2033 St. Louis River Walkers: And the saga continues

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MBL news: May 1 -- American League leaders

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MBL news: May 1 -- National League leaders

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Walkers news: May 1 -- Team statistics for April

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Player of the Month -- Nick Shaw -- The reigning National League MVP got a strong start to his season, batting .298 with eight homers, 30 RBIs and 17 runs scored in 21 games. The 28-year-old got on base at a .330 clip and slugged .663.
Starting Pitcher of the Month: Kevin Hrdlicka -- In four starts the 25-year-old right-hander went 2-1 with a 1.05 ERA. He pitched a total of 25.2 innings, during which he struck out 29 and had a 0.78 WHIP.
Relief Pitcher of the Month: Brett McVey -- In his first month with the Walkers after signing as a free agent in the offseason, the 31-year-old McVey got into 11 games and went 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA. He pitched a total of 12.1 innings, during which he struck out 14 and had a 1.22 WHIP.

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Walkers news: May 1 -- Player Development Report

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Record: 15-9, 1st, 2 GA Springfield
Tied 3-3, Mannuell Uso led off the top of the ninth inning with a single and scored on a Tommy Gardner fly ball to help give Evansville a 4-3 win over St. Louis at Busch Stadium (2006).
Uso's single came on an 0-2 pitch off River Walkers relief pitcher Scott Rissler.
Pinch-hitter Danny Ocampo followed with a single, which moved Uso to third.
Gardner fit a fly ball deep enough to center to allow Uso to score.
The River Walkers had tie it at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth.
Mark Herman had drawn a lead-off walk from Bosses reliever Frank Handley.
Zach Wenman connected on a one-out double, moving Herman to third.
Jordan Quinto drove him home with a single past the shortstop.
Evansville starting pitcher Ray Pocock lasted just 4.2 innings, allowing two runs on six hits. He struck out three and didn't allow a walk.
Handley finished the fifth for the Bosses and also worked the sixth when the Walkers tied it.
Stephon Harrison (2-0) earned the win after working two 1-2-3 innings.
Michael Bowen earned his 12th save by handling the ninth.

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Record: 16-9, 1st, 2 GA Springfield
Kevin Hrdlicka took a shutout into the top of the eighth inning to help St. Louis snap a three-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over Evansville at Busch Stadium (2006).
Hrdlicka (3-1) scattered four singles over the first seven innings before giving up a lead-off single to Jaime Mora in the eighth.
After the next batter, Brian Vargo, drew a walk Hrdlicka's game was over.
Mike Fagan took over and got Jeff Waldron on a fly out.
But Esteban Dominguez followed with a double to make it 3-2.
Danny Campo was given an intentional walk before Nick Ruffalo replaced Fagan.
Ruffalo retired pinch-hitter Sean Thomas and Danny McCauley to end the inning with St. Louis still in front.
When it was over, Hrdlicka had left the game charged with two runs on five hits over seven innings. He struck out eight and walked three.

The River Walkers had gained the lead early with a pair
of runs in the bottom of the first off Bosses starting pitcher Cory Maddox.
St. Louis opened the game with three straight hits -- Bob Saavedra and Jackson Miller and Marcos Francis doubled, scoring Saavedra -- and Bill Pena later drew a bases loaded walk to make it 2-0.
Nick Shaw scored the Walkers third run in the third.
He drew a lead off walk.
A single by Eddie Estrella moved Shaw to third.
Jose Segura collected an RBI when Shaw scored on his ground out.
Now 3-2, Bobby Westerman set the Bosses down in order in the ninth for his fourth save.

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Record: 16-10, 1st, 1 GA Springfield
Evansville broke open a scoreless game with four runs in the top of the sixth inning against St. Louis starting pitcher Josh McDonald, and the Bosses went on for a 5-1 win at Busch Stadium (2006).
The win allowed Evansville to take three of the four games in its series with the River Walkers.
The Bosses scored their four runs on four hits in their big sixth inning, but the big play seemed to be an error by St. Louis right fielder Manuel Coke.
Brian Schlegel reached on a single to open the inning.
The next batter, Danny Ocampo, hit what seemed a routine fly ball to right only to have Coke misplay it.
Tyler Carter hit into a fielder's choice, with Ocampo being retired at second, for the first out.
Carter stole second, leading to Robbie Mackie, a left-handed hitter with right-hander on the mound, being given an intentional walk.
Lee Oakley foiled that strategy with a single, scoring Schlegel and Carter.
But it wasn't over.
Tommy Gardner and pinch-hitter Esteban Dominguez also singled, scoring two more runs.
McDonald then made it a circus, walking Jaime Mora to score the fourth run of the inning.
This is coming from McDonald, who finished second in the NL Cy Young voting last season.
Evansville starting pitcher Jeremy Kriech worked 4.2 scoreless innings, allowing five hits. He struck out three and walked one.
A parade of six relievers followed him to the mound -- Frank Handley (0.1 IP), Wayne Joyce (0.2), Ricky Cisneros (0.1), Zachary Stella (2.0), Stephan Harrison (0.1) and Michael Bowen (0.2) -- with St. Louis scoring just one run the rest of the way.
Handley (1-1) earned the win.
Bowen notched his third save of the series and 13th of the season.

