2039 and beyond -- St. Louis River Walkers thread

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The St. Louis River Walkers have traded left-handed relief pitcher Darren Xu to the Cleveland Juke Box Heroes in exchange for a pair of right-handed relievers 28-year-old Mario Salmeron and 23-year-old Kenji Sonoda.
Signed as a free agent in the offseason, Xu has done little but cause headaches since joining the team.
In eight games, Xu went 0-1 with a 10.12 ERA. He pitched 5.1 innings, during which he posted a 2.62 WHIP and struck out three batters.
Xu, 30, also was involved with an off-field altercation with a fan which didn't draw him any favor with the team.
Salmeron has pitched in both the majors and at AAA Buffalo for the Heroes.
In Cleveland, Salmeron got into nine games going 1-1 with a 6.30 ERA. He pitched 10.0 inning, during which he struck out nine and had a 1.60 WHIP.
At AA, Salmeron worked in one game and threw one scoreless inning.
Sonada has pitched the entire season with AA New Hampshire, where he got into three games and went 1-0 with a 1.88 ERA. He pitched 14.1 innings, posting a 1.05 ERA and striking out 14.
Xu's spot on the St. Louis roster is expected to be taken over by 30-year-old left-handed reliever Carlos Hernandez, who the team just claimed off waivers from Milwaukee.
Hernandez pitched in two games for the Crushers posting no record or ERA.
He also worked in one game at AAA, where he pitched one scoreless inning.
Hernandez spent the 2039 and part of the 2040 season with St. Louis before being traded to Milwaukee.
In 163 major league games, Hernandez is 11-11 with three saves and a 4.20 ERA.

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Walkers news: April 28 -- Carlos Hernandez card

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The opening game of the April 28 doubleheader between the Indianapolis Racers and St. Louis River Walkers at Busch Stadium (2006) has been postponed by rain.
It will be made up later in the season.
No decision has been made on the second game of the doubleheader.

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Record: 9-16, 6th, 8.5 GB Des Moines
Ming Xiang carried a shutout into the eighth inning and the St. Louis bullpen finished it off as the River Walkers blanked Indianapolis 1-0 at Busch Stadium (2006).
The game was scheduled to be the backend of a doubleheader, but because of persistent rains throughout the weekend only three of the series five games were played.
The Racers won the first two, while St. Louis took the third.
Xiang (2-2) scattered seven hits over 7.2 innings. He struck out five and didn't walk a batter.
He exited the game after allowing a two-out single to Brian Newell in the top of the eighth.
Kyle Smarr came on and got Joseph Hughes to fly out to end the eighth.
Tom Floria set the Racers down in order in the ninth for his fourth save.
The game's lone run came in the bottom of the first inning against Indy starter Joel Wisniewski.
Jordan Grullon led off with a single and moved to second on a Quiang Chang bunt.
A ground out by Mark Herman moved Grullon to third.
Rookie Carlos Martines singled to score Grullon with the game's lone run.

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MBL news: April 29 -- Week 3 - Awards and standings

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Record: 9-17, 6th, 9.5 GB Des Moines
Jim Burland shut out St. Louis into the seventh inning and a pair of Madison relievers kept it that way as the Muskies downed the River Walkers 3-0 at Busch Stadium (2006).
Burland (2-1) allowed just two hits -- a single to Mark Herman in the bottom of the second and a double to Carlos Martines in the fourth -- before exiting with two outs in the seventh.
In his 6.2 innings, Burland struck out four and walked two.
Jake Dorey, who entered with a runner on first in the seventh, finished that inning and pitched a scoreless eighth.
Mauricio Moreno handled the ninth for his sixth save.
The Muskies got the only run they needed in the top of the second when Brian Schlegel drew a lead-off walk from Walkers starting pitcher Kevin Hrdlicka.
He scored on a Neil Assenbjerg double.
The rest of the scoring came on a two-run homer from Kevin Couture Jr. off Hrdlicka in the sixth.

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Record: 9-18, 6th, 10.5 GB Des Moines
Madison jumped out to a 5-1 lead over the first 4.5 innings, and the Muskies held on late for a 5-4 win over St. Louis at Busch Stadium (2006).
Kevin Couture Jr. put the Muskies in front early with a two-run homer off River Walkers starting pitcher Juan Farias in the top of the first.
In the third, Josh Shulte connected on an RBI double off Hrdlicka to make it 3-0.
After the Walkers made it 3-1 with a run in the bottom of the third, Madison added runs in the fourth -- pitcher Melvin Michalec connected on a two-out double to score a run -- and fifth -- Tyler Mosley doubled off Farias with two outs to plate Couture Jr. -- to take a 5-1 lead.
A three-run bottom of the eighth for St. Louis made it interesting -- Joe Bien drove in two of the runs with a single of Steve Nilsen -- but Efren Garcia pitched around a lead-off single by Mike Vaughan in the ninth to preserve the win.
Michalec (2-1) went six innings, allowing one run on four hits. He struck out three and walked one.
Steve Nilsen pitched a scoreless seventh for the Muskies.
Matt Adams started the eighth for Madison,and was charged with all three Walkers runs.
Jorge Juarez finished the inning with the Muskies still in the lead.
The scoreless ninth earned Garcia his first save.

