2023 St. Louis River Walkers -- Postseason or bust

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Record: 28-22, 3rd, 4 GB Des Moines
Brendan Spagnuolo took a shutout into the seventh inning and St. Louis hit three home runs in a 7-2 win over Milwaukee at Busch Stadium (1997).
With the win, the River Walkers took two of three-games with the Keg Lifters.
Spagnuolo left after Milwaukee first two batters reached in the top of the seventh -- Chase Vallot singled and Freddy Galvis reached on an error by first baseman Michael Toglia -- but Brad Hand got out of the inning unscatched.
For his six innings, Spagnuolo allowed seven hits while striking out two and walking two.
The Keg Lifters did get a two-run homer from Clint Frazier off Hand in the seventh, making it 7-2.
But they would be blanked the rest of the way.
John Curtiss would take over with two outs in the eighth and finish the game for St. Louis.
The Walkers went up early, rookies Larry Ernesto (a two-run homer) and Michael Toglia (a solo shot) both taking Milwaukee starter Sean Hjelle deep in the bottom of the first for a 3-0 lead.
A slumping Andrew Benintendi connected for his fourth homer of the season in the fourth, also off Hjelle, to make it 4-0.
Spagnuolo doubled off Hellje to leadoff the fifth and later scored as the lead grew to 5-0.
Jean Carmona had an RBI double and Edmond Americaan plated a run with a single in the sixth, as the Walkers owned their biggest lead at 7-0.

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MBL news: Week 7 awards and standings

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Record: 28-23, 3rd, 5 GB Des Moines
Madison scored two runs in the sixth, seventh and ninth innings as it rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat St. Louis 6-2 at Busch Stadium (1997).
The River Walkers' Jared Thomass hit his first career homer in the bottom of the fourth inning off Muskies starter Logan Gilbert to put his team up 2-0.
Madison tied it in the sixth on a two-out single from Eduardo Escobar off St. Louis starter Aaron Nola.
Nomar Mazara scored a second run on the hit following a throwing error by right fielder Michael Toglia.
Jordan Myrow dominated the rest of the game.
His two-run single off reliever Phil Maton in the seventh made it 4-2.
In the ninth, Myrow, who came into the game barely batting over .200, hit a solo homer off Bobby Poyner.
Madison added another run when Escobar tripled off Poyner and scored on a Reese McGuire single.
Gilbert worked the first five innings for the Muskies, allowing two runs on five hits.
It took six relievers to finish it off -- Trevor Rosenthal (1.0 IP), Billy McKay (0.1), Drew Steckenrider (0.2), Kyle Barraclough (1.0), Brusdar Graterol (0.2) and Jared Miller (0-1) -- with Miller earning his 10th save of the season.
Walkers shortstop Jean Carmona suffered an elbow injury while making a play at second base.
He is expected to miss two weeks and will be placed on the disabled list.

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The St. Louis River Walkers have placed shortstop Jean Carmona on the 10-day injured list and called up Christian Adames from AAA Memphis.
The 23-year-old Carmona is batting .238 with six homers and 22 RBIs in 41 games for St. Louis.
Adams, 31, has batted .258 with one homer and six RBIs in 13 games for the Redbirds.

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Record: 29-23, 3rd, 4 GB Des Moines
Edmond Americaan scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the eighth inning to help St. Louis edge Madison 3-2 at Busch Stadium.
Americaan had reached on a one-out single off reliever Carlos Carrasco.
He moved to second on a Michael Toglia single off Billy McKay, and Americaan reached third when Andrew Benintendi grounded out for the inning's second out.
With Rhys Hoskins at the plate, McKay's second pitch got past catcher M.J. Melendez allowing Americaan to score.
Down 2-1, the River Walkers had tied the game in the bottom of the seventh on a Nicky Delmonico homer off Brusdar Graterol.
River Walkers starter Kyle Hendricks allowed two runs on five hits over seven innings. He struck out four and walked one.
Jake Brentz handled the eighth inning and earned his fourth win.
Tommy Kahnle pitched around a walk in the ninth for his eighth save.

