[rink23]

Record: 23-18, 3rd, 3.5 GB Cedar Rapids

St. Louis handed Jake Brentz the closer's role he so coveted at the start of the 2027 season, so far he has not lived up to it.
Springfield scored twice off Brentz in the bottom of the ninth inning to squeak out a 4-3 win over the River Walkers at Oracle Park.
The loss ended a five-game streak for St. Louis.
Brentz had come on to get out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth, striking out Franmil Reyes to keep the Walkers in front 3-2.
But in the ninth, he didn't seem to bring anything to the mound.
He walked lead-off hitter Riley Greene and Dylan Crews followed with a single.
Daniel Becerra struck out for the first out.
But Anthony Siegler followed with a double to tie it.
Wander Samuel Franco was walked to load the bases.
Victor Caratini hit into a fielder's choice with Crews retied at the plate for the second out.
Luis Palomo was brought in to clean up the mess.
But Alex Bregman singled, to bring hom Seigler with the winning run.
The loss dropped Brentz to 0-2 for the season and was his second blown save. His ERA sits at 5.25
Prairie Fighters ace Raul Ahumada shut out the Walkers for 6.2 innings before departing.
He allowed just two hits, while striking out six and walking a pair.
But the second game in a row St. Louis got to the Springfield bullpen.
A three-run seventh put St. Louis in front 3-2.
Andrew Benintendi had the big hit with a bases-loaded double, which scored two.

Jared Thomas drove in the inning's third run with a two-out single.
Owen Sharts followed Ahmada to the mound to finish the seventh and got the first out of the eighth.
Justin Jarvis finished the eighth.
The first two outs of the ninth went to Keegan Thompson.
Juan Then (1-0) retired the only batter he faced, but came out of it with the win.