2039 and beyond -- St. Louis River Walkers thread

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Walkers news: March 30 -- Green Bay 7, St. Louis 3, 9-20

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Walkers news: March 31 -- St. Louis 4, Rockford 2, 10-20

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MBL news: March 31 -- Final spring training standings and leaders

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Walkers news: March 31 -- Final spring training statistics

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Walkers news: April 1 -- Player Development Report

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Walkers news: April 1 -- Player Development Report (continued)

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MBL news: April 4 -- Preseason predictions on Opening Day

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2038 season: 91-71, 3rd, 7 GB Springfield
2039 prediction: 64-98, 6th, 25 GB Cedar Rapids
Manager/General Manager: Mike Renkes, 22nd season, 1,889-1,514, .555
Division champions: 2018, 2019, 2025, 2026, 2028, 2030, 2031, 2036 and 2037.
World series qualifiers: 2018, 2025, 2026, 2028, 2030 and 2037.
World Series titles: 2018 and 2025.
2038 Award winners: NL MVP – OF Manuel Coke; Silver Slugger: SP Ming Xiang, RF Manuel Coke and LF Mark Herman. Gold Glove: SP Brad Monroe and 1B Nick Shaw.

2037 season summary: The River Walkers went 3-3 the first week of the season and 14-9 for the month of April to fall 2.5-games behind Springfield.
And outside of one day in July, the Railers led the National League South Division the rest of the way en route to posting a Midwest Baseball League-best record of 98-64.
At 91-71, St. Louis posted its fourth consecutive season of 90 wins or better but it still landed the Walkers seven games behind the Railers. Cedar Rapids finished 94-68 to place second in the NL South.

Looking ahead: The Walkers have made one change in the everyday lineup with free agent Chris Gibbs being brought in to play center field.
This will move Mark Waterson to left field and Mark Herman to third base.
After four seasons as the starting third baseman, Bob Saavedra was allowed to leave as a free agent.
In the starting rotation, Brad Monroe had a great season – going 15-6 with a 3.50 ERA – in his lone campaign as a Walker but left to sign a free agent deal with Peoria.
Monroe is being replaced by Agustin Perdomo, who was signed as a free agent. The right-hander is coming off a season where he went 17-7 with a 3.77 ERA in 2038 while helping Columbus win the World Series.
The preseason predictions for the Walkers are not good, grading them out to go a MBL worst 68-94

Departures
SP: Brad Monroe; RP: Juan Munoz, Greg Sones, Jesse Gaither and Bobby Westerman, C: Jackson Miller; 3B: Bob Saavedra; IF: Jordan Quinto and Rece Hinds; OF: Alex Nunez and Danny Diaz; SS: Abdul-Nasser bin Amr.
SP – Brad Monroe, B-L/T-L, 31, 32 G, 32 GS, 15-6, 3.50 ERA, 190.1 IP, 1.18 WHIP, 191 Ks, five-year-deal worth $96 million with Peoria
Knowing he was going his free-agent season, St. Louis was banking on getting a big 2038 from Monroe who it acquired in the off-season via a trade withPeoria.
It happened, with Monroe going 15-8 with a 3.50 ERA and winning a Gold Glove.
Once the free-agent market opened, Monroe opted to head back to Peoria inking a five-year deal which will pay him $19.2M per campaign.
RP – Juan Munoz, B-R/T-R, 31, 60 G, 5-5, 21 Svs., 2.45 ERA, 62.1 IP, 1.04 WHIP, 73 Ks (Cleveland and St. Louis combined); Signed one-year deal with Peoria worth $7.9M
Acquired on July 31 from Cleveland, Munoz pitched in 24 games for St. Louis going 3-1 with one save and a 1.29 ERA.
Monroe signed a one-year contract worth $7.9 million with Peoria.
RP – Greg Sones, B-L/T-L, 28 G, 0-3, 0 Svs., 9.95 ERA, 19.0 IP, 2.26 WHIP, 13 Ks; Traded to Des Moines
For a couple of seasons Sones was among the best left-handed relievers in the MBL. But that all changed in 2038, when he split the season between the River Walkers at AAA Memphis.
He wasn’t very good in either location. The left-hander was dealt to Des Moines in deal which brought minor-league catcher Travis Benson into the St. Louis organization.

