put up seven runs to go up 11-1.
Rhys Hoskins drove in the first two runs with a double off reliever Cody A. Reed.
Byron Buxton and J.T. Realmuto both had sacrifice flies to drive in the third and fourth runs.
Jean Carmona did the rest of the work with a three-run homer.
The Walkers lead would grow to 14-3 on a three-run homer from Byron Buxton offf Danny Ure.
Buxton collected another RBI in the eighth, driving in a run with a triple.
Spagnuolo worked six innings, giving up three runs on six hits.
Bill Warson worked scoreless seventh and eighth innings.
Wilmer Jimenez closed it out with a 1-2-3 ninth.

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Record: 48-47, 3rd, 12.5 GB Des Moines
Aaron Nola allowed one run over seven innings to help lead St. Louis to a 3-2 win over Twin Cities at Busch Stadium (1997).
Nola (7-5) scattered six hits during his time on the mound. He also struck out six and walked none.
The River Walkers broke open a scoreless game in the bottom of the fifth inning against Snow Cats starting pitcher Mack Anglin.
Byron Buxton drew a one-out walk and moved to third on a J.T. Realmuto single.
Jean Carmona chased Buxton home when he hit into a fielder's choice.
Michael Toglia pushed the St. Louis lead to 3-0 with a two-run homer off Anglin an inning later.
Twin Cities did rally.
Will Banfield led off the seventh with a double off Nola and later scored on a Josiah Miller ground out.
Twin Cities struck again in the ninth against Walkers closer Tommy Kahnle.
Cotton Welker led off with a double and moved to third on an one-out ground out by Scott Schebler.
A wild pitch scored Welker, after which Kahnle walked Miller.
Lucius Fox singled to put runners at first and second.
But Kahnle got Jean Carlos Arias to ground into a fielder's choice to end it.
Kahnle earned his 14th save.
Jake Brentz tossed a scoreless eighth inning for the Walkers.

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Record: 49-47, 3rd, 12 GB Des Moines
Down 2-0, St. Louis put up four runs in the bottom of the third inning to take the lead for good in a game it went on to win 11-7 over Twin Cities at Busch Stadium (1997).
With the win, the River Walkers swept the three-game series against the Snow Cats.
St.. Louis used the long ball to take control of the game.
Bo Bichette led off the inning with a homer off Snow Cats starter Jonathan Loaisiga.
Edmond Americaan, who had entered the game in the first inning after Michael Toglia had been hit by a pitch on his thumb, later hit a two-run homer.

Rhys Hoskins then made it a back-to-back, putting the Walkers ahead 4-2.
St. Louis would add one run in the fourth inning and three in the fifth to go up 8-2.
Twin Cities would have three home-run inning of its own in the sixth -- solo shots from Eloy Jimenez and Jake Burger and a two-run bomb from Jose Devers -- to pull within 8-6.
But the Walkers push their lead back to 10-6 in the seventh.
Andrew Benintendi hit a solo homer off Tobias Myers and Byron Buxton had an RBI single off Cody A. Reed.
The game featured a total of eight homers four from each side.
Faedo (8-6) lasted six innings allowing four runs on six hits.
Thad Ward got through the sixth, but allowed two runs.
John Curtiss handled the seventh and got the first two outs of the eighth, but also allowed two runs.
Brad Hand recorded the final out of the eighth.
Bill Warson handled the ninth, allowing one run, but still sealing the win.

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Record: 50-47, 3rd, 12 GB Des Moines
Argenis Batista took a shutout into the eighth inning and the St. Louis bullpen got some key outs to help the River Walkers down Cedar Rapids 3-2 at Busch Stadium (1997).
The River Walkers built a 3-0 lead with a single run in the third inning (Byron Buxton with an RBI double off Golden Grapplers starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner) and two in the fifth (solo homer from Jared Thomas and run-scoring single from Edmond Americaan).
After failing to muster much through the first seven innings, Cedar Rapids got something going against Batista in the eighth.
Noah Naylor led off with a single. Matt McLain was hit by a pitch before a Terrin Vavra single scored Naylor and moved McLain to third.
It also led to Batista's exit.
Phil Maton came on and walked Domingo Santana, loading the bases.
Jake Brentz was brought in to face fellow lefty Dominic Smith only to allow a single.
McLain scored on the hit and the bases were still loaded.
Closer Tommy Kahnle got an early call and got Victor Robles to fly out to quell the threat.
He than threw a 1-2-3 ninth for his 15th save.
In his 7.2 innings, Batista allowed two runs on five hits. He struck out five and walked none.

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Record: 51-47, 3rd, 12 GB Des Moines
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run over seven innings to help St. Louis to a 5-1 win over Cedar Rapids at Busch Stadium (1997).
The win was the fifth straight for the River Walkers, all of them since stating they hoped to make some contract-shedding trades before the deadline.
Despite the wins, St. Louis remains 12 games behind first-place Des Moines in the NL South Division, with 64 games remaining.
The only run Hendricks allowed came in the top of the first, when Domingo Santana chased home Victor Robles with a two-out single.
The River Walkers nabbed the lead by busting loose for four runs in the bottom of the third.
Andrew Benintendi did the bulk of the damage with a three-run homer off Golden Grapplers starter Sean Harp.
Rhys Hoskins made it a back-to-back following Benintendi's with his 21st long ball of the season.
Bo Bichette scored the Walkers fifth run when he led off the fifth with a single off Harp and scored when Wilman Madera tossed a pair of wild pitches.
In his seven innings, Hendricks allowed the one run on five hits. He struck out six and walked none.