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MBL news: May 1 -- Players and Pitchers of the Month for April

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MBL news: May 1 -- Rookies of the Month for April and standings

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MBL news: May 1 -- American League leaders

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MBL news: May 1 -- National League leaders

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Walkers news: May 1 -- Team statistics for April

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Player of the Month: Mark Herman -- The 28-year-old third baseman bagged .351 with three homers, 12 RBIs and 15 runs scored in 26 games. He got on base at a .430 clip and slugged .500.
Starting Pitcher of the Month: Ming Xiang -- The 29-year-old right-hander went 2-2 with a 2.75 ERA in six starts. He pitched a total of 36.0 innings, during which he struck out 30 and had a 1.11 WHIP.
Relief Pitcher of the Month: Antonio Cruiz -- The 34-year-old left-hander got into 14 games, going 1-0 with a 2.63 ERA. He pitched 13.2 innings, during which he struck out 10 and posted a 1.32 WHIP.

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Walkers news: May 1 -- Player Development Report

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Record: 10-18, 6th, 10.5 GB Des Moines
St. Louis scored at least one run in six of the first seven innings and went on to defeat Madison 7-3 at Busch Stadium (2006).
The victory allowed the River Walkers to avoid being swept in the three-game series.
The Muskies scored a pair of runs off St. Louis starting pitcher Mike Harney in the top of the second inning -- Hector Hildalgo drove in one with a single while the other scored on a wild pitch -- to go up 2-1.
In the bottom of the inning, Ryan Wibbenmeyer doubled off Madison starter Chris Brakefield with one out.
He later scored on a bunt by Harney.
An inning later, the Walkers took the lead on a Manuel Coke solo homer off Brakefield.
St. Louis tallied twice in the fourth off Brakefield.
Carlos Martines drove them both in with a double.
After the Muskies had pulled to within 5-3 in the top of the sixth, St. Louis got that run back in the bottom of the inning.
Savion McMullan led off the inning with a double off reliever Steve Nilsen.
He scored on a two-out single by Quiang Chang.
Mark Herman scored the game's final run in the seventh.
He doubled off Alan Albanese with one out.
Herman scored on a Wibbenmeyer single.
Harney (1-1) went just long enough, 5.1 innings, to get the win.
He allowed three runs on seven hits. He struck out seven and didn't walk a batter.
Nick Thiel finished the sixth and got the first out of the seventh.
Antonio Cruiz wrapped up the seventh.
Pitching in a non-save situation, Tom Floria closed out the game with two scoreless innings.

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The St. Louis River Walkers have placed catcher Mike Vaughan on the 14-day injured list after he suffered a sprained ankle in a 5-4 loss to Madison on April 30.
The 38-year-old is expected to be out for three weeks.
Vaughan has played in 11 games/eight starts this season, batting just .172 with no homers five RBIs and three runs scored.
Getting called up from AA Springfield is 24-year-old Tim Bjork.
Bjork played in 13 games this season at AAA Memphis, where he hit .362 with two homers, 12 RBIs and nine runs scored.
For Springfield, Bjork has played two games and batted .333 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
St. Louis acquired Bjork in an off-season trade with Cleveland.

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Record: 10-19, 6th, 11.5 GB Des Moines
Tied 1-1, Kelly Allain led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a double off St. Louis relief pitcher Curt Donaldson. He later scored on a Tom Floria wild pitch as Detroit defeated the River Walkers 2-1 at Tiger Stadium (1980).
Allain had moved to third on a Freddy Woolsey single.
Donaldson then got Adam Stratton to ground out.
Floria was brought into the game to face pinch-hitter Angel Solis.
But another pinch-hitter was brought in for Solis, with Kody Neeson going to the plate.
Floria's first pitch eluded catcher Tim Bjork, who was making his major-league debut, as Allain crossed the plate to win the game.
Home runs accounted for the game's only other runs.
Roger Ramos put the Diesels in front 1-0 with his ninth homer of the season in the bottom of the third.
It came off Walkers starting pitcher Billy Ables.
Manuel Coke tied it with his sixth homer of the season in the sixth.
Detroit starter and former Walker prospect Danny Burch allowed Coke's homer.
Burch went 5.1 innings, allowing one run on six hits. He struck out five and walked one.
Gabe Shepherd finished the sixth for the Diesels.
Mario Castillo worked a scoreless seventh.
The win went to Bryce Jaksic who pitched the eighth and ninth.