RP – Jesse Gaither, B-L/T-R, 35 -- 81 G, 5-2, 2 Svs., 5.30 ERA, 71.1 IP, 1.40 WHIP, 66 Ks; Signed with Des Moines as a free agent
Gaither’s lone season was not very good and he was allowed to leave as a free agent.
He signed with Des Moines and will begin the season in AAA.
RP – Bobby Westerman,B-L/T-R, 30, 28 G, 1-3, 2 Svs., 2.81 ERA, 25.2 IP, 29 Ks, 1.32 ERA; Signed one-year contract with Rockford
Westerman’s 2038 season was off to a decent start before he was sidelined with an elbow ligament injury on June 4, eventually undergoing surgery. Westerman is not expected to return to the mound until June at the earliest. He signed a deal with Rockford worth $1,080,000.
C – Jackson Miller, B-L/T-R, 37, 72 G, 68 GS, .237 BA, 8 HRs, 25 RBIs, 28 RS, .733 OPS; Signed one-year deal with Green Bay
Miller’s four seasons with the Walkers were marred by injuries which saw him limited to 88 games in 2035 and 72 in 2038.
His age (37) made it tough to sign him for a return in 2039. Miller’s deal worth $4,2800,000 covers one season.
3B – Bob Saavedra, B-R/T-R, 27, 153 G, 144 GS, .274 BA, 8 HRs, 59 RBIs, 86 RS, .708 OPS; Signed minor-league contract with Peoria
Letting Saavedra, who had been the Walkers starting third baseman since 2035 was a tough decision.
He was the 2035 Rookie of the Year and had made at least 144 starts every season since taking over the role.
But a gradual decline in his defense, a s$9 million arbitration price tag, along with the need to move Mark Waterson out of left field and Mark Herman to third made it one which had to be made.
Saavedra signed a minor-league deal with Peoria. He made the Rivermen’s major-league roster but is not expected to start.
IF – Jordan Quinto, B-L/T-R, 35, 111 G, 34 GS, .211 BA, 2 HRs, 15 RBIs, 23 RS, .607 OPS; Remains free agent
In his two seasons with St. Louis, Quinto didn’t bring much to the table offensively but was useful because of his ability to play second base, shortstop and third base.
His age made it tough to bring him back.
IF – Rece Hinds, B-R/T-R, 38, 44 G, 13 GS, .273 BA, 2 HRs, 4 RBIs, 11 RS, .799 OPS; Remains a free agent
Spent most of the season at AAA Memphis before being called up.
His ability to play second base, shortstop and third make him a valuable asset. But his age was the reason for not being re-signed.
OF – Danny Diaz, B-R/T-L, 33, 98 G, 41 GS, .264 BA, 10 HRs, 26 RBIs, 32 RS, .804 OPS; Remains a free agent
Acquired in a May 19 trade with Toledo, Diaz proved reliable in a backup outfielder role for the Walkers. He batted .259 with eight homers, 23 RBIs and 27 runs scored in 75 games (39 starts).
He was not interested in the contract offered to keep him with the team.
OF -Alex Nunez, B-R/T-R, 32, 81 G, 37 GS, .194 BA, 3 HRs, 8 RBIs, 17 RS, .538 OPS; Remains a free agent
Nunez did not perform well in his season with St. Louis.
SS – Abdul-Nasser bin Amr, B-R/T-R, 28, .75 G, 74 GS, .211 BA, 2 HRs, 18 RBIs, 23 RS, .498 OPS; Traded to Cincinnati
The 2038 season was to be bin Amr’s third as the starting shortstop for the River Walkers.
It didn’t start well and he never found traction eventually leading to him being sent to AAA.
A trade for veteran shortstop Daylen Reyes was made, and when the Walkers elected to bring back Reyes, bin Amr’s time with St. Louis was done.
He was traded to Cincinnati, where he did make the Opening Day roster. Bin amr is not expected to start.

