2030 St. Louis River Walkers -- This could be the last time

[rink23]

Record: 66-58, 3rd, 2.5 GB Springfield
Tied 2-2, St. Louis tallied twice in the bottom of the seventh inning and rode that to a 4-2 win over Cedar Rapids at Busch Stadium (1997).
The Grapplers had just evened it on a two-run homer from Jose Hernandez off River Walkers starter Izzy San Juan in the top of the seventh.
But St. Louis went right to work against Cedar Rapids reliever Matt Wailzer in the bottom of the inning.
Wailzer had just replaced starter Devin Eyre, who had limited the Walkers to two runs on one hit -- a two-run homer from Rick Scott -- in the opening six innings.
Steve Rossi led off with a single, and was replaced by pinch-runner Nathaniel Dixon, and Scott followed with another single to put two runners aboard.
Dixon moved to third on a Jordan Groshans fly ball.
Jared Thomas then snapped the tie with a double, as Scott moved to third.
He wasn't there long as Peter Ahn, just returned from an injury-rehab with AAA Memphis, launched another deep fly to plate Thomas.
San Juan (15-3) turned in another quality start while earning his 15th win.
He allowed two runs on seven hits over seven innings. He struck out four and walked one.
Travis Krogman pitched a 1-2-3 eighth.
Ernesto Barbosa struck out the side in the ninth to earn his 24th save for the Walkers, who have won six in a row.

[rink23]

Record: 67-58, 2nd, 2.5 GB Springfield
Tied 3-3, St. Louis exploded for six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and rolled to a 10-6 win over Cedar Rapids at Busch Stadium (1997).
The win was the seventh in a row for the River Walkers.
Jordan Gorshans got the outburst started with a bang, leading off with a home run off Grapplers reliever Dave Schaeffer.
After that, St. Louis put its next four batters on base -- two walks, a single, and a two-run pinch-hit double from Peter Ahn -- before Schaeffer finally exited.
Rick Atkinson took over, and after a strike out Thairo Estrada connected on a two-run double to make it 8-3.
Steve Rossi kept it rolling with an RBI single, to wrap up the inning.
Cedar Rapids did score a pair of runs against reliever David Amador in the seventh.
Jose Morrillo drove in a run with a triple and scored on a Josiah Miller fly ball to make it 9-5.
But that was it, scoring-wise, for Cedar Rapids.
The Walkers added an insurance run in the seventh, pinch-hitter Nathaniel Dixon with an RBI double.
Zach Hunsicker's acquisition from Fort Wayne continued to pay off, as he allowed three runs on three hits over six innings.
Hunsicker improved to 5-2 since joining St. Louis.
Amador gave up two runs in the seventh.
Jonathan Lucas, making his debut in the majors, got the first two outs of the eighth.
Cory Tiller finished that inning and also handled the ninth for his first save.

[rink23]

Record: 68-58, 2nd, 2 GB Springfield
St. Louis scored twice in the bottom of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead, and Wilson Lara allowed one run over 5.1 innings to help the River Walkers down Cedar Rapids 3-1 at Busch Stadium (1997).
The win capped a sweep of the three-game series for St. Louis, and extended its win streak to eight games.
Jose Ramirez once again got things rolling for the Walkers in the first inning, leading the bottom of the frame off with a single off Grapplers starter Edwin Rivera.
Ramirez stole second and moved onto third when catcher Brandon Martorano's throw sailed into center field.
Thairdo Estrada then chased Ramirez home with a single.
Rivera's early troubles continued when he walked Steve Rossi, a single by Rick Scott then loaded the bases.
Estrada scored to make it 2-0 when Jordan Groshans grounded into a double play.
Cedar Rapids got its first, and only run, when Jose Morillo led off the top of the second with a homer.
The Walkers collected an insurance run in the sixth.
Peter Ahn led off with a double, but was eliminated when he was thrown out at third on an Alek Thomas bunt.
But Thomas stole second, and moved to third on a Jean Carmona single.
Ramirez scored Thomas with a fly ball as the St. Louis lead grew to 3-1.
Lara (9-6) allowed one run on three hits over his 5.2 innings. He struck ot nine and walked one.
Travis Krogman got the final out of the sixth -- he came on with runners at first and third with two outs, and got Morrillo to fly out to end the inning -- and worked a scoreless seventh.
David Amador worked a scoreless eighth.
Ernesto Barbosa followed suit in the ninth for his 25th save.