Thad Ward handled the final two innings without allowing a run.

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A day after he turned in a strong seven-inning outing against Milwaukee, the St. Louis River Walkers have traded right-handed starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks to the Keg Lifters as part of a five-player deal.
Due to be a free agent, at 33 years old the River Walkers don't seem likely to re-sign Hendricks who seems to be expecting a multi-year, big-dollar deal.
So with him sitting at 6-9 with a 4.51 ERA, following a 2022 season where he was 21-6 with a 3.06 ERA, they sent him to Milwaukee for a pair of minor league pitchers.
In return, the River Walkers received 24-year-old left-hander Ernest Rios, who was 6-6 with a 4.67 ERA for AA Reading, and another 24-year-old left-hander Jackson Smeltz, who was 3-4 with a 5.25 ERA for AA Reading.
Also heading to Milwaukee, are minor-league catcher Cordell Fish and outfielder Luis B. Rodriguez.
The 24-year-old Fish has played most of 2023 at AA Springfield, where he hit .246 with one homer and two RBIs in 39 games.
Rodriguez, 22, has played in 39 game at Low-A Gulf Coast League, where he hit .226 with two homers and 20 RBIs.

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Walkers news: Jackson Smeltz card

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Record: 52-47, 3rd, 11 GB Des Moines
Brendan Spagnuolo worked 5.2 innings and combined with four relievers to limit Cedar Rapids to a single run, as St. Louis downed the Golden Grapplers 2-1 at Busch Stadium (1997).
With the victory, the River Walkers completed a three-game sweep of Cedar Rapids and have won six straight since declaring themselves out of the pennant race.
All of the scoring came early.
The Walkers went up 1-0 in the bottom of the first when Edmond Americaan singled with one out off Grapplers starter Rick Atkinson
He moved to second when Bo Bichette reached on an error by second baseman Terrin Vavra and scored on a Rhys Hoskins double.
Cedar Rapids tied it in the top of the second.
Joc Pederson drew a one-out walk from Spagnuolo.

An Alex Bregman single moved him to third, and he scored on a wild pitch.
St. Louis scored the only other run of the game in the third.
Americaan again singled with one out.
He stole second and reached third on a throwing error by catcher Noah Naylor.
Americaan scored on a Bo Bichette ground out.
Spagnuolo allowed one run on four hits over 5.2 innings. He struck out seven and walked three.

Phil Maton completed the sixth inning.
Brad Hand handled the seventh.

Bill Warson got the first two outs of the eighth before giving way to Jake Brentz, who struck out pinch-hitter Trevor Story to end the inning.
He then pitched around a two-out single by Vavra in the ninth to earn his first save of the season.

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MBL news: Week 15 awards and standings

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The St. Louis River Walkers made another deal just as the trade deadline arrived sending third baseman Nicky Delmonico and closer Tommy Kahnle to Cleveland for AA closer Brad Brann.
With Delmonico and Kahnle both slated to be free agents in the off-season, and with the River Walkers some 11 games behind Des Moines in the NL South Standings, both players were considered expendable.
The 31-year-old Delmonico had a hot start to the season, but has cooled as it progressed. He was batting .220 with 16 homers and 54 RBIs at the time of the trade.
Kahnle has flourished the past two seasons as the Walkers closer.
In 2022, he got into 44 games and posted 28 saves. His record was 3-1 with a 1.06 ERA.
In 2023, Kahnle has worked in 21 games and posted 15 saves. He owns a record of 1-0 and a 0.83 ERA.
The 23-year-old Brann, who has been assigned to AAA Memphis, has pitched in 25 games this season with a 7-5 record and 3.74 ERA to go with 25 saves.

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With the trade of Tommy Kahnle and Nicky Delmonico to Cleveland, the St. Louis River Walkers have added third baseman Romy Gonzalez and relief pitcher Eduardo Jimenez to the major league roster.
Gonzalez spent the entire 2022 season with the River Walkers and pited well, going 2-3 with four saves in a 1.70 ERA in 65 games.
This season, he has split time between Memphis and St. Louis.
With the River Walkers, he has worked in seven games with no record and a 3.86 ERA.
At Memphis, he has worked in 25 games going 0-3 with three saves and a 3.27 ERA.
Meanwhile, Gonzalez will be playing in the majors for the first time.
At Memphis, he has played in 90 games and batted .266 with nine homers and 41 RBIs.

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Record: 52-48, 3rd, 12 GB Des Moines
Yonny Chirnos worked six scoreless innings and Rafael Devers and Carson Kelly hit solo homers to power Des Moines to a 2-0 win over St. Louis at Busch Stadium (1997).
The loss ended a six-game winning streak for the River Walkers.
Chirnos allowed just three hits in his six innings. He struck out four and walked none.
Leo Vazquez kept St. Louis off the board in the seventh and eighth innings.
Ken Giles allowed two hits, but no runs, in the ninth for his 27th save.
Kelly put the game's first run on the board with a solo shot off Walkers starter Aaron Nola in the fifth inning.
Devers struck an inning later, also taking Nola deep as the Harvesters lead grew to 2-0.

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MBL news: Players and Pitchers of the Month for July

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MBL news: Rookies of the Month for July and standings

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MBL news: American League leaders on August 1

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MBL news: National League leaders on August 1