Newcomers
SP – Agustin Perdomo; RP – Chris Willett; C – Alex Boychuk; IF – Kevin Kendall and Tony Velazquez; OF – Chris Gibbs, Daniel Torres and Dave Crooks.
SP – Agustin Perdomo,B-S/T-R, 30, 33 G, 33 GS, 17-7, 3.77 ERA, 196.0 IP, 1.20 WHIP, 181 Ks; free-agent signing from Columbus
Perdomo is coming off the best season of his career as he helped Columbus win the World Series. His career has been up-and-down as he owns a career mark of 66-73 with a 4.61 ERA in 217 games (196 starts).
Perdomo signed a five-year deal worth $94.5 million.
RP – Chris Willett, B-L/T-R, 28,44 G, 1-5, 24 Svs., 2.69 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 75 Ks (Combined AAA and A); Free-agent signing from Cincinnati (minors)
Willett has long considered to have a high upside but has seen little time in the majors.
Over three seasons, two with Fort Worth and one with Cincinnati, Willett has worked in 39 games at the major league level going 4-2 with six saves and a 2.50 ERA.
His contract worth $3.5 million and he will be arbitration eligible after the season.
C – Alex Boyuchuk, B-R/T-R, 37, 136 G, 121 GS, .233 BA, 13 HRs, 46 RBIs, 36 RS, .658 OPS; Signed as free agent from Evansville
With the departure of Jackson Miller, St. Louis brought in Boyuchuk on a one-year deal worth $6.5 million.
His offense, probably due to his age, has been on the wane but he still is considered one of the best defensive catchers in the game.
IF – Kevin Kendall, B-L/T-R, 39, 104 G, 36 GS, .279 BA, 8 HRs, 31 RBIs, 22 RS, .782 OPS (2037 season with Columbus); Signed as free agent
Signed to a minor-league contract, Kendall enjoyed a good spring training winning himself a spot on the Opening Day roster because of his ability to play second base and shortstop.
Kendall, who hit .267 with one homer and one RBI during the spring, sat out the 2038 season.
IF- Tony Velazquez, B-R/T-R, 27, 69 G, 64 GS, .305 BA, 5 HRs, 34 RBIs, 35 RS, .884 OPS (AAA Memphis)
Invited to spring training, Velazquez put up good enough numbers in Jupiter to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster.
Velazquez hit .268 with home homer and three RBIs during the spring.
He will offer depth at first base and second base.
CF – Chris Gibbs,B-R/T-R, 31, 156 G, 148 GS, .200 BA, 21 HRs, 55 RBIs, 93 RS, .661 OPS; Free-agent signing from Toledo
Brought in to add defensive stability in center field, Gibbs will look to take over the top spot in the Walkers batting order.
It’s a risk considering his numbers in recent seasons, but he did put up some impressive offensive stats early in his career and hopefully being on what should be a contending team makes a difference.
Gibbs signed a four-year contract worth $58.6 million.
OF Daniel Torres, B-R/T-R, 27, 99 G, 87 GS, .295 BA, 13 HRs, 50 RBIs, 61 RS, .853 OPS (AAA Omaha); Signed to minor league contract
A strong spring training earned Torres a place on the Walkers Opening Day roster after being signed to a free-agent contract.
Torres hit .343 with two homers and four RBIs in spring training.
Torres has never played above AAA while being part of the Fort Wayne and Indianapolis organizations.
OF – Dave Crooks, B-L/T-L, 38, 111 G, 88 GS, .181 BA, 17 HRs, 39 RBIs, 36 RS, .634 OPS; Minor-league signing
Signed before spring training, Crooks was impressive hitting .269 with three homers and seven RBIs to earn a spot on the major league roster.

Starting rotation
1, Ming Xiang; 2, Agustin Perdomo (see above); 3, Kevin Hrdlicka; 4, Xavier Wigfall; 5, Miguel Cisneros.
RHP: Ming Xiang, B-R/T-R, 27 – 33 G, 14-6, 3.47 ERA, 207.1 IP, 1.15 WHIP, 206 Ks
Xiang followed up his Rookie of the Year campaign with an almost identical second one as he seems to have to established himself as one of the league’s elite starters. Xiang also is no-slouch as a hitter winning the NL Silver Slugger after hitting .271 with six RBIs and a .644 Ops.
RHP: Agustin Perdomo, B-S/T-R 30 -- 33 G, 17-7, 3.77 ERA, 196 IP, 1.20 WHIP, 181 Ks (with Columbus); Signed 5-year contract worth $94.5M
His 17 wins led the Midwest Baseball League
RHP: Kevin Hrdlicka, B-R/T-R, 27 -- 32 G, 15-9, 3.74 ERA, 185.1 IP, 1.31 WHIP, 243 Ks
A former No. 1 prospect for the entire MBL, Hrdlicka finally got in a full season at the major league level and came out of it looking a possible future ace. His 243 strikeouts led the MLB. His biggest drawback, an average of 4.2 walks per nine innings and 22 homers.
RHP: Xavier Wigfall, B-R/T-R, 30 – 31 G, 7-10, 5.24 ERA, 159.2 IP, 1.54 WHIP. 22 HRs
Wigfall took a big step back in his third season as a member of the Walkers rotation. Not only did his ERA got from 4.13 to 5.24, but his WHIP ballooned from 1.33 to 1.54. He also averaged four walks per nine innings. He’s going into his free agent season, so he’ll need to produce.
RHP : Miguel Cisneros, B-R/T-R, 32 – 32 G, 9-10, 3.38 ERA, 197.1 IP, 1.18 WHIP, 126 Ks
Signed away from Rockford in the offseason, Cisneros’ won-loss record doesn’t show how well he performed. In a rotation which featured three pitchers who won at least 14 games, the veteran led the Walkers in ERA (3.38) and BABIP (.276).

