2033 St. Louis River Walkers: And the saga continues

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MBL news: June 14 -- Week 10 - Awards and standings

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Record: 35-30, 3rd, 6.5 GB Springfield
Peoria's Jeremiah Crawford crushed the first pitch he saw from St. Louis closer Craig Fritzler 404 feet over the left-field wall for a three-run game-winning homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Rivermen down the River Walkers 9-7 at Globe Life Field.
Tony Gamez led off the inning with a single for Peria.
Fritzler struck out the next two before giving up a single to Jeff Neiderer.
Crawford then connected with the first pitch he saw for his second home run of the season.
It was Fritzler's second blown save of the season and his first loss.
St. Louis jumped out to leads of 2-0, 3-2 and 7-3 only to see the Rivermen rally.
Down 7-3, the Rivermen sliced the deficit to a run with three runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Alex Greene led off with a homer off Walkers reliever Ron Cox.
Tony Gamez later singled off Cox and scored when Bobby Dotson followed with a triple.
Dotson then scored when Cox uncorked a wild pitch with Roberto Guerra at the plate.
Peoria starting pitcher Mike German lasted just two innings, allowing five runs on five hits.
Steve Nilsen worked the next two innings and recorded the first two outs of the fifth.
Ken Henry, who Peoria just acquired from St. Louis in a trade which sent reliever Alex Rios to the Walkers, finished the sixth for the Riverman.
Matt Broussard pitched two innings and allowed the final two St. Louis runs.
Drew Dillard (2-4) worked the top of the ninth and ended up with the win.

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Record: 36-30, 3rd, 5.5 GB Springfield
Nick Shaw snapped a scoreless tie with a two-run home run in the top of the eighth inning and Ming Xiang took a shutout into the eighth inning as St. Louis defeated Peoria 2-1 at Globe Life Field.
Rivermen starting pitcher Seth Sipple didn't allow a run over the first 5.1 innings and his team's bullpen kept it going into the eighth.
Bob Saavedra led off the eighth with a single off reliever Effrain Garcia for the River Walkers.
Garcia got the next two batters to fly out.
But he couldn't get Shaw, who launched a 2-1 pitch 404 feet over the left-field wall for his ninth homer of the season and a 2-0 lead.
Peoria finally got something going against Xiang in the bottom of the inning.
Jeremiah Crawford and Jesse Chappelow led off the inning, that led to Xiang's departure.
Xiang (7-2) would end up having pitched seven innings, during which he allowed one run on four hits. He struck out eight and walked one.
Maximilliano Minelli replaced Xiang and struck out the next two batters.
But Drew Bowser connected on a single to make it 2-1.
The Walkers turned to Frank Jimenez, who got Tony Gamez to ground out to end the inning.
Craig Fritzler pitched the ninth for St. Louis.
He issued a one-out walk but struck out the other three batters he faced for his 17th save.

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Record: 37-30, 2nd, 4.5 GB Peoria
St. Louis put together one of its biggest offensive games of the season scoring 10 runs on 21 hits in a 10-3 win over Peoria at Globe Life Park.
The victory was the second in a row for the River Walkers to close out the three-game series.
Already leading 2-1, St. Louis did the bulk of its damage in the fifth and sixth innings when it scored five and three runs respectively.
The Walkers scored all of their runs in the fifth with two outs.
Ryan Wibbenmeyer drove in the first run with a single off reliever Steve Nilsen.
Pitcher Kevin Hrdlicka plated the next two with a single.
Bob Saavedra and Mark Herman capped the inning with RBI singles.
Herman's single came off Effrain Garcia.
In the sixth, Wen He did the bulk of the work with his first homer of the season, a three-run shot off Garcia.
Hdrlicka (5-7) went seven innings, allowing one run on four hits. He struck out nine and walked four.
He also was 3 of 4 at the plate with a run scored and an RBI.
Keith Kirby pitched the final two innings, giving up a two-run homer in the eighth to Bobby Dotson to make it 10-3.

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Record: 37-31, 3rd, 5.5 GB Springfield
Cincinnati scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning to wipe out a 1-0 deficit, and the River Sharks went on to defeat St. Louis 3-1 at Busch Stadium (2006).
A RBI single from Manuel Coke off Cincinnati starting pitcher Chris Novotnoy in the bottom of the third inning had given the River Walkers a 1-0 lead.
That vanished in the top of the sixth.
Tom Alisio got things rolling by drawing a lead-off walk from St. Louis starter Brad Monroe.
After a strike out of Jordan Groshans, Jonathan Hodges tied it with a double.
The next batter, Onfredo Hernandez, put the Sharks in front with a single to score Hodges.
Adrian Penucci was then hit by a pitch to move Hernandez to second.
Bradley Mondesir struck out for the second out.
But Joe Neyer came through with a single to score Hernandez and make it 3-1.
Novotny (6-3) lasted 5.1innings, allowing one run on four hits. He struck out three and walked two.
Joseph King got the final two outs of the sixth.
After that, it was a scoreless inning each for Armando Cintron, Matt Ray and Eric Watkins to close the game.
Watkins earned his 16th save.

