Frontier League: Game Recaps, Notes, News & Transactions — June 4, 2021
The Province of Quebec is very quickly getting vaccinated and that makes a lot of social restrictions a thing of the past. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of sitting down in a bar with my good friend Jean-François Côté, instead of watching Frontier League TV (I’m still not digesting it). Jeff was one of the two persons who instigated and made possible the existence of the Quebec City Capitales has we know them today. I appreciate his company and he’s just a great guy, overall.
I had a proposal for him… and he said yes. In the next few days (or more likely a couple of weeks), his expertise will make something cool happen for the Frontier League Journal and the league in general. Nothing groundbreaking, but just an added bonus for the players and people interested in evaluating them. The beauty of this project (FLJ) is that I can have fun at my own rhythm and there is a good momentum right now.
There was no “Game Talk” video produced yesterday, but instead I took a few minutes to put together these graphics to show you the best Frontier League pitching staff (according to ERA) and hitting teams (according to OPS) up to Wednesday night (yesterday’s game are NOT included).
This is nothing fancy, but *hint*, this could be something where a new stats or some cool existing one is introduced to the Frontier League in the near future.
NEWS
- With his team’s win last night, Southern Illinois Miners manager Mike Pinto has reached the 800-win milestone. From the Southern Illinoisan:
Jarrod Watkins’ single up the middle against a drawn-in infield gave the Southern Illinois Miners a 4–3 win over Equipe Quebec and manager Mike Pinto his 800th career professional victory Thursday.
Pinto, the Miners’ only manager since the franchise began in 2007, earned his 731st victory at Southern Illinois. He passed Frontier League Hall of Famer Fran Riordan for the most wins in league history June 2, 2018, with his 626th. Pinto has led the Miners to seven playoff appearances, most recently in 2016, with four division titles. The Miners won the Frontier League championship in 2012.
TRANSACTIONS
GATEWAY GRIZZLIES
June 3: Signed RHP Jack Jett, a 6'4", 220 lbs player who has never played pro ball. He has mostly been used as a starter during his career and he was pitching very well in 2021 and from what I’ve read he seems to be well-regarded by his coaches and scouts. I do not know what his arsenal is, but I’m eager to see how manager Cameron Roth uses him.
June 3: Released INF Jose Reyes.
JOLIET SLAMMERS
June 3: Sold the contract of RHP Bobby Milacki to the Minnesota Twins. Took the time to write to him yesterday and he is obviously thrilled with the news. Congratulations, man!
SCHAUMBURG BOOMERS
June 3: Signed RHP Kristian Scott, who was pitching with Gary in the American Association this season (5.1 IP, 12 H, 8 ER, 4 BB and 4 K) and was acquired yesterday to complete a previous trade between the two teams.
June 3: Released RHP Dallas Bryan.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS MINERS
June 3: Signed INF Nick Neville and INF Ian Walters. This is very cool, since both players were on the same team this year for the Salukis from the Southern Illinois University and Ian Walters is a local kid. They’re the first Salukis to play for the Miners since 2014 when catcher Matt Jones suited up for them.
What’s even better is that the left side of the infield for Game 1 against Équipe Québec was the two of them:
June 3: Placed RHP Justin Ferrell on the inactive list. He got hurt while pitching in Florence, but I do not have any more info on that end for the moment.
STANDINGS
GAME RECAPS and NOTES
I’ll have to forgo the Game Notes this morning to attend to my professional life and, yes, take a couple of yesterday’s games in, I am just completely hooked to the product delivered so far.
Wipe those tears, I’ll be back with the usual overload of info tomorrow morning, don’t you worry.
Game 1 of their doubleheader
Game 2 of their doubleheader
Evansville news release:
Otters complete sweep with HR Derby win
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — The Evansville Otters completed a home series sweep of the Lake Erie Crushers Thursday, winning with a walk-off in game one and winning a home run derby in game two.
Game one ended with a score 2–1. The second game was tied at four after eight innings, and was decided by a 4–2 home-run derby finale. The Otters improve to 6–1 on the season.