Relief Pitchers
CL/RHP: Craig Fritzler; RHP: Brett McVey; RHP: Maximiliano Minelli; RHP: Chris Willett (see above); LHP: Leo Hermosillo; LHP: Frank Jimenez; LHP: Kyle Smarr; LHP: Ron Cox
CL/RHP: Craig Fritzler,B-R/T-R, 32 – 59 G, 3-5, 34 Svs, 4 BS, 2.67 ERA, 60.2 IP, 1.04 WHIP, 94 Ks
Fritzler stepped right into the Walkers bullpen as a free-agent signing and ranked among the top closers in the league.
RHP: Brett McVey, B-R/T-R, 33 – 61 G, 2-3, 0 Svs., 3 BS, 56.1 IP, 1.46 WHIP, 56 Ks
McVey overcame a rough first half of the season with a series of mostly dominating performances after the All-Star break. That ensured his return for the 2039 season.
RHP: Maximiliano Minelli, B-R/T-R, 26 – 34 G, 0-2, 1 Sv, 3 BS, 2.27 ERA, 31.2 IP, 1.26 WHIP, 53 Ks
For the second straight season, Minelli split his time between the majors and the minors. In the minors, he was a dominant closer in the majors, he was dominant but also walk prone (6.5 BB/9) which got him into trouble. This could be his last real chance to prove he can dominate at the highest level and perhaps develop into a closer.
RP – Chris Willett, B-L/T-R, 28,44 G, 1-5, 24 Svs., 2.69 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 75 Ks (Combined AAA and A); Free-agent signing from Cincinnati (minors)
LHP: Leo Hermosillo, B-L/T-L, 33 – 33 G, 1-1, 3 Svs., 2 BS, 28.2 IP, 0.84 WHIP, 37 Ks
Acquired from Chicago on July 3, Hermosillo did outstanding job as a lockdown reliever from the left side for the Walkers over the final two-plus months of the season. Hermosillo agreed to a two-year deal worth $6 million per season (team option for 2040) to stay in St. Louis in the offseason.
LHP: Frank Jimenez, B-L/T-L, 25 – 42 G, 2-5, 1 Sv. 2 BS, 34.1 IP, 1.37 WHIP, 39 Ks
Jimenez made the Walkers out of spring training in 2038 and was impressive for the season’s first two months before taking a severe step back which eventually saw him sent back to AAA. He dominated there and this year will get another chance to prove he belongs in the show.
LHP: Kyle Smarr, B-L/T-L, 32, 39 G, 2-2, 1 Sv., 0 BS, 4.46 ERA, 34.1 IP, 1.40 WHIP, 34 Ks
Acquired on May 19 in a trade with Toledo, Smarr added some stability to the St. Louis bullpen for a few months before having some issues in September. The Walkers considered it worthwhile to bring him back for another season.
LHP: Ron Cox, B-L/T-L, 27 – 58 G, 7-0, 1 Sv, 0 BS, 3.52 ERA, 61.1 IP, 1.14 WHIP, 71 Ks
This will be the fourth straight season Cox has made the Walkers Opening Day roster. His stuff is excellent. His control is above average. His pitches, they barely move. This makes him very effective against left-handed hitters and a batting practice thrower against righties. His high stamina rating also is a plus.

Catcher
Starter: Alex Boychuk (see above); Backup: Zach Wenman
C – Alex Boyuchuk, B-R/T-R, 37, 136 G, 121 GS, .233 BA, 13 HRs, 46 RBIs, 36 RS, .658 OPS; Signed as free agent from Evansville
Backup: Zach Wenman, B-R, T-R, 30 – 86 G, 79 GS, .273 BA, 3 HRs, 45 RBIs, 26 RS, .665 OPS
Wenman’s back for his fifth consecutive season as the Walkers backup catcher. In 2038, he had career highs for games (86) and games started (79). This helped him set a career high in RBIs (45). More importantly, his catcher’s ERA of 3.58 was the best of his career.