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Record: 38-31, 2nd/(Tied/w. Cedar Rapids), 5.5 GB Springfield
St. Louis turned a 2-0 lead into a 10-0 lead with an eight-run bottom of the seventh inning and the River Walkers went on to defeat Cincinnati 10-5 at Busch Stadium (2006).
A Manuel Coke home run in the bottom of the fourth off River Sharks starting pitcher Walt Myers staked St. Louis to that 2-0 lead.
Their big bottom of the seventh saw the Walkers send 13 batters to the plate against three different Cincinnati reliever.
The inning featured seven hits, three walks (one intentional) and a wild pitch.
The big hits were a two-run doubles from Coke and Mark Herman.
Nick Shaw, Wen He and Mario Villa all had run-scoring singles.
The River Sharks cut the deficit in half with five runs in the top of the eighth against Walkers relievers Keith Kirby.
Most of the damage came on a Felix Rivas grand slam off Jesse Gaither.
Gaither returned to the mound for the ninth and set Cincinnati down in order capping the game with a double play.
St. Louis starter Xavier Wigfall worked 5.2 scoreless innings before having to exit with 102 pitches.
Wigfall (4-5) allowed just two hits (both singles) while striking out four and walking three.

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Record: 39-31, 2nd, 5.5 GB Springfield
Manuel Coke connected on a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning to score Ryan Wibbenmeyer and St. Louis went on to defeat Cincinnati 2-1 at Busch Stadium (2006).
Wibbenmeyer had got on base just in front of Coke, doubling with two outs off River Sharks reliever Joseph King.
Coke's game-winning hit came on a 2-2 pitch and drove through the middle of the infield.
The River Walkers got a strong start from Miguel Cisneros, who allowed one run on 10 hits over seven innings. He struck out seven and walked one.
Cisneros exited after allowing a lead-off double to Bradley Mondesir in the eighth.
He had thrown 112 pitches.
Rookie Frank Jimenez took over and retired the next three to keep it 1-1.
Jimenez (1-0) would earn the first win of his career.
Walkers closer Craig Fritzler set Cincinnati down in order in the ninth for his 18th save.
The Sharks jumped out to 1-0 lead in the top of the second.
Jordan Groshans led off with a single and reached third on a throwing error by catcher Zach Wenman on a steal of second.
Troy Heller scored Groshans with a single.
The Walkers tied it in the sixth.
Wibbenmeyer scored that run two after he singled off Cincinnati starting pitcher Nelson Arreola with one out.
Like Groshans, Wibbenmeyer stole second and took third on a throwing error by the catcher, Adrian Penucci.
Wibbenmeyer scored on a Mark Herman ground out.

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MBL news: June 20 -- All-Star game fan voting update

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Record: 40-31, 2nd, 4.5 GB Springfield
Ming Xiang took a shutout into the eighth inning -- when while owning a 6-0 lead he gave up a three-run homer to Tom Aloisio -- to help St. Louis down Cincinnati 6-3 at Busch Stadium (2006).
The win was the third in a row for the River Walkers to close out the four-game series.
Xiang (8-2) allowed just one hit -- a single to Aloisio to lead off the game -- before the eighth inning.
He ended up the game allowing three runs on four hits over 7.2 innings. He struck out eight and walked two.
Alex Rios took over to strike out Bradley Mondesir to end the eighth.
Closer Craig Fritzler allowed a walk and double to Tommy Gardner in the ninth, but still converted his 19th save.
Ryan Wibbenmeyer led off the bottom of the first inning for the River Walkers with a single off River Sharks starter Rich Haas.
He later scored on a one-out single by Nick Shaw as St. Louis went up 1-0.
That lead grew to 2-0 in the fifth when Rece Hinds led off with a double off Haas and scored on a Wibbenmeyer fly ball.
The Walkers doubled their lead in the fifth.
They cranked out five singles in the inning, including RBI hits from Zach Wenman and Hinds, both off reliever Jimmy DaPra.
St. Louis got its final two runs in the seventh.
Wenman collected another RBI, this time with a double off Matt Ray.
Alex Nunez plated their final run on a ground out against Nick Thiel as Mark Herman crossed the plate.