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Record: 29-24, 3rd, 4 GB Des Moines
Pinch-hitter Tim Anderson smacked a two-run homer off St. Louis reliever Bobby Poyner in the top of the eighth inning to help give Madison a 4-2 win at Busch Stadium (1997).
Tied at 2-2, Eduardo Escobar had reached on a one-out single off Poyner.
Anderson followed with his homer.
Poyner has allowed seven homers in 18.1 innings this season, and over the last two he has surrendered 25 in 87 innings.
The River Walkers had grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Larry Ernesto collected the first RBI with a double off Muskies starter Shelby Miller. Christian Arroyo made it 2-0 with a single.
Madison tied it in the sixth against Walkers starter Alex Faedo.
An error by shortstop Andrelton Simmons had loaded the bases with one out and led to Faedo's exit.
Brad Hand took over and got M.J. Melendez to fly out for the second out.
But Eduardo Escobar followed with a single, scoring two, evening the score.
Miller worked six innings for the Muskies, allowing two runs on six hits. He struck out seven and walked one.
Kyle Barraclough, Trevor Rosenthal and Jared Miller all worked an inning apiece to close it out.
Barraclough earned his fourth win. Miller collected his 11th save.

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Record: 30-24, 3rd, 4.5 GB Des Moines
Andrew Beintendi led off the bottom of the 14th inning with a homer off Madison reliever Trevor Rosenthal, as St. Louis downed Madison 1-0 at Busch Stadium (1997).
With the victory, St. Louis split the four-game series with the Muskies.
The teams combined for 21 hits and 12 walks in the game, but no runs until Benintendi hit an 0-2 pitch 393 feet over the wall in right field to finally end it.
The River Walkers wasted a strong start from Argenis Batista, who worked seven scoreless innings during which he allowed four hits. He struck out five and walked four.
The Walkers used four relievers -- Reyes Moronta (1.0 IP), Jake Brentz (2.0), Phil Maton (1.1), John Curtiss (2.1) and Thad Ward (0.1) -- over the final seven innings.
Ward retired the only batter he faced, yet still earned his second win of the season.

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Record: 30-25, 3rd, 3.5 GB Des Moines
Akron got solo home runs from Kyle Tucker in the seventh inning and Matt Chapman in the eighth as Akron downed St. Louis 5-3 at Candlestick Park (1993).
The Flying Feet took command early with three runs in the top of the first inning off River Walkers starting pitcher Brendan Spagnuolo.
But St. Louis fought its way back.
Michael Toglia had an RBI single off Arkon starter Casey Mize in the fourth inning.
The Walkers tied it in the seventh when Edmond Americaan drove in a run with a single and a second run scored on a throwing error by right fielder Kyle Tucker.
Two batters into the bottom of the seventh inning, Akron had the lead back after a solo homer from Tucker off reliever Bobby Poyner.
Another homer, this one from Matt Chapman, in the eighth off Reyes Moronta made it 5-3.
Mize lasted six innings for the Feet, allowing one run on four hits. He struck out five and walked one.

Five relievers (Corey Knebel (0.0), Arodys Vizcaino (1.0), Riley Farrell (1.0), Kelvin Herrera (0.1) and Craig Kimbrel (0.2) combined to close out the win.
Kimbrel got Larry Ernesto to ground into a double play with the bases loaded to end it, earning him his second save.

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Record: 31-25, 3rd, 3 GB Des Moines
An inside-the-park home run from Christian Arroyo ignited a three-run top of the 14th inning for St. Louis as it defeated Akron 6-3 at Candlestick Park (1993).
Arroyo long fly ball, hit off reliever Kelvin Herrera, went over the head of Flying Feet left fielder Michael Conforto who fell after running into the wall, allowing Arroyo to circle the bases.
The River Walkers would add two more runs in the inning off a weary Herrera.
Michael Toglia drove in Bo Bichette, who had doubled with two outs, with a single.