Infielders
1B: Nick Shaw; 2B: Ryan Wibbenmeyer; SS: Dylan Reyes; 3B: Mark Herman; IF: Kevin Kendall (see above) and Tony Velazquez (see above)
1B: Nick Shaw, B-R/T-R, 30 – 143 G, 138 GS, .293 BA, 20 HRs, 80 RBIs, 69 RS, .820 OPS
For the second consecutive season, Shaw’s numbers fell far shy of his 2036 MVP campaign but that doesn’t mean he still isn’t one of the best first baseman in the MBL. His 80 RBIs marked the first time since 2033 he failed to drive in more than 100 and his 20 homers was his lowest since the same season. Shaw did miss the season’s final three weeks with a sprained ankle.
2B: Ryan Wibbenmeyer, B-R/T-R, 30 – 148 G, 144 GS, .309 BA, 9 HRs,74 RBIs, 101 RS, .797 OPS
Signed as a free agent from Ann Arbror, Wibbenmeyer turned in solid first season as the Walkers. His runs scored (101) were easily the highest of his career, while he posted his second best overall WAR at 4.4.
SS: Daylen Reyes, B-R/T-R, 37 – 66 G, 60 GS, .209 BA, 1 HR, 15 RBIs, 25 RS, .520 OPS (With St. Louis)
Acquired in a July 8 trade with Rockford, Reyes took over the shortstop position from the struggling Reyes and held it down the remainder of the season. Hitting from the No. 8 spot, he didn’t supply much offensively but seemed to help stabilize the infield defense. Reyes was signed to a two-year contract in the offseason -- $11 million for 2039 and $13M for 2040 – with the team holding an option on the second season.
3B: Mark Herman, B-S/T-R, 26 – 157 G, 148 GS, .337 BA, 26 HRs, 110 RBIs, 91 RS, .977 OPS
After spending two seasons in the left field, Herman will make the move to a more natural position third base with the departure of Bob Saavedra. Herman finished sixth in the NL MVP voting, as he had the best season of his career across the board. It was the presence of Herman and NL MVP Manuel Coke in the middle of the lineup which kept the Walkers in the NL South race until late in the year.
IF – Kevin Kendall, 39, 104 G, 36 GS, .279 BA, 8 HRs, 31 RBIs, 22 RS, .782 OPS (2037 season with Columbus); Signed as free agent
IF- Tony Velazquez, 27, 69 G, 64 GS, .305 BA, 5 HRs, 34 RBIs, 35 RS, .884 OPS (AAA Memphis)


Outfielders
RF: Manuel Coke: CF: Mark Waterson: LF: Mark Herman; OF: Alex Nunez; OF: Wen He (see above).
RF: Manuel Coke, B-L/T-L, 26: 155 G, 146 GS, .344 BA, 45 HRs, 123 RBIs, 112 RS, 1.027 OPS
Coke won the National League MVP in a season where he led the league in homers (45) and RBIs (123) and set career-highs across the board.
LF: Mark Waterson, B-L, T-L, 26: 127 G, 112 GS, .229 BA, 30 HRs, 82 RBIs, 63 RS, .281 OBP
With the acquisition of Chris Gibbs to play center field, Waterson will get the opportunity to move to a more natural position of left field. While his power number were nice in his second full years in the majors, Waterson will need to get on base at a better clip if he wants to retain a full-time job.
CF – Chris Gibbs,B-R/T-R, 31, 156 G, 148 GS, .200 BA, 21 HRs, 55 RBIs, 93 RS, .661 OPS; Free-agent signing from Toledo.
OF Daniel Torres, B-R/T-R, 27, 99 G, 87 GS, .295 BA, 13 HRs, 50 RBIs, 61 RS, .853 OPS (AAA Omaha); Signed to minor league contract
OF – Dave Crooks, B-L/T-L, 38, 111 G, 88 GS, .181 BA, 17 HRs, 39 RBIs, 36 RS, .634 OPS; Minor-league signing.

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Walkers news: April 4 -- Misc. team information

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Record: 1-0, 1st/(Tied/w. Kansas City and Des Moines), 0.5 GA Springfield and Louisville
Ming Xiang spun eight shutout innings and drove in a pair of runs as part of a five-run bottom of the fourth inning as St. Louis downed Quad City 7-0 at Busch Stadium (2006) in their 2039 season opener.
Xiang (1-0) , coming off a combined 30 wins in the previous two campaigns, allowed just one hits over the first eight innings -- a lead-off single from T.J. Latham in the third -- while striking out seven and walking two.
He left the game after throwing 97 pitches.
Chris Willett made his first performance since joining St. Louis in the offseason. He allowed a pair of base runners, but didn't give up a run.
St. Louis broke open a scoreless game with four runs in the bottom of the fourth off Thunder starting pitcher Benito Diaz.
Manuel Coke got it going when he reached on an error by first baseman Fontana Felitti to lead-off the inning.
Mark Herman followed with a single moving Coke to third.
Mark Waterson drove in the game's first run with a one-out fly ball to center.
Diaz then came unraveled walking Daylen Reyes and hitting Alex Boychuk with a pitch to load the bases.
Xiang unloaded them with a single, scoring two to make it 3-0.
Chris Gibbs followed with his first big hit as a Walker, a double to score two more,
Mark Waterson supplied the rest of the scoring with a two-run homer off reliever Wally Lawson in the seventh.