In game one, the Otters first fell behind after Lake Erie’s Trevor Achenbach hit a solo shot off of Otters starter Dalton Stambaugh.
Christopher Pujols answered the Crushers’ tally with an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning that scored Riley Krane.
Stambaugh impressed on the mound, throwing six innings while striking out six, walking one, and allowing four hits. The Achenbach home run was the only run allowed by Stambaugh.
Abraham Almonte came out of the Otters’ bullpen, and pitched a scoreless seventh before the game went to extras.
The Otters played their first 2021 regular season game under the international tie-breaker rules when the game remained tied at one after seven innings. Almonte stayed on to pitch, getting a play that would cut down General McArthur — — the extra runner — — on a play at the plate, which kept the game tied going into the bottom of the eighth.
In the bottom half, Trent Nash started off on second base. After two outs and two intentional walks, Elijah MacNamee came to the plate with the bases loaded and the winning run 90 feet from home. MacNamee won the game on a base hit into the right-center field gap.
In game two, MacNamee opened the scoring with an RBI sacrifice fly to center that scored Miles Gordon, who had doubled to leadoff the inning, in the bottom of the first.
Facing Otters’ starter Tyler Vail, the Crushers tied the game in the top of the third with a sacrifice fly of their own.
The Otters quickly regained the lead in the bottom half, when Andy DeJesus doubled home Gordon from third.
The Otters’ lead held until the fifth, when the Crushers scored three runs and took a 4–2 lead. Tyler Vail would remain in the ballgame, however, and bounced back to keep the Crushers to within two through his seven innings on the mound.
Evansville found a way to tie things up in the bottom of the seventh, which John Schultz led off with a double to left. Following a J.R. Davis walk and a Dakota Phillips base hit to load the bases, the Otters cut the deficit in half when Trent Nash, a pinch runner, scored on fielder’s choice.
Then, Otters skipper Andy McCauley ordered up a safety squeeze from Josh Henderson, who laid down a perfect bunt to the right of the mound and allowed Davis to score from third and tie the game.
Evansville closer Logan Sawyer came on in the eighth, with the international tie-breaker rule in play. Dylan Jones, the extra runner, advanced to third on a fielding error that allowed Shawon Dunston, Jr. to reach first safely. Following a stolen base, Sawyer proceeded to strand both runners in scoring position by striking out the next three batters 1–2–3.
Evansville was unable to score in the bottom of the eighth, so the Otters would have their first ever Home Run Derby finale to determine a winner in game two.
After Lake Erie’s Dunston Jr. failed to hit a homer, Riley Krane began the Otters’ turn at the derby with two home runs to right field. Lake Erie’s Trevor Achenbach would tie it at two home runs, and Dakota Phillips broke the tie with two home runs of his own. Lake Erie’s final batter, Brody Wofford, failed to hit a home run, concluding the shootout-style finish. Otters hitting coach Bobby Segal threw to Krane and Phillips.
The Evansville Otters will begin a seven-game road trip with a four-game series in Schaumburg, Illinois, taking on the 3–4 Boomers on Friday. First pitch will be at 6:30 p.m.
Washington news release:
Wild Things Blast Their Way to Win in Road Trip Finale
FLORENCE, Ky. (June 3) — The Wild Things belted three home runs and got solid pitching throughout the night to take the series finale and the finale of the eight-game road trip by a final of 8–2 over the Y’alls.
The scoring started early, as left fielder Bralin Jackson hit his first home run of the campaign and first as a professional since 2018 while with the Altoona Curve, to make it 1–0 Washington in the first. Hector Roa added his 47th home run as a Wild Thing and second this year in the second to double the lead. For Roa, the homer also served as his 317th career hit with Washington, which pulled him into a tie for second all time in that category with Mike Arbinger (2004–06). He passed Arbinger with his 318th career hit, a single, in his next plate appearance.