Rhys Hoskins followed with a double, Toglia's run making it 6-3.
Down 3-1, St. Louis forced extra innings with a pair of runs in the top of the ninth.
Toglia led off the inning with a double off reliever A.J. Minter, who would go on to issue a pair of walks to load the bases with one out.
He struck out Jared Thomas for the second out.
But issued another walk, to Arroyo, making it 3-2.
Arodys Vizcaino took the mound and the single he allowed to Andrelton Simmons tied the game.
St. Louis starter Aaron Nola struggled, allowing three runs on nine hits over 6.2 innings.
Six relievers took the mound for the Walkers, led by Brad Hand who finished the seventh and tossed a scoreless eighth.
Hand was followed by Thad Ward (2.0 IP), Jake Brentz (1.0), Tommy Kahnle (1.0), John Curtiss (1.2) and Reyes Moronta (0.1).
The win went to Curtiss, his first of the season.

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MBL news: June 11 -- All-Star game fan voting update

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Record: 32-25, 3rd, 3 GB Des Moines
Rookie catcher Jared Thomas hit a grand slam to cap a five-run top of the sixth inning, as St. Louis overcame a 4-0 deficit and went on for a 9-4 win over Akron at Candlestick Park (1993).
With the victory, the River Walkers took the final two games of the three-game series.
The Flying Feet battered St. Louis starter Kyle Hendricks for four runs in the bottom of the first.
Anthony Rizzo supplied the big blow with a three-run homer.
The Walkers finally got their offense going against Akron starter Luis Severino in the sixth.
Two walks and a single loaded the bases with one out before Michael Toglia flew out for the second out.
Andrelton Simmons followed with a single, making it 4-1.
Severino, who may have been exhausted with the Feet having played a 14-inning game the night before, then served up a 341-foot homer to Thomas on a 3-2 pitch as St. Louis took a 5-4 lead.
The Walkers added two more runs in the seventh. Nicky Delmonico with an RBI single and the other scoring on a passed ball.
St. Louis scored two more runs in the ninth -- Toglia driving in the first with a single and the other scoring on a fielder's choice -- to break it open.
Hendricks struggled, allowing four runs on nine hits over six innings.
Bobby Poyner rebounded from a string of rough outings with a pair of scoreless innings.
Thad Ward handled the ninth for the Walkers.

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MBL news: Week 8 awards and standings

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Record: 32-26, 3rd, 3.5 GB Des Moines
The owner of the best record in the Midwest Baseball League at 42-14, Cincinnati proved why with a 13-4 rout of St. Louis at Riverfront Stadium (1970).
Skyline, which extended its win streak to eight games, went to work from the get-go against River Walkers starting pitcher Alex Faedo.
Travis Swaggerty reached on a one-out single in the bottom of the first and scored when Mike Trout followed with a double.
Trout then scored when Freddie Freeman cranked a two-run homer.
Cincinnati added another run in the inning, after Ronald Acuna Jr. singled with two outs.
Acuna stole second and scored on a Francisco Meija single.
The Skyline chased Faedo in the fifth inning.
Acuna drove in two of the runs with a triple that ended Faedo's outing.
Meija then collected his second RBI of the game with a double, putting Cincinnati ahead 7-2.
The game got ugly when Cincinnati put up four runs in the seventh.

Trout hit a two-run homer off reliever Reyes Moronta.
Trea Turner later hit a base-loaded double off Bobby Poyner, which scored two and made it 11-3.
Skyline starter Corbin Burnes (8-1) worked five innings giving up two runs on five hits.
He was followed to the mound by five relievers (Ryan Castellini (2.0 IP), Emilio Pagan (1.0), Liam Hendricks (0.2) and Jesus Liranzo (0.1) -- as the Skyline wrapped up a lopsided win.