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MBL news: June 21 -- Week 11 - Awards and standings

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Record: 41-31, 2nd, 3.5 GB Springfield
Kevin Hrdlicka limited Cedar Rapids to one run over the first seven innings -- and he also drove in the game's first two runs with a single -- as St. Louis defeated Cedar Rapids 6-2 at Connie Mack Stadium (1960).
It's been an up-and-down season for Hdrlicka, but this was one of his better starts.
He allowed the Grapplers a fifth-inning run on an RBI single from Miguel Mena to make the score 2-1.
But by the time he allowed a pair of singles to open the eighth, the River Walkers led 5-1.
Hrdlicka (6-7) left the game with a line of two runs on five hits allowed in seven innings. He struck out five and walked two.
Rookie lefty Frank Jimenez would allow a run on a Mark Hill single.
But Jimenez recorded the first out in the ninth and Jesse Gaither recorded the other two -- sandwiched around a Ryan Cleaver homer -- as the Walkers took the win.
The Walkers jumped in front with a pair of runs off Cedar Rapids starting pitcher Joey Ross in the top of the second.
Most of it happened with two outs.
Alex Nunez did single with one out, but after a fly out by Wen He, Mario Villa reached on an error by third baseman Matt Thurston.
Abdul-Nasser bin Amr then drew a walk to load the bases.
Hrdlicka made them pay with a two-run single.
St. Louis added three more runs in the top of the sixth against the Grapplers bullpen.
Manuel Coke led off the inning with a double off Anton Melendez.
Mark Herman was then issued an intentional walk.
Nunez hit into a double play before Wen He was issued the second intentional walk of the inning.
Mario Villa spoiled that strategy with a two-run double.
bin Amr received his second intentional walk of the game.
Hrdlicka was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Bob Saavedra then made it 5-1 with a single, scoring Villa.
Coke added an insurance run with his 18th home run of the season in the top of the ninth off Bob Singer.

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Record: 42-31, 2nd, 2.5 GB Cedar Rapids
Brad Monroe shut out Cedar Rapids over the first seven innings and the St. Louis offense piled up 17 hits in an 11-1 rout of the Grapplers at Connie Mack Stadium (1960).
Monroe (7-2) allowed one run on two hits over the first six innings before allowing one-out double to Dane Finch followed by a Mat Thurston RBI single in the seventh, but the River Walkers led 8-0 by that time .
For the game, Monroe allowed one run on four hits. He struck out seven and didn't walk a batter.
St.Louis jumped in front early with a three-run first against Grapplers starter Edwin Rivera.
Rivera retired the inning's first two batters, but when Manuel Coke singled it was the first of four straight hits for the Walkers.
Mark Herman and Nick Shaw also singled, with Shaw's hit scoring Coke.
Zach Wenman then followed with a double, scoring two.
The Walkers added two more runs off Rivera in the third.
Coke, Herman and Shaw again banged out three consecutive singles, this time loading the bases.
Wenman followed with a single to score Coke.
Herman scored to make it 5-0 when Wen He hit into a double play.
The Walkers added a run in the third, Bob Saavedra led off with a double off Trevor Wortham and scored on a Herman single.
And two more in the seventh.
Shaw homered off Justin Sterner.
Wenman later singled off Bob Singer and scored on a He double.
The game really lopsided when the Walkers added three more runners in the eighth.
Coke picked up a pair of RBIs with a double off Anton Melendez.
A wild pitch later scored the final St. Louis run.
Keith Kirby got the first two outs of the eighth for St. Louis.
Ron Cox did the rest to wrap up the lopsided win.

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The game between the Cedar Rapids Grapplers and St. Louis River Walkers has been postponed by bad weather.
It will be rescheduled for later in the season.

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Record: 42-32, 2nd, 2 GB Springfield
Down 3-0, Akron put up four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and went on to defeat St. Louis 4-3 at Candlestick Park (1993).
Behind a strong start from Xavier Wigfall, the River Walkers took a comfortable 3-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh.
Bob Saavedra and Manuel Coke had put them out front 1-0 with solo homers off Flying Feet starter pitcher Justin Howat in the top of the first inning.
Coke had singled off Howat to begin the top of the sixth and later scored on a bases-loaded walk from Wally Dunn to Jordan Quinto to make it 3-0.
Wigfall had gotten through the first six innings scattering six hits but got into trouble to start the bottom of the seventh when Adam Vargas doubled.
Wigfall retired the next two but gave up another double, this one to Bill Savage, to give Akron its first run.
Maxmilliano Minelli took over for the St. Louis, but his five consecutive scoreless innings came to an end when George Crockett greeted him with a single and Victor Romero hit a three-run homer to put the Feet in front.
Howat went 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on six hits. He struck out two and walked one.
Wally Dunn finished off the sixth, walking in that third Walkers run, and followed with a scoreless seventh.
Dave Crocker handled the eighth for Akron.
Phil Luis earned his 11th save with a 1-2-3 ninth.