[rink23]

Peter Ahn's return to the St. Louis River Walkers lasted just three games before his balky back acted up again as the 31-year-old utility player was placed on the injured list after their 3-1 win over Cedar Rapids on August 22.
Ahn has played in 88 games for St. Louis this season, during which he has batted .246 with six homers and 24 RBIs.
Joshua Rivera has been called back up from AAA Memphis for the second time.
The 31-year-old infielder batted .257 with one homer and nine RBIs in 41 games during his first callup.
At Memphis, he has batted .349 with one homer and 10 RBIs in 22 games.

[rink23]

Record: 69-58, 2nd, 1 GB Springfield
Tied 4-4, St. Louis scored three times in the bottom of the fifth inning and went on to defeat Peoria 7-5 at Busch Stadium (1997).
The win was the ninth in a row for the River Walkers.
The Rivermen had tied it at 4-4 when Gabe Dudman hit a three-run homer off River Walkers starter Kaneo Kawamoto in the top of the fifth.
St. Louis' Jordan Groshans had smacked a three-run homer off Peoria starter Shouji Enomoto in the bottom of the fourth to make it 4-1.
The Walkers regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth.
Thairo Estrada had singled and Steve Rossi had drawn a walk, both with two outs, to chase Enumoto.
Brian Mundell greeted reliever James Bowman with a 405-foot homer on a 0-1 pitch as St. Louis went up 7-4.
Johnny Castognozzi hit a solo homer off Kawamoto to end his day in the seventh, as the Rivermen climbed to within 7-5.
Travis Krogman took over and struck out the next two batters to end the inning.
For the game, Kawamoto (12-11) allowed five runs on eight hits over 6.1 innings.
Krogman finished the seventh and worked a scoreless eighth.
Jake Brentz set Peoria down in order in the ninth for his sixth save.

[rink23]

Record: 69-59, 2nd, 2 GB Springfield
With ace Angel Tiburcio's season over because of an injury, Ricky Cisenros got the first shot at taking his spot in the starting rotation of the St. Louis River Walkers.
It could not have gone much worse.
Cisneros allowed seven runs on five hits in just 1.1 innings in a game Peoria went on to win 17-5 at Busch Stadium (1996).
The loss ended a nine-game win streak for the River Walkers.
The Rivermen pounded Cisneros for four runs in the first inning -- highlighted by a three-run homer from Ryan Palmer.
In the second, Alex Greene got to him for a two-run homer to chase him from the mound as Peoria's lead grew to 7-0.
A four-run bottom of the third -- highlighted by a two-run homer by Steve Rossi off Rivermen starter Luke Madden -- did allow St. Louis to draw within 7-4.
But any hopes of a Walkers' comeback were erased in the top of the fifth, when Peoria scored six times.
Alex Greene plated a pair of runs with a double off reliever David Amador.
Gabe Dudman followed with the first of his two homers in the game, cranking a three-run shot, also off Amador.
Dudman's second homer came in the top of the seventh off Cory Tiller.
Peoria continued to pile up the runs -- as the Walkers resorted to using position player Joshua Rivera to take the mound to open the eighth.
He walked all three batters he faced, which led to a two-run inning.
Peoria starting pitcher Luke Madden (7-9) allowed four runs on three hits in five innings.
Three relievers -- Caden Lemons (1.0 IP), Carlos Aguirre (1.0) and Joey Simmons (2.0) -- combined to shut out St. Louis the rest of the way.

[rink23]

Record: 70-59, 2nd, 2 GB Springfield
Izzy San Juan allowed two runs over 6.2 innings on his way to earning his 16th victory of the season, as St. Louis downed Peoria 4-2 at Busch Stadium (1997).
The victory allowed the River Walkers to take two of three games in the series. They dropped the middle game to end a nine-game win streak.
San Juan (16-3) allowed one run through the first six innings before allowing a two-out walk to Andrew Lee followed by an Anthony Volpe in the seventh hastening his exit.
San Juan, who allowed five hits while striking out two and walking one during his time the mound, was announced to be dealing with a dead arm.
However, it is not expected to prevent from making his next scheduled start.
Danny Amador relieved San Juan, and allowed a single to Kevin Melendez which scored Lee with the Rivermen's second run.
The next hitter, Sam Bianco, failed to slice anymore into the deficit striking out to end the inning.
Amador got into trouble again in the eighth, allowing a lead-off double to Johnny Castagnozzi followed by an Alex Greene homer to allow Peoria to pull within 6-4.
He later allowed a one-out single to Ryan Palmer and was removed from the game.
Travis Krogman stepped in and retired the next two to end the inning.
Ernesto Barbosa set the Rivermen down in order in the ninth for his 26th save.
Jose Ramirez continued to flourish in the lead-off spot, once again hitting a home run to open the first inning as the Walkers quickly jumped in front.
Jared Thomas led off the second inning with a double off Peoria starter Jon Velez.
A Jordan Gorshans single moved Thomas to third. He would score on a Joshua Rivera fly ball.
All of the rest of the St. Louis' runs came in the third, by which time their lead was 2-1.
Brian Mundell plated three of the runs with a homer.
Thomas later doubled for the second time and scored on a Rivera single.