The two runs were all the Wild Things got off starter Frank Valentino but they’d add later. After Daren Osby completed his fifth scoreless inning and his final of the night, Washington added two more. Brian Sharp collected his first hit of the year to get the monkey off his back and it was a home run to make it 3–0. Later in the sixth, John Sansone plated Bralin Jackson with a base hit to make it 4–0.
Florence was able to get on the scoreboard in the home sixth on a two-run home run by Chad Sedio, his first of the year. The Wild Things immediately responded, however, with two in the seventh. Sharp singled home a run before Jackson did as well. Washington scored two in the eighth on bases loaded walks to Sharp and Jackson.
BJ Sabol, Jesus Balaguer and Zach Strecker each worked a scoreless frame to close the night for the win and get the win for Osby, his first as a Wild Thing.
Washington now returns home to do battle with Équipe Québec Friday through Sunday to start the 51-game home slate.
Gateway news release:
Five-run 1st Inning Pushes Grizzlies To 8–4 Win
SAUGET, Ill. — Gateway exploded for five runs in the first inning to pave the way for an 8–4 win over the Thunderbolts on Thursday night.
However, Windy City struck first. Grizzlies RHP Jorge Tavarez gave up three straight singles to open the game, the third of which plated Zac Taylor for the opening Thunderbolts run. Dan Robinson came home on a Jamey Smart sacrifice fly later in the frame.
Once the bottom half rolled around, Gateway got to work. Abdiel Diaz smacked a quick single and Jose Rosario followed up with a double. Two batters later, Ty Moore brought home the first run with a sacrifice fly. This started a streak of three straight scoring plays, the latter two being a Nick Rotola RBI double and a Justin Jones RBI single. Dustin Woodcock capped off the 1st inning onslaught with a two-run double to make it 5–2 Grizzlies.
Gateway never relinquished the lead after that. Rotola was the offensive star of the night, going 4-for-4 and finishing just a triple shy of the cycle.
Tavarez (1–0) earned the first win by a Gateway starter this season with his 5.2 innings of work. Thunderbolts LHP Kenny Matthews (0–2) took the loss after allowing seven earned runs in 2.2 innings.
The Grizzlies start their first series of the season with the Florence Y’alls on Friday night. First pitch at GCS Credit Union Ballpark is set for 6:45 p.m. and you can listen live on YO Radio or watch on Frontier League TV starting with the Budweiser Pregame Show at 6:30 p.m.
New York news release:
BOULDERS’ TIMELY HITTING HELPS FINISH OFF SWEEP OF TRI-CITY
Rockland County, NY (June 3, 2021) — The New York Boulders combined early timely hitting with some Tri-City pitching wildness to post a 9–3 Frontier League win over the Valley Cats on a rainy Thursday night at Palisades Credit Union Park to complete a sweep of the three-game series.
The Boulders scored each of their first five runs on two-out hits. Meanwhile, Valley Cats’ pitchers combined to walk a dozen batters.
The win was New York’s third straight and lifted them over the .500 mark at 4–3.
Additionally, New York was very aggressive on the base paths, stealing eight bases in nine attempts, led by three swipes by Zach Penprase.
Trailing 1–0 in the home half of the first, Ryan Ramiz tied it with a two-out single, then Zach Penprase followed with a two-run single that gave the home team a 3–1 lead.
In the second inning, Zach Kirtley delivered a two-out RBI single; then, an inning later, Phil Capra’s single with two away made it 5–2.
Tri-City inched back into the game in the fifth inning when, with two outs, Boulders’ reliever Luke Burton walked Carson Maxwell and wild pitched him to second, Denis Phipps then laced a double to left that plated Maxwell to make it a 5–3 game. Burton escaped further harm by striking out Francis Martinez to end the inning.
The Boulders answered that Tri-City run with two of their own in the seventh without a base hit, parlaying two walks, a hit batter, a sacrifice fly by Capra and a run-scoring groundout by Milton Smith, Jr. into a pair that extended their lead back to a more comfortable 7–3.
New York tacked on two insurance runs in the eighth on a single by Ramiz and a double-play grounder by Penprase.
Ramiz, Penprase and Capra ended the evening with two RBIs apiece.
