2026 River Walkers: Ready to defend what we've earned

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Record: 67-56, 1st, 2.5 GA Des Moines
Down 2-1, Kansas City scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning and never trailed again as it downed St. Louis 7-2 at Kansas City Municipal Stadium (1969).
Austin Wells got it started with a lead-off double off River Walkers starting pitcher Steven Brault.
He scored when Nander De Salas followed with a single.
A bunt from pitcher Kyle Nelson moved De Salas up a bases.
He scored when Greg Jones grounded out into the hole at shortstop.
The Pit Masters broke the game open two innings later, when they scored four runs in the fourth.
Kylon Tye collected all but one of the RBIs, hitting a three-run homer off Brault.
KC starter Kyle Nelson allowed two runs on three hits in four innings.
Frank Lopez (2-8) worked a scoreless fifth and got the first out of the sixth, and would come out of the game with the win.
He was followed to the mound by Johnny Kuhn Jr. (0.2 IP), Archie Bradley (2.0) and Mike Tucker (1.0).

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Record: 67-57, 1st, 1.5 GA Des Moines
Greg Jones singled to score Logan Tanner with the game-winning run as Kansas City downed St. Louis 4-3 in 12 innings at Kansas City Municipal Stadium (1969).
River Walkers reliever Angel Tiburcio had already pitched three innings when he took the mound to start the bottom of the 12th.
He seemed to have nothing left, walking Tanner on four pitches to get things started.
Nick Lodolo relieved and he was worse.
He hit Mykanthony Valdez with a pitch.
Jones followed with his second to score Tanner from second.
The Pit Masters had tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth.
Jayson Gonzalez scored the tying run after he singled off Tiburcio with one out.
A wild pitch moved him to second, before a Carlos Garcia sacrifice fly planted him on third.
Tiburcio then intentionally walked Nandes De Sedas to bring the right-handed hitting Tanner to the plate.
The strategy backfired when Tiburcio threw his second wild pitch of the inning, allowing Gonzalez to score.
Kansas City got to St. Louis rookie spot starter Jason Froelich for a pair of runs in the first.
Jones scored the first run and later scored on a Josh Shuler ground out.
Blaze Jordan later reached on a two-out triple. He would score on a Froelich wild pitch.
An RBI single from Jared Thomas off K.C. starter Dominic Pipkin in the third inning got the Walkers on the board.
St. Louis grabbed the lead in the seventh, Jean Carmona connecting for a two-run double off reliever Austin Hansen.
Pipkin turned in a strong five innings - allowing one run on three hits. He struck out seven and walked two -- to open the game.
Jamie Callahan, Hansen and David Berg all pitched an inning apiece to get the game to the ninth.
The ageless Wade Davis handled the ninth through 11th inning.
Johnny Kuhn Jr. (1-2) held the Walkers scoreless in the 12th, setting himself up to earn the win.

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The St. Louis River Walkers made a pair of roster moves following their 4-3 loss in 12 innings to the Kansas City Pit Masters.
Left-handed relief pitcher Nick Lodolo was optioned to AAA Memphis, while fellow lefty Ricky Cisneros was called up from the Redbirds.
It's been a rough season for the 28-year-old Lodolo, who has gone 2-2 with one save while getting into 32 games and posted a 5.45 ERA.
It will be Lodolo's second trip to Memphis this season.
The 21-year-old Cisneros is making his second trip to MBL of the season.
He got into three games the first time around, going 0-2 with one save while boasting a 5.19 ERA.
At Memphis this season, Cisneros has gone 6-5 with one save in 23 games. He owns a 3.48 ERA.
Also, the Walkers have recalled 26-year-old first baseman/third baseman JT Schwartz from Memphis.
Schwartz, 26, had played the bulk of the season in the majors -- he has batted .253 with 14 homers and 30 RBIs in 79 games -- before falling into an almost month-long slump.
Outfielder Deihandy Johnson was placed on waivers with the intent of returning him to Memphis.
Johnson, 26, has played in 25 games for the River Walkers this season, batting .232 with one homer and three RBIs.