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Record: 1-1, 2nd/(Tied/w. Des Moines and Quad City), 1 GB Kansas City
A pinch-hit grand slam by Jim Waldron capped a five-run top of the eighth inning as Quad City rallied for a 6-5 win over St. Louis at Busch Stadium (2006).
The River Walkers scored single runs in each of the first three innings and then tallied twice in the fourth to build a 5-1 lead.
But the Thunder belted a pair of home runs in the top of the eighth off the St. Louis bullpen to steal the victory.
Collin Allen got QC going in the top of the eighth with a home run off Maxmilliano Minelli.
Minelli's troubles continued onto the next batter as he allowed a single to Paul Totten.
He would later give up a one-out single to Shawn Jackson and walk T. J. Latham with two outs to load the bases.
Chris Willett then replaced Minelli.
One pitch later, the Thunder had the lead as Waldron belted the first pitch he saw 408 feet over the wall in left-center for a 6-5 QC lead.
Thunder starting pitcher Antonio Ceja lasted just four innings, allowing five runs on eight hits. He struck out five and walked three.
The next five QC relievers, however, held St. Louis scoreless on two hits.
Corey York pitched the first two innings.
After that, it was one each for Jason Gildea, Salvador Rubalcaba and Angelo Touliatos.
Gildea (1-0) would get the win.
Touliatos notched his first save.

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Record: 2-1, 1st/(Tied/w. Kansas City and Des Moines), 0.5 GA Louisville
Manuel Coke hit a pair of three-run homers and Mark Waterson hit a two-run shot as the long ball provided all the runs for St. Louis in an 8-4 win over Quad City at Busch Stadium (2006).
The win gave St. Louis victories in two of three games in the season-opening series.
Down 2-0, Coke hit his first three-run bomb of the game in the bottom of the third off Thunder starting pitcher Jon Blount.
Waterson connected on his two-run homer an inning later, also off Blount, making it 5-2.
It's lead down to 5-4 -- the Thunder got solo homers from Fontana Felitti (off Walkers starting Kevin Hrdlicka) in the sixth and Nate Farren (off reliever Ron Cox) in the seventh -- Coke struck again in the bottom of the seventh launching a 375 foot homer off Shane Gilley to make it 8-5.
Hrdlicka (1-0) allowed three runs on five hits in the first six innings. He struck out five and walked one.
Cox retired just one batters in the seventh.
Brett McVey finished off the seventh and also worked a scoreless eighth.
Kyle Smarr set QC down in order in the ninth.

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Record: 2-2, 3rd/(Tied/w. Cedar Rapids, Louisville, Springfield and Quad City), 1 GB Kansas City
Matt Thurston connected on an RBI single off St. Louis reliever Chris Willett in the top of the 11th inning to score Lamar Black with the winning run as Cedar Rapids down the River Walkers 4-3 at Busch Stadium (2006).
Black had drawn a walk from Willett to lead off the inning.
Ryan Cleaver followed with a double to move Black to third.
Thurston then singled as the third straight Grapplers baserunner reached base, while Black scored the game-winning run.
Cedar Rapids had forced extra innings with a run off Walkers closer Craig Fritzler in the bottom of the ninth.
Black led off the inning by drawing a walk from Fritzler.
He was eliminated when a bunt by Ryan Cleaver got him forced out at second.
But Thurston followed with a double.
Mark Hill tied it with a single to left center.
St. Louis had taken a 3-2 lead on an RBI single by Mark Waterson off Cedar Rapids reliever Antonio Echevaria.
Grapplers starting pitcher Josh Richardson lasted four innings, allowing two runs on six hits. He struck out five and walked two.
Elijah Louis followed with two scoreless innings of relief before Echevaria gave up the go-ahead run in the seventh.
After that, it was a scoreless inning each from Jeff Young and Justin Sterner.
Hector Miro (1-0) earned the win after two scoreless innings in the 10th and 11th, where he did not allow a base runner.

