2033 St. Louis River Walkers: And the saga continues

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Record: 45-37, 1st, 4.5 GA Springfield and Kansas City
Tied 1-1, Springfield took the lead for good with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning as the Railers downed St. Louis 7-3 at Oracle Park.
Carlton Randall got Springfield rolling in the fifth drawing a one-out walk from River Walkers starting pitcher Xavier Wigfall.
Randall scored when Justin Schneider followed with a double.
A two-out double by Joseph Hughes made it 3-1.
An inside-the-park from St. Louis' Manuel Coke in the top of the sixth pulled the Walkers back to within a run.
That didn't last long.
Springfield scored four times in the bottom of the sixth.
Wigfall retired the inning's first two batters before being replaced by Bret McVey.
McVey got taken to the woodshed.
Jason Nolan greeted him with a double.
Pinch-hitter Jose Chavez scored Nolan with a single.
Carlton Randall notched another double to make it 5-2.
Scott Rissler replaced McVey.
He was not any better.
Justin Schneider connected for the third double in the span of four batters, making it 6-2.
Billy Salas pushed it to 7-2 with the fifth straight hit for the Railers -- an RBI single.
Springfield starting pitcher Jesse Edwards (1-4) earned his first win of the season.
He worked six innings, allowing two runs on five hits. He struck out three and walked one.
T.J. Darr pitched the seventh for Springfield.
Tom McClurg worked the eighth and got the first two outs of the ninth.
After St. Louis scored its final run, Ron Tanner came on to close out the win.

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Walkers news: July 5 -- Mid-season note from the owner

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MBL news: July 5 -- All-Star game fan voting update

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Record: 45-38, 1st, 3.5 GA Springfield and Kansas City
Tied 1-1, Springfield's Justin Schneider hit a two-out home run off St. Louis' Ming Xiang in the bottom of the fifth inning to put the Railers in front.
They went on to 3-1 and take the final two games of the three-game series at Oracle Park.
Schneider's 11th home run of the season was on the first pitch. It landed 379 feet over the wall in left field.
The Railers would add an insurance run in the seventh against reliever Mike Fagan.
Jason Nolan drew a lead-off walk and moved to second on a Hunter Fedducia single.
Schneider notched his second RBI of the game when he scored Nolan on a two-out single.
Springfield starting pitcher Alejandro Moto was impressive until after having to leave the game after 4.2 innings with an undisclosed injury.
In his time on the mound, Moto allowed one run on five hits. He struck out four and walked two.
The win went to Brent Dreher (1-0), who finished the fifth inning and got the game to the eighth with the Railers still on front.
Mike LaFramboise got the first to outs of the eighth.
Jon Santiago handled the final out of the eighth and worked a scoreless ninth for his 16th save.

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MBL news: July 6 -- Week 14 - Awards and standings

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Record: 46-38, 1st, 4.5 GA Kansas City and Springfield
St. Louis hit five home runs -- including a pair of Mark Herman -- and the River Walkers tallied the final five runs of the game in an 11-8 victory over Quad City at Busch Stadium (2006).
A pair of two-run homers in the bottom of the first inning -- from Herman and Manuel Coke -- off Thunder starting pitcher Pascal Marcovicci staked St. Louis to an early 4-0 lead.
That lead vanished in the top of the fourth when QC tallied four times off Walkers starter Jesse McNaboe.
Paul Totten and Frank Garcia both had RBI singles while Bill Blakeney drove in a pair with a single.
St. Louis reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fifth on back-to-back solo homers from Herman and Marcos Francis off reliever Kevin Vitale.
A three-run homer from Blakeney off reliever Nick Ruffalo highlighted a four-run top of the sixth for the Thunder, as it claimed an 8-6 lead.
The Walkers responded by moving in front with three runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Rookie Mark Waterson led off the inning with a homer.
Herman drove in the inning's second run, this time with a single.
Nick Shaw put St. Louis in front with another single.
St. Louis added two insurance runs an inning later.
Waterson led off the inning with a triple of Danny Garza.
He scored on an Abdul-Nasser bin Amr single.
Bob Saavedra later plated Jackson Miller, who had walked behind Waterson, with a fly ball to center.
McNaboe struggled lasting just 5.1 innings, during which he allowed seven runs on six hits. He struck out five and walked one.
Ruffalo (3-3) finished off the sixth and allowed a run to tie the game.
But he would be awarded the win.
Brett McVey pitched a scoreless seventh for St. Louis.
The eighth was split between Scott Rissler (0.1 IP) and Greg Sones (0.2).
Bobby Westerman earned his 13th save despite allowing QC to put two runners on base. He didn't allow a run.