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MBL news: May 4 -- Week 5 - Awards and standings

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Record: 16-11, 1st, 1 GA Springfield
Rockford jumped on St. Louis starting pitcher Xavier Wigfall for what would be all of the game's runs, as the Lightning had five pitchers combine on a four-hit shutout at Busch Stadium (2006).
Wigfall continued to struggle with his control, issuing three walks in Rockford's three-run top of the first.
The first came to the game's first batter, Ernesto Ferreras, as the Lightning saw its first four batters reach base.
Erik Stowe followed the lead-off walk with a single.
A wild pitch moved the runners to second and third.
A free pass to David Blanton then loaded the bases.
Alex Horta drove in the inning's first two runs with a double.
Fernando Tatis Jr. scored Blanton with a fly ball to left.
While the Rockford offense went dormant after the first inning, the Lightning's pitchers were on target from start to finish.
Gary Snelling got the start and handled the first 4.1 innings.
He allowed three of the four River Walkers hits. He also struck out four and didn't issue a walk.
Omar Benitez wrapped up the fifth inning and worked a scoreless sixth.
Benitez (1-0) would earn the win.
After that, it was a scoreless inning apiece from Jim Messina, Mario Reyes and Craig Fritzler to wrap up the game.
Fritzler earned his fifth save.

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Record: 17-11, 1st, 1 GA Springfield
Rookie starting pitcher Ming Xiang picked up his third win of the season without a loss, limiting Rockford to two runs over the first five innings as St. Louis defeated the Lightning 6-2 at Busch Stadium (2006).
Signed as a free agent from Taiwan in the offseason, Xiang (3-0) has won three of his six starts with three no decisions.
In this one, he left after allowing a lead-off single to Greg Bernier in the top of the sixth.
For the game, Xiang gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits over five innings. He struck out two and walked four.
The River Walkers used three straight hits to jump out 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning.
With one out, Jackson Miller and Marcos Francis both doubled off former St. Louis starting pitcher Shane Drogo.
Francis scored on a Nick Shaw single.
With the Lightning have pulled to within 3-2, the Walkers lengthened their lead in the sixth on a three-run homer from Eddie Estrella off Rockford reliever Jim Messina.
After Xiang exited the game, three relievers combined to get the final 12 outs.
Ron Cox handled six of them in the sixth and seventh innings.
Brett McVey set the Lightning down in order in the eighth but let two runners get aboard with one out in the ninth.
Armando Cintron came in the retired the next two, to earn his second save of the season.

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Record: 18-11, 1st, 2 GA Springfield
Tied 2-2 with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning, St. Louis put four straight batters on base -- three singles and walk -- to pave the way for a three-run frame and a 5-2 win over Rockford at Busch Stadium (2006).
Pitcher Jesse McNaboe got things rolling for the River Walkers with a two-out single off Lightning starter Gregg Krawczyk.
Bob Saavedra and Jackson Miller quickly made it three straight singles, Miller's hit scoring McNaboe.
Marcos Francis then drew a walk to load the bases.
Nick Shaw made it 5-2 with a single to left field.
McNaboe failed to pitch long enough to earn the win.
He lasted just four innings, allowing two runs on five hits. He struck out three and walked four.
The win went to Scott Rissler, who replaced McNaboe with two on and nobody out in the fifth.
Rissler (2-1) got out of the fifth with the score 3-2. He would earn the win.
Nick Ruffalo worked 2.1 innings without allowing a base runner.
Mike Fagan finished off the eighth inning for the Walkers.
Bobby Westerman pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his fifth save.
However, Westerman complained of shoulder pain after the game and may be headed to the injured list.