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Record: 68-57, 1st, 1.5 GA Springfield
The bats of the St. Louis River Walkers erupted for 13 runs on 17 hits in a 13-8 win over Kansas City at Kansas City Municipal Stadium (1969).
The Walkers jumped out to a 3-0 lead with three runs in the top of the first inning off Pit Masters starting pitcher Jake Woodford.
Andrew Benintendi drove in the first run with a single while Jared Thomas plated the other two with a two-out double.
And while it never led by less than two runs -- at one time it was 8-3 River Walkers only later to become 9-8 -- the lead was never truly comfortable until St. Louis put up four runs in the top of the ninth go up 13-8.
That outburst featured an RBI single from JT Schwartz off KC reliever David Berg.
Larry Ernesto also hit his second home run of the game, a three-run blast also off Berg.
Ernesto finished the game 2 for 4 with four RBIs.
Thomas was 2 for 5 with two doubles and three RBIs.
Jean Carmona was 4 for 5 with a double three runs scored and an RBI.
Argenis Batista (7-9) had a rough outing, allowing seven runs on 10 hits in just five innings, but still came out with the win.
Six relievers -- Luis Palomo (0.0 IP), Williams Jerez (1.0), Ricky Cisneros (0.2), John Curtiss (1.0), Jake Brentz (0.1) and Justin Roberts (1-0) -- followed Batista to the mound.

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Record: 69-57, 1st, 1.5 GA Des Moines
Larry Ernesto and Vidal Brujan connected on RBI singles in the top of the eighth inning to snap a 1-1 tie and lift St. Louis to a 3-1 win over Kansas City at Kansas City Municipal Stadium (1969).
The win was the second in a row for the River Walkers, who came out of the four-game series with a split.

Jean Carmona got things going with a lead-off double in the eight off Pit Masters reliever Frank Lopez.
Rhys Hoskins, who would score the inning's second run, then was given an intentional walk.
Jamie Callahan replaced Lopez and watched Andrew Benintendi touch him for a sacrifice fly which moved Carmona to third.
Larry Ernesto then scored Carmona with his single. Hoskins stopped at second.
Johnny Kuhn Jr. took the mound and walked Jared Thomas to load the bases.
David Berg became K.C.'s third pitcher of the inning, and Brujan greeted him with a single to make it 3-1 as Hoskins scored.
A day after St. Louis prevailed in a 13-8 slugfest, it wasn't until the top of the sixth before a run was scored in this one.
That came courtesy of a homer from Hoskins off Masters reliever Archie Bradley.
K.C. tied it in the bottom of the sixth.
Greg Jones led off with a single of Walkers starter Jimmy Lambert. He moved to second when Blaze Jordan drew a one-out walk.
Ricky Cisneros replaced Lambert.
Jones stole third base and scored when Danny Cushing hit into a force play.
Lambert allowed the one run on four hits in 5.1 innings.
Cisneros finished the sixth inning.
Justin Roberts allowed a double to Yordan Alvarez, the only batter he would face to open the seventh.
John Curtiss came on to make sure Alvarez did not score in that inning.
That also helped Curtiss (2-3) come out of the game with the win.

Jake Brentz pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
Edwin Diaz had his 23rd save after he did the same in the ninth.

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Record: 70-57, 1st, 2.5 GA Des Moines
Adonis Medina took a shutout into the ninth inning before tiring and the St. Louis bullpen finished off the shutout, as the River Walkers downed Cedar Rapids 4-0 at Shibe Park (1949).
Medina worked eight scoreless innings and got the first out in the ninth before allowing a single to Mart McLain.
Medina (9-8) exited having allowing just two hits in his 8.1 innings. He struck out four and walked one.
Luis Palomo handled the rest.
He allowed a single to Jerrion Ealy, but retired the next two hitters to end it.
A pair of solo homers in the fourth inning from Rhys Hoskins and Larry Ernesto off Golden Grapplers starter Sean Harp put the River Walkers up 2-0.
St. Louis added insurance runs in the fifth -- Carlos Vidal with an RBI single -- and ninth -- Andrew Benintendi with a run-scoring single -- to push its lead to 4-0.

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Record: 71-57, 1st, 3.5 GA Des Moines
St. Louis got down 3-0 early but rallied to defeat Cedar Rapids 4-3 at Shibe Park (1949).
The Golden Grapplers got to River Walkers ace Alex Faedo for single runs in the first, second and third innings to build their lead.
St. Louis started its comeback in the top of the fifth when Carlos Vidal connected on a two-out solo homer off Grapplers starter Mario Galvez.
An inning later, it was tied a pinch-hitter Edmond Americaan connected on an RBI single off Trevor Bauer to make it 3-2.
Bauer followed that by walking Jean Carmona with the bases loaded to tie it.
St. Louis seized the lead in the eighth, it all happening with two outs with back-to-back doubles from Bo Bichette and pinch-hitter Vidal Brujan off reliever Todd Peterson bringing home what turned-out-to-be the game-winning run.
Faedo turned in a rare short outing, allowing three runs on four hits over five innings.
Williams Jerez kept the Grapplers off the board in the sixth and notched the first out of the seventh.
Angel Tiburcio got the final two outs of the seventh.
Tiburcio (3-2) also earned the win.