Tri-City got on the board first when Steve Figueroa led off the game with a home run to right field. The Valley Cats cut their deficit to 3–2 in the second on a run-scoring single from Avery Tuck.
Brian Rapp started and went four innings for the Boulders, allowing two runs on seven hits. He walked one and struck out four. His Valley Cats’ counterpart Carlos Canelon made it through three innings, surrendering five runs on five hits with four walks and three strikeouts.
Zach Schneider picked up the win for New York with four innings of scoreless relief.
Canelon was tagged with the loss for Tri-City.
Coming off the three-game sweep of the Valley Cats, the Boulders head to Sussex County for a three-game weekend series, Friday, June 4 to Sunday, June 6. Game times are set for 7:05 p.m. on Friday, 6:05 p.m. on Saturday and a 2:05 p.m. start time for the finale.
Joliet news release:
SLAMMERS TAKE THE SERIES AGAINST BOOMERS
JOLIET, IL — It was another beautiful night for the final game of the Slammers/Boomers series. With the series tied, the Slammers were on the hunt for a victory. Austin Shea started on the mound for Joliet.
The bats came alive right out of the gate for the Slammers, scoring the first three runs of the game in the first inning. Austin Shea and company kept things going on the defensive side and only let up two runs in the first four innings.
Runs kept on coming for the Slammers in the second with two more on the board and one to follow in the fourth. Brian Parreira hit a towering two run homer in the 6th followed by an RBI single by Patrick Causa to extend the Slammers lead to 9–2.
Trevor Charpie came into the game in the 9th to close out a Slammers victory with a final score of 9–6 ensuring a series win against the Boomers.
The next home game is on Friday June 4th against the Windy City ThunderBolts. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. and fireworks will follow the game.
Game 1 of their doubleheader
Game 2 of their doubleheader
Southern Illinois news release:
Miners Split Doubleheader With Équipe Québec
The Southern Illinois Miners came back from a three-run deficit to take game one of their doubleheader against Équipe Québec, but were unable to hold an early lead in game two, dropping the second contest and splitting the twin-bill at Rent One Park on Thursday night.
Équipe Québec struck first in the top of the fourth inning of game one with a two-run home run off the bat of Riley Pittman, his second long ball of the series, for a 2–0 lead. Gift Ngoepe later tripled to left center with two outs, and scored on an error, giving Équipe Québec a 3–0 lead.
The Miners were able to push their first run across in the bottom of the fifth inning on an RBI single from Tyler Sandoval, his first professional hit, making the score 3–1. Équipe Québec was able to hold the 3–1 lead until the bottom of the sixth inning- with a runner on first base and two outs, the Miners tied the game on a two run home run from Nolan Earley, his second of the year, at 3–3.
After a scoreless top of the seventh from Stevie Ledesma (1–0), Southern Illinois loaded up the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning with no one out, and walked it off on an RBI single up the middle from Jarrod Watkins, giving the Miners the 4–3 win.
Game two of the doubleheader started differently, as the Miners struck first against Équipe Québec in the first inning. Watkins and Anthony Brocato led off with singles, and the Miners got their run on an RBI groundout from Luke Mangieri, taking an early 1–0 lead.
Miners were able to hold the lead until the top of the fifth inning thanks to the pitching of Joey Pulido, but fell behind in the frame, as Riley Pittman’s two-run single put the visitors up 2–1.
The Miners would respond quickly in the bottom half of the fifth inning on a bases-loaded walk to Earley, tying the game back up at 2–2. But Équipe Québec answered immediately as Jeffry Parra’s solo home run put them back ahead in the top of the sixth. David Glaude would give Équipe Québec insurance in the top of the seventh with an opposite-field home run to left, making it a 4–2 game.
Mangieri hit a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh, but it was not enough as Équipe Québec hung on and won the series two games to one.
The Miners continue their homestand on Friday, June 4, at 7:05 p.m. against the Lake Erie Crushers in Marion, kicking off a three-game, weekend series at Rent One Park.