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The St. Louis River Walkers have placed right-handed relief pitcher Bobby Westerman on the injured list after he complained of shoulder pain following a 5-2 win over Rockford on May 6.
Westerman, who has taken over as the Walkers closer this season, was diagnosed with shoulder tendonitis after the game
It is expected to affect him for five days, so the team opted to place him on the injured list.
The 2037 season has not gotten off to a good start for Westerman.
The 28-year-old was injured late in spring training and returned just as the season started.
In eight games, nine games he is 0-1 with five saves, one blown saves and a 9.00 ERA.
Getting the callup from AAA Memphis, is 27-year-old right handler Brennon Weldon.
Weldon, who spent most of the 2036 season with the Walkers, has pitched in eight games for the Redbirds.
He has gone 2-2 with two saves, one blown save and a 3.65 ERA.

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Record: 19-11, 1st, 3 GA Springfield
St. Louis jumped out to a 6-0 lead over the first 4.5 innings and went on to defeat Detroit 6-2 at Tiger Stadium (1980).
The River Walkers got things going with a run in the top of the first inning off Diesels starting pitcher Jordan Harrison.
Bob Saavedra led off the game with a double.
A bunt by Chris Duncan moved him to third.
Manuel Coke drove Saavedra home with a two-out single.
That lead grew to 3-0 in the fourth.
St. Louis opened the inning with four straight hits off Harrison.
Eddie Estrella, Jose Segura and Zach Wenman opened the inning with three straight singles.
Wenman's hit loaded the bases.
Rich Dodson then plated a pair with a double.
An inning later, with Harrison still on the mound, the Walkers opened the inning with three straight hits.
This time, it was Mark Herman leading things off with a single.
A double by Manuel Coke put runners at second and third.
Estrella scored them both with a double.
Dodson later collected his third RBI of the game with a two-out single off reliever Sam Gibb.
St. Louis starting pitcher Kevin Hrdlicka didn't allow a run over the first 5.1 innings, allowing just two hits.
He struck out seven and walked two but exited earlier than he would have liked after having thrown 105 pitches.
Hrdlicka (4-1) still earned the win.
Brett McVey worked 1.2 innings to get the game to the eighth.
Ron Cox allowed two runs in the eighth -- one of them on a Juan Herrera homer -- but not much else.

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Record: 19-12, 1st, 2 GA Springfield
Down 3-1, Detroit went ahead when Kelly Allain hit a three-run home run off St. Louis starting pitcher Josh McDonald in the bottom of the sixth inning, and the Diesels went on to defeat the River Walkers 8-3 at Tiger Stadium (1980).
Juan Herrera got Detroit going in the sixth with a one-out double off McDonald.
Dylan Crews, who had driven in the Diesels lone run in the bottom of the first, followed with a walk,
Allain then connected on his homer, his fourth of the season.
Detroit busted the game open against the St. Louis' bullpen with a four-run bottom of the eighth.
Mike Fagan was on the mound to take most of the damage.
Sean Nettles drove in a run off him with a single, and Jim Price plated one with a double.
Pinch-hitter Harry Christensen plated the inning's final two runs with a single off Armando Cintron.
Detroit starting pitcher Scott Mueller lasted five innings, allowing four runs on three hits.
Four relievers, Brian Little, Jose Lopez, former Walker starting pitched Edward Kunselman and Joseph Wilson, all pitched scoreless innings.
The win went to Little (2-0).

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Record: 19-13, 1st, 2 GA Springfield
After St. Louis jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, Detroit scored the next seven runs and held on for a 9-7 win at Tiger Stadium (1980).
The River Walkers tallied twice off Diesels starter Francisco Velasco to start the game.
But Detroit battled the slumping Xavier Wigfall for a run in the bottom of the first, three in the second and three in the fourth to take charge.
Christian Moore began what would be a big game by scoring the Diesels first run.
He singled off Wigfall with one out in the first and scored on a Juan Herrera double.
Moore ended the game 4 for 5 with two doubles, two runs scored and four RBIs.
Jim Price and Roc Riggio connected for RBI singles off Wigfall in the second.
Moore plated the first two runs of the third with a double off Wigfall.
Herrera knocked in the third when he singled off reliever Ron Cox.
The Walkers would climb back to within 8-7.
Marcos Francis made it that score when he led off the eighth with a single off reliever Joseph Wilson, and later scored on a ground out by pinch-hitter Eddie Estrella.
Freddy Woolsley made it 9-7 when he led off the bottom of the eighth with his first homer of the season.
It came off Nick Ruffalo, who had just entered the game.
Velasco (3-1) went 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits. He struck out six and didn't issue a walk.
Chris Terry finished the sixth and got the first out of the seventh.
He gave up a pair of runs.
Wilson finished the seventh for the Diesels.
Jose Lopez worked the eighth for Detroit.
Closer Bill Webb set St. Louis down in order in the ninth for his fifth save.