[rink23]

MBL news: Week 17 -- Awards and standings

[rink23]

Record: 71-59, 2nd, 1 GB Springfield
Zack Hunsicker tossed a six-hit shutout as St. Louis routed Chicago 9-0 at Wrigley Field (1979).
The win improved Hunsicker to 6-2 since being acquired in a trade with Louisville. The River Walkers also have won 11 of their last 12.
Hunsicker (11-8 for the season) scattered six hits over the nine innings. He struck out four and walked two.
Back-to-back three-run innings in the third and fourth supplied all the runs for St. Louis.
Jean Carmona scored the game's first run, after he led off the third with a single off G-Men starting pitcher Jake Mullholland.
Carmona stole second and scored on a Steve Rossi single.
Two batters later, Jose Ramirez made it 3-0 with his 34th homer of the season.
In the fourth, Brian Mundell got things going with a lead-off homer off Mullholland.
Jose Segura reached on a one-out error by Chicago first baseman Cruz Calderon.
The Walkers then put together three straight hits -- a Carmona double which put runners at second and third followed by RBI singles from Rossi and Hunsicker.
Jean

[rink23]

Record: 71-60, 2nd, 2 GB Springfield
Tied 1-1, Chicago took the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning, and then broke it open by scoring six runs late as it routed St. Louis 9-1 at Wrigley Field (1979).
A pair of solo homers in a span of three batters, first from Darren Miller and the other from Cruz Calderon, off River Walkers starter Wilson Lara to open the third inning put the G-Men in the driver's seat.
They later broke it open with four runs in the seventh against the St. Louis' bullpen.
Calderon had the first RBI with a single off Travis Krogman.
Krogman's troubles continued when the next two batter, Steven Williams and Jake Gelof, both collected hits (Williams a double and Gelof a single) to plate two more runs.
Williams scored the fourth run of the inning on a fielder's choice with Jonathan Lucas on the mound.
Lucas took some more damage in the eighth, giving up an RBI single to Darren Miller and a run-scoring double to Williams.
Brandon Birdsell (3-11) allowed one on seven hits over the first six innings.
Jose Betances took care of the seventh without incident.
Mike Evanson struck out five of the six batters he faced over the final two innings.

[rink23]

Record: 71-61, 2nd, 2 GB Springfield
Chicago broke open a scoreless game with a seven-run bottom of the seventh inning, only find itself having to hold on for an 8-6 win over St. Louis at Wrigley Field (1979).
The victory gave the G-Men victories in two of the series' three games.
River Walkers starter Kaneo Kawomoto was cruising going into the bottom of the fifth, but it unraveled very quickly.
Brian Gonyon started the fun with a one-out solo homer.
The next five batters all reached base against Kawamoto -- four singles and an intentional walk -- included in that were RBI singles from Steven Williams and Jake Gelof.
Pitcher Shohei Ohtani than supplied the big blow with a grand slam to make it 7-0.
St. Louis began to chip away with three runs in the top of the sixth against Ohtani.
And when Rick Scott hit a three-run homer in the seventh off reliever Jhan Duran, all of a sudden it was 7-6.
But the Walkers would not score again -- and Chicago would get an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth when Darren Miller connected on an RBI double off closer Ernesto Barbosa -- as the G-Men held on for the win.
Ohtani (10-7) worked 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits.
Josh Hader recorded three outs before exiting with an undisclosed injury.
Duran finished off the big seventh inning for St. Louis.
Kevin Milam worked a scoreless eighth for Chicago.
Stephen Von Lehmden allowed a hit, but other than that struck out the side to earn his 23rd save.