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Record: 2-3, 6th, 1 GB Kansas City, Louisville, Springfield, Des Moines and Cedar Rapids
Down 1-0, Cedar Rapids pounded the St. Louis bullpen for six runs over the final three innings on its way to a 7-3 win at Busch Stadium (2006).
River Walkers starting pitcher Miguel Cisenros was on the mound to start the top of the seventh and retired the first two batters before giving up a single to Mark Hill.
Ron Cox took over.
That's when it fell apart.
Lamar Black greeted Cox with a single to put runners at the corners.
A walk to Miguel Mato loaded the bases.
With Jose Morillo at the plate, Cox uncorked a wild pitch allowing Hill to score and make it 1-1.
Morillo was then hit by a pitch to reload the bases.
Cox, a southpaw, was left in the game to face left-handed hitter Eric Gerhardt.
Gerhardt struck out but the pitch eluded catcher Alex Boychuk, allowing Black to score the go-ahead run.
Leading 2-1, the Grapplers quickly added on three runs in the top of the eighth against St. Louis reliever Brett McVey.
Santos Villanueva opened the inning by reaching on an error by second baseman Ryan Wibbenmeyer.
Matt Thurston followed with an infield single.
Ryan Cleaver then made it 4-1 with his first homer of the season, a 415 blast over the left-center field wall.
Tim Jurgensen added two insurance runs with a homer off Kyle Smarr in the ninth.
Grapplers starting pitcher Edwin Rivera (1-1) allowed one run on one hit over the first six innings. He struck out four and walked one.
Antonio Echevaria pitched a scoreless seventh for Cedar Rapids.
Jeff Young followed suit in the eighth but gave up back-to-back homers Manuel Coke and Nick Shaw in the ninth.
Joey Ross came on and retired the only two batters he faced to end the game.

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Record: 2-4, 6th, 2 GB Cedar Rapids, Louisville and Quad City
Five pitchers combined to limit St. Louis to one hit and Cedar Rapids hit four home runs off River Walkers starter Ming Xiang as the Grapplers completed a three-game sweep with a 7-1 win at Busch Stadium.
Joel Glenn pitched into the fifth inning for Cedar Rapids and allowed the lone St. Louis run despite not allowing a hit.
Daylen Reyes drew a lead-off walk to open the bottom of the third inning.
He later scored on a pair of wild pitches to tie it 1-1.
St. Louis didn't get its lone hit until the bottom of the sixth when Mark Herman connected on a one-out single off Dave Vacarri.
The hit gave St. Louis two base runners, and a walk to Mark Waterson loaded the bases with one out.
But Alex Boychuk hit into a fielder's choice with a runner being thrown out at the plate.
Daylen Reyes flew out to end in the inning and keep the score 5-1.
The Grapplers hit three homers off Xiang in the top of the sixth -- a lead-off homer from Eric Gerhardt, a two-run shot from Ryan Cleaver and Dane Finch made it a back-to-back with a pinch-hit homer -- to take that lead.
Ramon Diaz (1-0) got the final out of the fifth and would earn the win for Cedar Rapids.
Relievers Dave Vacarri (2.0 IP), Elijah Louis (1.1) and Justin Sterner combined to shut out the Walkers the rest of the way.
The Grapplers scored two runs off reliever Maximilliano Minelli -- Matt Thurston with an RBI single and Lamar Black with a sacrifice fly -- in the top of the eighth.

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Walkers news: April 11 -- Week 1 - Awards and standings

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Record: 2-5, 6th, 3 GB Quad City
Kansas City pounded St. Louis starting pitcher Agustin Perdomo for seven runs over the first two iinnings and the Monarchs went on to defeat the River Walkers 11-8 at Busch Stadium (2006).
KC banged out three runs on five hits in the first inning.
Gerardo Bernal and Nick Kline both had run-scoring doubles, while T.J. Leitch scored the third run with a single.
The Walkers made it 3-2 in the bottom of the first as Kevin Kendall connected on a two-out, two-run single off Monarchs starting pitcher Justin Fields.
KC, however, answered with four runs on three hits in the top of the second -- Perdomo also issued a pair of walks -- to go up 7-2.
Kline collected two more RBIs with a double. Leitch plated a pair with a single.
The Walkers did manage to keep the Monarchs within striking distance, as Manuel Coke made it 7-5 with a three-run homer off Fields in the bottom of the second.
The homer was Coke's fifth of the season.
The Monarchs tallied twice off reliever Ron Cox in the top of the fifth.
Fields collected an RBI with a double.
Bobby Scheid made it 9-5 with a run-scoring single.
St. Louis pulled to within 9-7 in the bottom of the sixth on Daniel Torres first homer of the season, a two-run shot off reliever Jose Castaneda.
The Monarchs got those two runs back in the top of the seventh.
Alejandro Crespo plating both of the runs with a single off Frank Jimenez.
Nick Shaw capped the scoring with a run-scoring double off Josh Paul in the bottom of the ninth.
St. Louis had the bases loaded to end the game, but Jim Boudreau got Kendall to fly out to end it.
Fields lasted just four innings, allowing five runs on five hits. He struck out four and walked three.
Castaneda (1-0) earned the win after pitching the fifth and recording the first two outs of the sixth.
Omar Moreno finished the sixth.
Bobby Stover (1.0 IP), Josh Paul (1.2) and Boudreau (0.1) combined to finish the game.
Boudreau earned his first save.