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Record: 11-19, 6th, 11 GB Des Moines
Tied 3-3, St. Louis scored three times in the top of the 10th inning and held on for a 6-5 win over Detroit at Tiger Stadium (1980).
Quiang Chang got things going for the River Walkers in the top of the 10th with a lead-off single.
He scored when Carlos Martines followed with a double.
Manuel Coke was then given an intentional walk.
After a strikeout of Ronny Maurcio, pinch-hitter Mike Harney got down a bunt to put runners at second and third.
Ryan Wibbenmeyer plated them both with a single.
Detroit knocked around St. Louis reliever Curt Donaldson in the bottom of the inning, but not enough to tie the game.
Dave Al-Sadat and Kelly Allain led off with back-to-back doubles, making the score -4.
Donaldson retired the next two before Laurenco Curvelo singled to cut it to 6-5.
But Donaldson got Kody Neeson to ground out to end the game.
Mark Herman connected on a two-run single off Detroit starting pitcher Jordan Harrison in the first inning, as the Walkers grabbed a 2-0 lead.
Detroit rallied to tie it with single runs off St. Louis starter Ming Xiang in the third and fifth innings.
Ryan Doyle doubled off Walkers reliever Josh Joyce to open the bottom of the sixth.
He scored on an Allain single.
St. Louis tied it in the top of the ninth against Jim Cole.
Pinch-hitter Jordan Grullon led off with a double.
A one-out single by Nick Shaw moved Grullon to third.
Mark Waterson tied it 3-3 with a deep fly ball to center.
Xiang went five innings, allowing two runs on five hits. He struck out five and walked four.
Joyce recorded just one out in the sixth.
Carlos Hernandez finished off that innings and pitched a scoreless seventh.
Chris Willett (0.1 IP) and Antonio Cruiz (0.2) combined on a scoreless eighth.
Nick Thiel (1-0) got the win for keeping the Diesels in check in the ninth.
Donaldson wasn't good in the 10th but earned his second save.

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Record: 11-20, 6th, 12.5 GB Des Moines
Tied 2-2, St. Louis took a chance by bringing closer Tom Floria in during the bottom of the 10th inning, it didn't work out, as Detroit took advantage of his wildness to score a run and post a 3-2 win at Tiger Stadium (1980).
Chris Willett opened the bottom of the 10th on the mound for the River Walkers.
He got Adam Stratton to ground out for the first out,
With a series of lefties slated to bat, St. Louis turned to Floria.
He stunk.
He walked Roger Ramos on a 3-2 pitch.
After getting Kody Neeson to fly out, he hit Juan Herrera with the first pitch he threw him.
Zachary Schmitz then won it lining the first pitch he saw past the second baseman.
Ramos scored to give the Diesels the win.
St. Louis jumped out to a 2-0 lead with single runs in the top of the second and fifth innings off Detroit starting pitcher Vern De san Miguel.
The Diesels rallied to tie it.
Juan Herrera connected on a two-out run-scoring single off Walkers starter Kevin Hrdlicka in the bottom of the sixth.
Adam Stratton led off the bottom of the eighth with a single off Kyle Smarr.
A two-out single by Herrera off Stratton tied it 2-2.
De san Miguel went five innings, allowing two runs on four hits. He didn't strike out a batter and walked one.
After that, five relievers pitched one scoreless inning apiece -- Francisco Claros, Renaud Magoni, Bryce Jaksic, Edward Kunselman and Bob Robbins -- to close out the game.
Robbins (3-0) was awarded his third win of the season.

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"It's been a long run. It's been a great run.
Every run has to come to an end.
Now is the time for my run to end.
I was here when the Midwest Baseball League was founded in 2018.
I was part of the front office that drafted the first edition of the St. Louis River Walkers, a team which won a World Series title in the league's inaugural season.
We also won a World Series in 2025 and made the World Series four other times.
Overall, we made the playoff nine times in 23 seasons and won a lot more games than we lost.
But there finally comes a time for a change at the top.
Last season wasn't an easy won for us and this one has not gone along any better.
I can't say why this has happened, but it has to give someone else to take command and see if they can get this team moving in the right direction.
Because it has not been happening under me.
I will long cherish all that we accomplished with the Walkers and will revere my time in St. Louis.
I will no longer wear the uniform. But I will always be a Walker. -- Mike Renkes, at his retirement press conference on May 6, 2041.
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In 22-plus seasons, the Walkers put together a 2,061-1,698 record (.548 winning percentage) under the direction of Renkes.
They won the National League North Division title nine times (2018, 2019, 2025, 2026, 2028, 2036 and 2037) and won the World Series twice (2018 and 2025).
St. Louis reached the World Series but lost in 2019, 2026, 2028 and 2037.
The Walkers posted winning records in their first 11 seasons and in 19 of 23 seasons overall.
Their best record came in their inaugural season, when they went 106-56.
St. Louis won more than 90 games 14 times.
They finished under .500 only twice in 2033 and 2040.
St. Louis has opened the 2041 season 11-2 and trails first-place Des Moines by 12.5 games in the NL North Division standings.
Renkes won NL Manager of the Year awards in 2018, 2019, 2025, 2028, 2030 and 2036.
For now, bench coach Luis Rojas will manage the team. Assistant GM Theo Epstein will take over GM duties.