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Record: 33-26, 3rd, 3.5 GB Des Moines
St. Louis jumped off to a 5-0 lead and held on for a 7-4 win over Cincinnati at Riverfront Stadium (1970).
The River Walkers scored at least run in each of the first four inning.
In the first, it was Bo Bichette hitting a solo homer off Skyline starting pitcher Beau Burrows.
The second saw J.T. Realmuto double with one out and scored on a Christian Arroyo single.
Rhys Hoskins smacked a two-run homer off Burrows in the third, making it 4-0.
Larry Ernesto singled with one out in the fourth.
Ernesto stole second and reached third on a throwing error by catcher Alex Jackson.
Jackson then allowed a passed ball, as Ernesto crossed the plate.
Cincinnati pulled to within 5-2 in the bottom of the fifth,pinch-hitter Adam Eaton with a two-run single off River Walkers starter Argenis Batista.
The Walkers led grew back to five again in the ninth, Nicky Delmonico with a two-run homer off Kirby Yates.
Skyline made it interesting in the bottom of the ninth.
John Curtiss allowed singles to Trea Turner and Jackson to open the inning.
Jake Brentz came on and allowed two more singles, to pinch-hitter Francisco Mejia and Cadyn Greiner.
That was followed by a Travis Swaggerty sacrifice fly, which made it 7-4.
Forced to turn to its closer, Tommy Kahnle entered the game.
He got Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to fly out for the second out, but followed that with a walk to Ronald Acuna Jr. to load the baes.
But Kahnle got Freddie Freeman to fly out to end it.
Batista (4-3) went five innings, giving up two runs on seven hits. He struck out five and walked none.
Phil Maton handled the sixth and seventh before yielding to Curtiss to begin the eighth.

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Record: 34-26, 3rd, 3.5 GB Des Moines
St. Louis put up a five-run fourth inning to take command and held off a late Cincinnati comeback as it won 8-5 at Riverfront Stadium (1970).
With the win, the River Walkers took the final two games of the three-game series.
Down 1-0, St. Louis used the long ball to ignite its big fourth-inning outburst as Andrew Benintendi and Michael Toglia led off the frame with solo shots off Skyline starter Kirby McIntyre.
It wasn't over, however. J.T. Realmuto followed with a walk.
He moved to second on a wild pitch, took third on a Christian Arroyo ground out and scored when pitcher Brendan Spagnuolo singled.
Edmond Americaan, Bo Bichette and Nicky Delmonico kept the line moving as they all singled, making it 4-1.
Americaan scored the inning's final run on a Rhys Hoskins sacrifice fly.
Bo Bichette hit a solo homer off Skyline reliever Edubray Ramos in the sixth, extending the St. Louis advantage to 6-1.
A three-run bottom of the seventh chased Spagnuolo.
Travis Swaggerty had an RBI single off reliever Brad Hand, while Mike Trout and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also collected RBIs on outs which scored runs.
The Walkers scored twice in the ninth, The first run scoring on a bases-loaded passed ball by Francisco Mejia. Larry Ernesto plated the other with a sacrifice fly.
Cincinnati did load the bases against Walkers closer Tommy Kahnle in the bottom of the ninth.
He got out of it unscathed by getting Mejia to fly out to end it.
Spagnuolo pitched into the seventh, but his line read six innings during which he allowed four runs on 11 hits.
Brad Hard, Thad Ward and Jake Brentz all got an out apiece in the seventh inning.
Moronta allowed a run in the eighth, setting the stage for Kahnle to earn his 10th save in the ninth.