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The St. Louis River Walkers have landed 30-year-old OF/1B Alex Nunez from the Kansas City Monarchs in a trade for minor-league prospects 1B Matt Atlas and 26-year-old RHP Micah Andrew.
In a corresponding move, St. Louis also traded former All-Star center fielder Jose Segura and RHP Mike Fagan to the Peoria Rivermen in exchange for 31-year-old RHP Elvis Pool.
Looking for a right-handed hitting center fielder to add depth behind rookie starter Mark Waterson, St. Louis settled on Nunez, who was offered up by Kansas City in a rare trade between National League South Division rivals.
The River Walkers (46-38) lead Kansas City and Springfield, who are tied for second, by 4.5 games in the NL South standings.
Nunez has spent his entire career in the Kansas City since being signed to a minor-league contract during the 2035 season.
This season, Nunez got into 38 games (15 starts) for the Monarchs and batted .205 with one homer and eight RBIs.
In his major league career, three seasons in KC and one with Toledo, he has played in 213 game (104 starts) and batted .280 with 12 homers and 56 RBIs.
Atlas was acquired from St. Louis in a trade with Columbus on May 19, 2035.
In 73 games (67 starts) at Memphis this season, the left-handed hitter has a .326 batting average with 15 homers and 54 RBIs.
Selected in the fourth-round of the 2029 draft by St. Louis, Andrew has pitched in 17 games (seven starts) this season for AA Springfield going 2-3 with a 3.00 ERA.
He was selected to the Southern League All-Star game.

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The St. Louis River Walkers have traded two-time All-Star center fielder Jose Segura along with right-handed reliever Mike Fagan to the Peoria Rivermen in exchange for right-handed relief pitcher Elvis Pool.
While the locker room and fans may not be happy, this seems to be a trade the Walkers almost had to make.
Since signing a three-year contract during the 2035 season, Segura's production has dramatically diminished.
During the 2035 season, Segura batted .192 with 24 homers and 79 RBIs in 128 games.
The 2036 season, in 114 games, he hit .224 with 15 homers and 53 RBIs.
Thus far in 2037, Segura has struggled tremendously hitting just .181 with two homers and eight RBIs in 67 games.
Rookie Mark Waterson has supplanted Segura as the team's primary center fielder.
And Waterson sometimes struggling against left-handed pitcher, St. Louis felt it needed to add a center fielder who hits from the right side.
They hope they have found that in Alex Nunez, who they acquired in a trade earlier today.
In Fagan, St. Louis is trading a reliever they signed in the offseason.
The 34-year-old has had a rough go of it, in 34 games, he's gone 0-1 with one save and a 7.67 ERA.
The Walkers don't know much about what they are getting in Pool.
He's only pitched in seven games at the MBL level -- all with Louisville -- and owns a 0-1 record with a 6.00 ERA.
He's also currently out with a knee injury.
His last time on the mound was on March 29 during spring training.

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Walkers news: July 7 -- Fan and player reaction to trade of Jose Segura

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Record: 47-38, 1st, 5 GA Springfield and Kansas City
Trailing 3-2, Mark Herman hit a two-run home run off Quad City reliever Gus Perez in the bottom of the eighth inning to help lift St. Louis to a 4-3 win at Busch Stadium (2006).
Bob Saavedra had led off the inning with a single off Perez.
Herman then stroked a 2-1 pitch 405 feet over the right-field wall to give the River Walkers their first lead of the gam.
A solo homer from Gabriel Hagan leading off the top of the seventh off Walkers reliever Nick Ruffalo had given QC a 3-0 lead.
St. Louis struck back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning.
Marcos Francis led off the inning with a double off starting pitcher Hector Almedina.
A one-out single by Manuel Coke put runners on first and third.
Zach Wenman then connected on an RBI single, scoring Francis and also sending Almedina to the shower.
Perez took over the mound duties for the Thunder only to give up a run-scoring single to Mark Waterson making it 3-2.
Rookie Billy Hermann got his second start for the Walkers.
He lasted six innings, allowing two runs on seven hits. He struck out three and didn't walk a batter.
Ruffalo, Brett McVey and Ron Cox all pitched an inning of relief.
McVey (6-0) got the win.
Cox notched his first save.