The eighth and ninth belonged to Edwin Diaz, who did not allow a base runner while recording his 24th save.
It also was the 300th save of Diaz' career.

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Record: 72-57, 1st, 3.5 GA Des Moines
Fernando Tatis Jr. snapped a 2-2 tie with a three-run homer off Cedar Rapids reliever Chris Fleven with two outs in the top of the eighth inning to help lift St. Louis to a 6-4 win at Shibe Park (1949).
The victory gave the River Walkers a three-game sweep of the Golden Grapplers. St. Louis leads the South Division of the Mississippi Baseball League by 3.5 over Des Moines games with 33 games remaining.
Tied 2-2, St. Louis got the three runs it would need to win the game and sweep the three-game series in the top of the eighth.
A two-out walk to Rhys Hoskins from reliever Trevor Bauer got things started.
Chris Flexen took over and unleashed a wild pitching which moved Hoskins to second.
A walk by Flexen to Andrew Benintendi put two runner aboard.
Four pitches later, St. Louis led 5-2 after Fernando Tatis unleashed his 21st homer of the season to put the River Walkers ahead 5-2.
Rhys Hoskins later made it 6-3 with an RBI single off Zack Schellenger.
Probably a starter during the September pennant push, Froelich turned in another solid outing alowing two runs on five hits over six innings. He sturck out two and walked the game.
Ricky Cisneros, Angel Tibrucio all worked an inning apiece to close out the gae.
Ciseneros (1-1) came out of it with his first win.
Jake Brentz worked around a pair of hits in the ninth to earn his ninth save of the season.

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MBL news: Week 19 Awards and standings

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Record: 72-58, 1st, 2.5 GA Des Moines
Down 3-2, Springfield scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning to take the lead and held on for a 5-3 win over St. Louis at Busch Stadium (1997).
Odbubel Herrera led off the inning with a single off River Walkers starting pitcher Steven Brault
He moved to third when St. Louis catcher Reese McGuire made a throwing error by pitcher Keegan Thompson, resulting in runners at first and third.
Alex Bregman scored Herrera with a ground out.
Riley Greene then connected on a two-out double to score Thompson.
The Prairie Fighters added an insurance run inn the ninth, with an error by the Walkers defense playing a part.
With Luis Palomo on the mound for St. Louis, Eric Hosmer opened the inning and ended up at second base when he reached on an error by St. Louis second baseman Vidal Brujan.
Andres Gimenez moved Hosmer to third with a bunt.
John Curtiss took over the mound duties and was greeted by a fly ball from Franmil Reyes which was deep enough to score Hosmer.
Springfield starting pitcher D.J. Jefferson lasted just three innings, allowing three runs on six hits.
Five relievers -- Thompson (2.0 IP), Raul Ahumada (1.0), Dinelson Lamet (1.0)., Kenley Jansen (1.0) and Ken Giles (1.0) -- combined to shutout the Walkers the rest of the way.
Thompson (3-0) came out of it with the win.
Giles earned his 11th save.

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MBL news: Players and Pitchers of the Month for August 2026

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MBL news: Rookies of the Month for standings for August 2026

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MBL leaders: American League leaders on Sept. 1

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MBL news: National League leaders on Sept. 1, 2026

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Walkers news: August player statistics and overall season stats

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Player of the Month: Rhys Hoskins -- The 33-year-old Hoskins had a big month batting .337 with 10 homers, 17 RBIs and 22 runs scored in 28 games. He also posted an on-base percentage of .434 and slugging percentage of .692 to earn National League Player of the Month honors.
Starting pitcher of the Month: Adonis Medina -- The 29-year-old right-hander went 3-1 in five starts with a 2.78 ERA. He worked a total of 32.1 innings, during which he struck out 21 and posted a 0.99 WHIP.
Relief pitcher of the Month: Edwin Diaz -- The Walkers closer got into eight games and posted seven saves. He worked eight innings total, striking out 13 while posted a 0.25 WHIP.