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Record: 35-26, 3rd, 3.5 GB Des Moines
St. Louis put up two runs in the third, sixth and seventh innings to power it to a 6-4 win over Springfield at Olympic Stadium (Montreal).
Prairie Fighters starter Daniel Mengden didn't get out of the third inning after allowing a RBI single to Larry Ernesto which began the scoring.
Chaz Roe took his place and the first batter he faced, Michael Toglia, doubled to push the lead to 2-0.
Their lead at 2-1, the River Walkers doubled their run production in the sixth, rookie Jared Thomas with a two-run homer which greeted D.J. Jefferson to the mound.
Its lead sliced again, this time to 4-3,. St. Louis tallied twice in the seventh.

Toglia collecting his second RBI of the game, with a double off Jake Diekman.
Christian Arroyo followed with a single, scoring Larry Ernesto.
Walkers starter Aaron Nola (4-3) could not get out of the sixth, but still earned the victory by allowing three runs on four hits over 5.2 innings.
Brad Hand finished the sixth inning.
John Curtiss, Bobby Poyner and Thad Ward all worked an inning apiece to close it out.
Ward earned his first save of the season.

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Record: 35-27, 3rd, 3.5 GB Kansas City
St. Louis left starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks one batter too long and it cost the River Walkers in a 3-2 loss to Springfield at Olympic Stadium (Montreal).
After allowing the Prairie Fighters a pair of first-inning runs, Hendricks shut them out over the next five innings and he was allowed to come out for the seventh.
Max Schrock made him pay smacking a 1-1 pitch 395 feet over the right-field wall to put Springfield up 3-2.
The Prairie Fighters tallied twice in the first as a throwing error by third baseman Nicky Delmonico played a role in extending the inning.
Ryan Mountcastle took advantage with a two-out, two-run double.
A homer in the fourth inning from Rhys Hoskins put the Walkers on the board.
They tied it in the sixth, when Bo Bichette doubled with two outs off Springfield starter Reid Schaller.

Bichette scored when Delmonico followed with a single.
Schaller lasted 6.1 innings, giving up two runs on six hits.
Chaz Roe finished the seventh and got the first out of the eighth.
D.J. Jefferson finished the eighth.
The ninth belonged to Hector Neris, who with a 1-2-3 inning posted his first save of the season.

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Record: 36-27, 3rd, 2.5 GB Kansas City
Andrew Benintendi singled with two outs in the eighth inning off Springfield reliever Jake Diekman to score Bo Bichette and help give St. Louis a 3-2 win at Olympic Stadium (Montreal).
Tied 2-2, Bichette was hit by a Diekman pitch to open the inning.
Bichette had to leave the game with a foot contusion, with Cristhian Adames taking over as pinch runner.
Michael Toglia doubled to put runners at the corners.
Springfield elected to walk Rhys Hoskins before Diekman struck out Nicky Delmonico for the second out.
Benintendi, however, spanked a hard single to right-center field to score Adames with what proved to be the game-winning run.
A Hoskins two-run homer off Springfield starter Triston McKenzie in the top of the first had staked the River Walkers to an early lead.
Nate Traylor led off the fourth with a homer off St. Louis starter Alex Faedo.
The Prairie Fighters tied it in the seventh after Max Schrock doubled off Brad Hand with one out and scored on a Wander Samuel Franco two-out single off Reyes Moronta.
Faedo worked six innings, allowing one run on five hits. He struck out seven and walked one.
The Walkers used five relievers - -Brad Hand (0.1 IP), Moronta (0.1), Bobby Poyner (0.2), John Curtiss (0.2) and Tommy Kahnle (1.0) -- to close it out.
Kahnle allowed two hits, but was able to earned his 11th save.

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MBL news: All-Star fan voting update for June 18

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The St. Louis River Walkers have placed second baseman Bo Bichette after he suffered a foot contusion following a hit by pitch in a 3-2 win over Springfield on June 18.
In 58 games this season, Bichette has batted .269 with 10 homers and 20 RBIs.
He will be replaced by shortstop Jean Carmona who was one game into an injury rehab at AAA Memphis after missing time with a sore elbow.
In 41 games with the Walkers this season, Carmona has hit .238 with six homers and 22 RBIs.