[rink23]

Record: 72-61, 2nd, 1.5 GB Springfield
Rookie Lenyn Crisp made his major league debut a memorable one, allowing Ann Arbor one run on two hits over the first six innings, to help St. Louis down the Wolf Pack 3-1 at Busch Stadium (1997).
Outside of a second-inning home run to Aaron Bracho, Crisp (1-0) didn't run into much trouble.
In addition to allowing just the two hits, he struck out six and walked one.
Bracho's homer tied the game at 1-1.
St. Louis took the lead for good in the bottom of the third when Steve Rossi hit a two-run homer off Ann Arbor starter Josh Downer.
Travis Krogman replaced Crisp in the seventh and got through it without allowing a run.
With the St. Louis bullpen still dealing with fatigue issues, closer Ernesto Barbosa pitched two scoreless innings to earn his 27th save.

[rink23]

The St. Louis River Walkers have placed veteran infielder Thairo Estrada on the 10-day injured list after he suffered a hamstring injury in a 4-1 in over Ann Arbor on August 30.
Estrada, 34, has batted .249 with three homers and 27 RBIs in 100 games for St. Louis this season.
Getting called up from AAA Memphis is veteran infielder Vidal Brujan.
In 65 games this season, the 32-year-old has hit .238 with five homers and 26 RBIs.

[rink23]

Record: 72-62, 2nd (Tied/w. Kansas City), 2.5 GB Springfield
Jovan Gill took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and Ann Arbor downed St. Louis 4-1 at Busch Stadium (1997).
Jean Carmona broke up the no-hit bid when he led off the bottom of the seventh with a double.
That also spelled the end of Gill's time on the mound.
In his six official innings, Gill (1-3) allowed the one hit while striking out five and walked five.
Carmona also would score the lone River Walkers' run crossing the plate after Brian Mundell singled off reliever Javier Vargas and both runners added an extra base on an error by right fielder Kyle West.
The run by Carmona made it 4-1.
Joey Thacker sent St. Louis down in order in the eighth inning.
Dylan Cloonan handled the ninth for his sixth save.
The Wolf Pack scored single runs in the third through sixth innings.
Former Walker Duke Kinamon scored the first run after he doubled off St. Louis starter Izzy San Juan with two outs in the third.
Kinamon moved to third when Scott McDougall reached on an error by shortstop Jean Carmona,
Gill would score Kinamon with a single.
A Nolan Arenado one-out homer accounted for Ann Arbor's fourth-inning run.
Gill scored a run in the fifth after drawing a two-out walk and scoring on a Phil Ervin double.
Kyle Westfall singled off San Juan to open the sixth. An Aaron Brache bunt moved him to second.
Kinamon singled off Cory Tiller to make it 4-0.

[rink23]

Record: 73-62, 2nd (Tied/w. Kansas City), 2.5 GB Springfield
Zach Hunsinger held Ann Arbor off the scoreboard for the first seven innings, and St. Louis rolled to an 8-0 win at Busch Stadium (1997).
The victory improved Hunsicker to 7-2 since joining the River Walkers in a mid-July trade. He has not allowed a run in 17 consecutive innings.
In this contest, Hunsicker, who shut out Chicago in his last start, scattered five hits while striking out five and walking five.
He exited after having thrown 110 pitches.
The Walkers' bullpen maintained the shutout. Travis Krogman worked a scoreless eighth inning. Ricky Cisneros did the same in the ninth.
St. Louis jumped in front early.
Jose Ramirez led off the bottom of the first inning with a single off Wolf Pack starter Brandon Urban.
A Joshua Rivera bunt moved Ramirez to second, and a Steve Rossi fly ball planted him at third.
Ramirez scored when Urban uncorked a wild pitch while facing Brian Mundell.
The Walkers strengthened their grip with a three-run second.
Hayden Jones took care of the first run with a one-out solo homer off Urban.
A pair of singles and a walk then loaded the bases for Rivera, who plated two with a single.
St. Louis added another run in the fourth.
Alek Thomas singled with one out and took second on a Hunsicker bunt.
Ramirez collected his first RBI of the game with a two-out single off Daniel Vasquez.
Ramirez earned three more RBIs in the eighth with a three-run homer off Andres Yanez.

[rink23]

Walkers news: Player development report for Sept. 1

[rink23]

MBL news: Players and Pitchers of the Month for August 2030

[rink23]

MBL news: Rookies of the Month and standings for August 2030

[rink23]

MBL news: American League leaders on Sept. 1, 2030

[rink23]

MBL news: National League leaders on Sept. 1, 2030