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Record: 48-38, 1st, 6.5 GA Springfield and Kansas City
Nick Shaw connected on a two-run single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to cap a four-run inning as St. Louis stunned Quad City 8-7 at Busch Stadium (2006).
The victory gave the River Walkers a sweep of the three-game series.
Trailing 4-3, the Thunder had scored four times in the top of the ninth to take a 7-4 lead.
St. Louis closer Bobby Westerman retired the inning's first two hitters but then fell apart allowing three straight batters to reach before giving up a grand slam to Paul Totten.
QC sent its closer, Terry Zahnow, to begin the ninth.
Like Westerman, he didn't have a very good day.
St. Louis took advantage putting its first four batters on base.
Jordan Quinto led off with a single.
Alex Nunez drew a walk.
Bob Saavedra singled to load the bases.
A wild pitch scored Quinto before Mark Herman drove in the inning's second run with a single.
Manuel Coke ground out for the inning's second out.
But Shaw drove a 1-1 pitch up the middle, scoring Saavedra and Herman and give the Walkers the win.
St. Louis starting pitcher Josh McDonald allowed three runs on six hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked one.
Scott Rissler worked two innings of scoreless relief.
Westerman (5-1) was horrible with his sixth blown save of the season.
Yet, he still earned the win.

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Record: 49-38, 1st, 7 GA Kansas City
Marcos Francis homered twice -- including a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning when St. Louis scored five times to break the game open -- as the River Walkers defeated Cincinnati 11-4 at Busch Stadium (2006).
Tied 2-2, the Walkers took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth inning.
River Sharks starting pitcher Walt Myers hit Jordan Quinto with a pitch to begin the inning.
St. Louis pitcher Xavier Wigfall got down a bunt to move Quinto to second.
He scored on a two-out double by Mark Herman.
The Walkers pushed their lead to 6-2 in the seventh.
Jackson Miller led off the inning with a home run off reliever Mike Goldblat.
Quinto followed with a double and scored on a one-out double by Francis.
Manuel Coke scored Francis with a two-out single.
Troy Heller hit a two-run homer off Walkers reliever Ron Cox in the eighth to make it 6-4.
St. Louis put three runners on base against the Sharks Joe Goodman after two were out in the eighth.
That set the stage for Francis' grand slam, his team leading 17th home run of the season.
Herman followed the Francis homer with solo shot off Victor Lizaola, making it 11-4.
Walkers starting pitcher Xavier Wigfall allowed two runs on three hits over six innings. He struck out eight and walked three.
Greg Sones (0.2 IP) and Maximiliano Minelli (0.1) combined on a scoreless seventh inning.
Armando Cintron started the eighth and recorded out before exiting with a n elbow injury.
Ron Cox got the final out of the eighth and allowed the final Cincinnati run.
Brett McVey set the Sharks down in order in the ninth.

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The St. Louis River Walkers have placed left-handed relief pitcher Armando Cintron on the 10-day injured list after he left their 11-4 win over Cincinnati on July 9 with elbow inflammation.
Cintron, 34, has pitched in 29 games for St. Louis this season going 2-0 with five saves and a 1.78 ERA.
Getting the callup from AAA Memphis is 27-year-old left-hander Mark Pendleton.
A first-round draft pick in 2032 by the Walkers, Pendleton has never pitched above AAA.
In 17 games this season, he is 0-1 with a 4.99 ERA.