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Record: 20-13, 1st, 3 GA Springfield
Ming Xiang continued the impressive start to his rookie season, allowing one run over seven innings to help St. Louis defeat Detroit 6-3 at Tiger Stadium (1980).
The win gave the River Walkers a split of their four-game series with the Diesels,
Xiang (4-0), who signed with St. Louis from Taiwan during the offseason, didn't allow a run until the bottom of the seventh inning, by which time his lead led 6-0.
For the game, Xiang allowed one run on seven hits over seven innings. He struck out six and didn't walk a batter.
Brennan Weldon, making his first appearance with the Walkers since being called up from the minors, allowed a pair of runs in the eighth on a Kelly Allain homer.
Mike Fagan worked a scoreless ninth for his first save.
St. Louis jumped in front with a pair of runs off Diesels starting pitcher Pablo Maldonado in the top of the fourth.
Singles from Manuel Coke, Nick Shaw and Mark Herman opened the inning.
Herman's single scored Coke for the game's first run.
Eddie Estrella then connected on a double to make it 2-0.
An inning later, Marcos Francis led off with a single.
Jackson Miller got a bunt down to move Francis to second.
He scored on a two-out single by Shaw.
St. Louis doubled its run total in the seventh.
Xiang actually set things in motion with a single off reliever Sam Gibb.
Miller would drive in a run with a single.
Herman later collected two more RBIs with a single.

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MBL news: Week 6 -- Awards and standings

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Record: 20-14, 1st, 3.5 GA Springfield
Antonio Cerja shut out St. Louis into the top of the seventh inning and Springfield banged out 17 hits in a 10-0 rout of the River Walkers at Fenway Park (1975).
Earning his first win of the season, Cerja (1-3) pitched until there were two outs in the top of the seventh.
He left after allowing a two-out single by Jackson Miller.
St. Louis' third hit of the game came on Cerja's 102 pitch.
He struck out two and walked three.
Angelo Touliatos got the final out of the seventh for the Thunder.
With a big lead, Corey York pitched the eighth and ninth for QC.
Quad City managed just one run off River Walkers starting pitcher Jesse McNaboe, Tobias Rocha with a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the second to make it 1-0.
Before tallying twice off him in the sixth when McNaboe allowed the first three Thunder batters to reach base.
Brett McVey replaced McNaboe with the bases loaded and immediately allowed a two-run single to Rocha.
An inning later, QC unloaded for five runs off the St. Louis' bullpen.
Boychuk had the big hit with a three-run homer off Brett McVey.
Gabriel Hagan had preceded the homer with a two-run double.
The Thunder added two more runs in the eighth with Hagan earning two more RBIs with a homer off Brennan Weldon.

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Record: 20-15, 1st, 3 GA Kansas City
Down 2-1, Quad City tallied a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and went on to defeat St. Louis 3-2 at Fenway Park (1975).
The River Walkers tallied single runs in the top of the first and third innings to go up 2-0.
A solo homer from Fontana Felitti off St. Louis starting pitcher Kevin Hrdlicka got the Thunder on the board.
Hrdlicka was still on the mound in the seventh when Tobias Rocha singled with one out.
That ended Hrdlicka's outing and brought Greg Sones into the game.
The left-hander struck out Frank Garcia for the second out.
But he could not get the third.
Pinch-hitter Kyle Soloman singled to load the bases.
Keith Reiter followed with a single to tie the game.
Left-handed hitting Joey Wilson then connected for another single, putting QC in front 3-2.
Thunder starting pitcher Pedro Marcovicci went five innings, allowing two runs on six hits. He struck out eight and walked two.
The win went to Gus Perez (2-0), who kept St. Louis off the board in the sixth and seventh innings.
Danny Garza worked a scoreless eighth.
Terry Zahnow set the River Walkers down in order in the ninth for his sixth save.
The four QC pitchers combined to strike out 13 batters.