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The St. Louis River Walkers called four players up from Memphis as MBL rosters expanded to 30 players on Sept. 1.
Called up were relief pitchers Derek Gordon and Nick Lodolo, catcher Clay Owens and outfielder Edward Oliveras.
The right-handed Gordon, 35, started the season in the majors but was sent to Memphis after he struggled.
He was a starter for the Redbirds, going 7-6 in 17 starts with a 3.83 ERA.

Gordon will serve as a reliever for the Walkers.
Lodolo, 28, had recently been sent to Memphis after having a rough season in the majors.
The left-hander had gone 2-2 with one saves in 32 games. His ERA in the majors was 5.45.
Owens, 27, did spent a brief time in the majors this season, but has been the primary catcher for the Redbirds.
In 71 games at Memphis, he has batted .283 with four homers and 37 RBIs.
Oliveras, 30, also spent a brief spell in the majors but has primarily played at Memphis this season.
He has batted .286 in 70 games for the Redbirds, hitting 12 homers and driving in 32 runs.

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Record: 72-59, 1st, 2.5 GA Des Moines
St. Louis starting pitcher Jimmy Lambert took a shutout into the top of the seventh inning, but by the time the half-inning ended Springfield led 3-1 and it stayed that way the rest of the way as the Prairie Fighters posted a win at Busch Stadium (1997).
Lambert retired the first two Springfield hitters in the seventh.
But it fell apart after Dylan Crews connected on a two-out single.
Victor Caratini followed with a two-run homer, snatching the lead for the Fighters.
Daniel Becerra followed with a double.
Following an intentional walk to Odubel Herrera, Matthew Lugo scored Becerra with a single as Springfield went up 3-1.
Springfield starter Thomas Szapucki limited St. Louis to one run on five hits over the first five innings.
Rich Nelson, Juan Then, Chaz Roe and Ken Giles all pitched an inning apiece to close out the win.
Nelson (2-0) came out of it with the win.
Giles upped his save total since joining the Fighters to 12.

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Record: 73-59, 1st. 3.5 GA Des Moines and Quad City
Vidal Brujan singled off Springfield closer Ken Giles to score Fernando Tatis Jr. with the game-winning run in the bottom of the 15th inning, as St. Louis down the Prairie Fighters 7-6 at Busch Stadium (1997).
The victory allowed the River Walkers to salvage the finale of the three-game series after dropping the first two.
Tatis had drawn a lead-off walk from Giles to open the bottom of the 15th.
Larry Ernesto moved Tatis to second with a sacrifice bunt.
Brujan than lined a 1-2 pitch into left field to bring home Tatis with the winning run.
St. Louis was in big trouble going into the bottom of the ninth trailing 6-1.
But the Walkers found a way to keep tie it.
Jared Thomas drew a one-out walk from reliever Luis M. Castillo.
Singles from Fernando Tatis Jr. and Larry Ernesto then loaded the bases.
Dinelson Lamet took over and struck out Brujan for the second out.
But Andrew Benintendi sliced the deficit by a run with a single, leaving the bases loaded.
Johan Camargo tied it, driving a 1-2 pitch from Lamet 399 feet over the right-field wall for a game-tying grand slam.
It was just the second homer of the season for Camargo, who has struggled throughout.
St. Louis starting pitcher Adonis Medina allowed three runs on eight hits over 5.1 innings.
Seven relievers marched their way to the mound after Medina exited.
Ricky Cisernos finished the sixth and got the first out outs of the sixth.
After that, it was John Curtiss (0.1 IP), Nick Lodolo (1.0), Derek Gordon (1.0), Jake Brentz (2.0), Edwin Diaz (2.0) and Angel Tiburcio (2.0).
Tiburcio (4-2) came out of it with his fourth win of the season.

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Record: 74-59, 1st, 3 GA Des Moines
St. Louis pushed across five runs in the top of the third inning and rode that outburst to a 6-2 win over Green Bay at War Memorial Stadium (Buffalo).
Much of the River Walkers damage in the third inning came with two outs against Long Haulers starter Stiward Aquino.
Carlos Vidal drove in the inning's first two runs with a double.
But the others three -- an RBI single from Andrew Benintendi and a two-run double from Jared Thomas -- both came with two outs.
The Walkers led 5-0 after that big inning.
A two-run homer from Bobby Bradley off Walkers ace Alex Faedo in the bottom of the fourth did make it 5-2.
But the Haulers would not score again.
Faedo (15-5) allowed two runs on five hits over the first six innings. He struck out six and walked two.
Ricky Cisernos and Luis Palomo combined on a scoreless seventh inning.
Williams Jerez handled both the eighth and ninth to earn himself his first save of the season.