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Record: 50-38, 1st, 7 GA Kansas City
Abdul-Nasser bin Amr connected on an RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to lift St. Louis to an 8-7 win over Cincinnati at Busch Stadium (2006).
The win was the fifth in a row for the River Walkers.
The winning run was scored by Alex Nunez after he singled with one out off River Sharks reliever Nick Ferretti.
Nunez, who was acquired last week in a trade with Kansas City, then stole second base while Jackson Miller was at the plate.
Miller struck out.
The game-winning hit was then delivered by bin Amr, as he grounded a 1-2 pitch down the left-field line.
Down 6-4, Cincinnati had gone in front with three runs in the top of the eighth.
Former Walkers prospect Laurenco Curvelo drove in all three runs with a homer off Scott Rissler.
St. Louis tied it in the bottom of the eighth after pinch-hitter Jordan Quinto doubled off Mike Goldblatt.
A single by Bob Saavedra moved Quinto to third.
Mark Herman drove him in with a fly ball to center.
St. Louis starting pitcher Ming Xiang allowed four runs on six hits over the first 6.2 innings. He struck out eight and walked three.
Ron Cox finished the seventh and got the first out of the eighth for the Walkers.
Scott Rissler finished off the eighth, and was on the mound when the Sharks went in front.
Nick Ruffalo (4-3) set Cincy down in order in the ninth and would get the win.

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Record: 50-39, 1st, 6 GA Kansas City
Lenyn LaMoureax limited St. Louis to one run over the first innings to set himself up for his11th victory of the season, as Cincinnati defeated the River Walkers 4-2 at Busch Stadium (2006).
The loss ended a five-game win streak for St. Louis.
LaMoureax (11-4), who is expected to start for the American League in next week's All-Star game, allowed the one run -- it came in the bottom of the fourth inning and tied the game at 1-1 -- on four hits. He struck out five and didn't walk a batter.
After the Walkers tied it, the River Sharks took the lead for good in the top of the sixth against St. Louis starting pitcher Jesse McNaboe.
Jarrod Twomney led off the inning with a single.
He moved to second when Joe Neyer drew a one-out walk.
Kyren Paris scored Twomney with a two-out single.
Paris also would drive in the game's final two runs with a home run off Brett McVey in the top of the eighth.
After LaMoureaux exited with a pitch count of 103, Justin Roberson took over and threw two scoreless innings.
Victor Lizaola set the Walkers down in order in the eighth.
Nick Ferretti did allow a run in the ninth but still earned his second save.

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MBL news: July 12 -- All-Star game fan-voting final results

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MBL news: July 12 -- All-Star game rosters

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The St. Louis River Walkers will be represented at the All-Star game by second baseman Marcos Francis and relief pitcher Brett McVey, who both selected as reserves to the National League roster.
It is the fourth All-Star game selection for Francis and his first as a member of the Walkers.
His other two appearances were as a member of the Grand Rapids Traders in 2030 and 2033.
It is his second appearance while with St. Louis, having also made it 2036 his first year with the team.
This season, the 32-year-old Francis is batting .284 with 17 homers and 46 RBIs in 82 games (81 starts).
It marks the first All-Star selection for McVey, who signed with St. Louis in the off-season after playing the two previous seasons in Milwaukee.
The 32-year-old right-hander has pitched in 44 games for St. Louis this season, going 6-0 with two saves and a 3.06 ERA.

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MBL news: July 12 -- Prospects Game rosters named

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Three members of the St. Louis River Walkers minor-league organization have been named to the National League roster for the Prospects Game.
CL -- Alex Ramos, Class A Peoria -- The 20-year-old right-hander has split his season between Class A Palm Beach and Class A Peoria. He owns a combined record of 4-5 with 10 saves in 33 games with a 4.09 ERA. The Walkers drafted Ramos in the third-round of the 2035 draft.
C -- Ethan Hayes, Class A Peoria -- The 19-year-old has split his season between Class A Peoria and Low-A State College. In 69 games, he has a batting average of .272 with two homers and 33 RBIs. Hayes was a first-round draft pick in the 2036 draft.
OF -- Jose Juarez, Low-A State College -- The 21-year-old has played the entire season at Low-A State College, where he has hit .260 with two homers and nine RBIs in 22 games. Juarez was signed to a minor-league contract out of the Dominican Republic in 2033.