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Record: 42-33, 2nd, 2 GB Springfield
Ron Cox's lone pitch of the game eluded St. Louis catcher Zach Wenman for a wild pitch and allowed Akron's John Polk to score the winning run from third base in the Flying Feet's 2-1 win in 10 innings at Candlestick Park (1993).
Alex Rios opened the bottom of the 10th inning on the mound for the River Walkers.
He walked Polk to open the inning before allowing a single to Jimmy Johnson to put runners at first and second.
Danny Morrison moved the runners both up a base with a ground out.
Harry Cummings then drew a walk to load the bases.
This brought Cox into the game, and one pitch later the game was over.
St. Louis struck first with its lone run of the game in the top of the fifth off Flying Feet starting pitcher Ramon Leon.
Pitcher Miguel Cisneros reached on an error by third baseman Victor Romero.
Cisneros scored on a two-out double by Ryan Wibbenmeyer.
Akron tied it in the bottom of the fifth.
Polk and Johnson opened the inning with singles off Cisneros, with Polk winding up at third.
Johnson then stole second.
John Hartigan even it with a one-out single past the shortstop.
Leon worked 6.1 innings, allowing one run on seven hits. He didn't strike out a batter and walked one.
Dave Crocker finished the seventh for Akron and followed it with a scoreless eighth.
Closer Phil Luis also pitched 1.2 innings getting the game deep into the bottom of the 10th.
Carlos Ferman struck out the only batter he faced, Nick Shaw, to end the 10th.
Ferman (5-4) would end up with the win.

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Record: 43-33, 2nd, 1.5 GB Springfield
Ming Xiang limited Akron to one run over the first six innings to earn his ninth win of the season as St. Louis defeated the Flying Feet 4-2 at Candlestick Park (1993).
A John Polk solo homer with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning accounted for the only run allowed by Xiang.
It made the score 4-1.
For his six innings, Xiang (9-2) allowed one run on seven hits. He struck out nine and walked one.
The River Walkers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning against Akron starting pitcher Adam Disney.
Bob Saavedra drew a walk to lead off the game.
He scored when Bob Saavedra followed with a double.
Zach Wenman connected for a two-run, two-out single off Disney in the fourth to push the lead to 3-0.
Pinch-hitter Danny Diaz scored St. Louis' fourth run in the top of the eighth after he led off with a double off Carlos Ferman.
A Wibbenmeyer single moved Diaz to third.
He scored when Manuel Coke followed with another single.
Jesse Gaither pitched a scoreless seventh for the Walkers.
Ron Cox gave up a lead-off home run to George Crockett in the eighth before recording a pair of outs.
Craig Fritzler posted the final five outs of the game for his 20th save.

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MBL news: June 27 -- All-Star game fan-voting update

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Record: 43-34, 2nd, 2 GB Springfield
Down 2-1, Springfield scored three times off the St. Louis bullpen in the bottom of the eighth inning and went on to defeat the River Walkers 4-2 at Candlestick Park (1993).
The victory gave the Flying Feet victories in three of four games in the series.
Single runs in the fifth and sixth innings had given St. Louis its 2-1 lead.
But once again, the Walkers bullpen could not hold on to the advantage.
Frank Jimenez retired the first to Akron hitters in the eighth, but followed that with a walk to John Polk and a single to Zach Arnold.
Maximilliano Minelli took over and for the second time in the series, let a lead get away.
Adam Vargas did the bulk of the damage when he greeted Minelli with a double to score two.
Minelli then uncorked a wild pitch to score Vargas and make it 4-2.
Thomas went five innings, allowing two runs on five hits. He struck out three and didn't issue a walk.
Santiago Snyder pitched a scoreless sixth for Akron.
Wally Dunn handled the seventh and eighth.
Dunn (2-0) would be granted the win.
Phil Luis set St. Louis down in order in the ninth for his 12th save.

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MBL news: June 28 -- Week 12 - Awards and standings

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The St. Louis River Walkers have recalled 25-year-old outfielder Mark Waterson from AAA Memphis where he had been on an injury rehab and sent 27-year-old outfielder Wen He back to the Redbirds.
Waterson has been out since June 19 when he suffered an elbow injury.
For St. Louis, Waterson has hit .230 with 15 homers and 30 RBIs in 50 games this season.
During his six-game rehab with the Redbirds, Waterson hit .192 with one homer and three RBIs in six games.
He has played in 54 games (31 starts) for St. Louis this season and batted .216 with one homer and eight RBIs.