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Record: 39-27, 2nd, 3 GB Des Moines
Austin Hays hit two of Des Moines' three home runs and Max Fried and a pair of relievers combined on a three-hit shutout as the Harvesters downed St. Louis 5-0 in the opener of a four-game series between the top two teams in the National League West at LaBlatt Stadium.
Hays hit the first of his two homers in the bottom of the first, a two-run blast which happened to mark the end of River Walkers starting pitcher Luis Gohara's day.
Gohara departed after the at-bat with neck stiffness. He is reported to be out for four days, and should be able to make his next start.
Hays struck again in the bottom of the eighth, with a solo shot off St. Louis reliever Jacob Lindgren for the game's final run.
In between, Chris Taylor had cranked his first homer of the season, a two-run job off Daniel Hudson in the seventh inning.
Fried went 5.1 innings to earn his fifth win of the season. He scattered all three of St. Louis hits while striking out seven and walking two.
Juan Jamie finished the sixth inning and posted a scoreless seventh.
The final two belonged to Matt Festa, who only allowed one baserunner via walk.