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Record: 2-6, 6th, 3 GB Kansas City, Quad City and Cedar Rapids
Down 3-0, Kansas City scored five runs in the top of the fifth inning and rolled to a 9-3 win over St. Louis at Busch Stadium (2006).
Held to two hits over the first four innings, the Monarchs tallied five times on five hits off River Walkers starting pitcher Kevin Hrdlicka in the fifth.
Hrdlicka, who didn't get out of the inning, also hurt himself with a walk.
Alejandro Crespo provided the biggest hit with a three-run double.
Juan Ortiz and Gerardo Bernal drove in the first and last run with a single and sacrifice fly, respectively.
KC tacked on two more runs in the sixth and again in the ninth innings.
Crespo collected two more RBIs with a single off reliever Brett McVey in

the sixth.
Ortiz hit a two-run homer off Craig Fritzler in the ninth.
Monarchs starting pitcher Luis Jimenez lasted four innings, allowing thee runs on four hits. He struck out six and walked four.
Joseph King (1-0) earned the win by working a pair of scoreless innings.
After that, Bobby Stover (1.0 IP), Jose Patricio (1.2) and Omar Moreno (0.1) combined to shut out the Walkers the rest of the way.

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Record: 2-7, 6th, 4 GB Kansas City and Quad City
Kansas City tied it 3-3 in the top of the ninth inning and busted loose for four runs in the top of the 10th to complete a three-game sweep of St. Louis at Busch Stadium (2006).
The loss was the sixth in a row for the River Walkers.
Even though St. Louis lost starting pitcher Xavier Wigfall to an elbow injury in the second inning, the game was scoreless going into the top of the seventh.
Wigfall is expected to miss seven weeks with elbow tendinitis.
The Monarchs tallied twice in the top of the inning off reliever Maximilliano Minelli, with Juan Ortiz driving in both runs with a single.
The Walkers answered with a pair in the bottom half off KC starter Tyler Martin.
The first run was scored by Mark Herman on a wild pitch.
A two-out fly ball by pinch-hitter Tony Velazquez plated the other.
St. Louis took a brief 3-2 lead in the bottom of the eighth.
Daylen Reyes led off the inning with a double off Martin.
He later scored when Ryan Wibbenmeyer singled off reliever Joseph King.
Kyle Smarr took the mound to begin the top of the ninth for St. Louis.
He was greeted by consecutive singles by Jim Peebles and pinch-hitter Sean Sumner before getting Nick Kline to fly out.
Closer Craig Fritzler then got the call.
One of the top closers in the MBL for the past few seasons, Fritzler has failed to convert a save opportunity in 2039 and that trend continued as pinch-hitter Aaron Solano singled on a 1-1 pitch to tie the game.
It marked Fritzler's second blown save of the season.
The St. Louis bullpen went into the 10th inning running on fumes, and it showed.
Frank Jimenez walked Bobby Schied to open the inning.
He followed that with a strikeout of Alejandro Crespo.
Gerado Bernal then singled, putting runners at first and second.
Peebles followed with another single, scoring Schied as the Monarchs moved in front.
Ron Cox then got the call to the mound.
Three pitches later, with an 0-2 count, Sumner slammed the ball 391 feet over the right-field wall for a three-run homer.
Martin lasted 7.1 innings for the Monarchs, allowing three runs on five hits. He struck out four and walked none.
King finished off the eighth inning for KC.
Bobby Stover worked the ninth inning and got the first out of the 10th.
Stover (1-0) also got credit for the win.
Josh Paul recorded the final two outs of the game.

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The St. Louis River Walker have placed right-handed pitcher Xavier Wigfall on the 14-day injured list after he suffered a ligament injury during the second inning of a 7-4 (10 innings) loss to Kansas City on April 13.
Wigfall, who was 0-0 with a 2.16 ERA in just two starts covering 8.1 innings, is expected to miss up to seven weeks.
Right-hander Victor Rosiles will get the initial callup to St. Louis to fill a spot in the bullpen into Wigfall's next scheduled start comes around.
Rosiles, 31, has pitched in just one game for the Redbirds this season allowing no runs in 1.2 innings.
Right-hander Juan Farias is expected to take Wigfall's place in the rotation.