2023 St. Louis River Walkers -- Postseason or bust

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Record: 59-56, 3rd, 14 GB Des Moines
Chance Sisco hit a two-run home run off St. Louis reliever Thad Ward with two outs in the top of the 12th inning to help give Green Bay a 5-3 win over St. Louis at Busch Stadium (1997).
A two-run homer from Romy Gonzalez off Long Haulers starter Max Scherzer in the second inning and an RBI double from Rhys Hoskins in the fourth had staked the River Walkers to a 3-0 lead.
It lasted until the eighth.
Green Bay got two of those runs back in the seventh when a wild stretch by Walkers starter Aaron Nola proved costly.
He hit Yoan Moncada with a pitch and later unleashed a wild pitch which allowed a run to score.
Bobby Gulden drove in Moncada with a ground out, making it 3-2.
Bobby Bradley smacked a solo homer off Wilmer Jimenez with one out in the eighth to tie it.
Scherzer worked six innings, allowing three runs on four hits. He struck out 10 and walked three.
Six relievers -- Richard Loveland (1.0 IP), Chad Green (1.0), Luis Angel Medina (1.0), Nick Burdi (1.0), Kenley Jansen (1.2) and Ryan Zeferjahn (0.1) -- followed him to the mound Jansen earned his fifth win of the season.
Zeferjahn retired the only batter he faced for his second save.

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Record: 60-36, 3rd, 13 GB Des Moines
Alex Faedo allowed two hits and one run over seven innings to help lead St. Louis to a 9-1 win over Green Bay at Busch Stadium (1997).
The only run Faedo allowed was a two-out solo homer from Brad Bradley in the seventh inning, by which time the River Walkers led 6-0.
Faedo (10-8) struck out 10 and walked none during his seven innings.
Rhys Hoskins put St. Louis up with a solo homer off Long Haulers starter Kodi Mederios in the bottom of the first.
The Walkers blew the game open with a five-run fourth.
It all came with two outs, as Medeiros retired the first two batters in the inning.
However, he walked the next four batters to force in a run before Juan Gil plated two with a single.
Byron Buxton drove in the inning's other two runs with a single.
St. Louis got its final three runs in the seventh, one of them coming on a Juan Gil double who collected his third RBI of the game.
After Faedo exited, Bill Warson and Thad Ward worked a scoreless inning apiece to close it out.

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Record: 60-57, 3rd, 13 GB Des Moines
St.Louis owned a 3-1 lead after three innings, but took control with three runs in the top of the fourth and went on for a 10-6 win at Busch Stadium (1997).
With the win, the Long Haulers took two of three games from the River Walkers.
The Haulers rode the long ball to take the lead in the fourth.
Aaron Judge led off the winning with a 393 foot shot off St. Louis starter Argenis Batista.
Addison Russell later added a two-run blast to make it 4-3.
Green Bay broke it open with three runs in the top of the sixth.
Bobby Gulden drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly off reliever Bill Warson.
Brandon Lowe later had an RBI triple off Brent Suter.
Lowe scored on an Alek Thomas single.
The Walkers pulled to within 7-5 in he seventh, Romy Gonzalez with a two-run triple off Mike Goodkin.
But the Green Bay lead grew back to five in the ninth, Chance Sisco and Yoan Mochado both with RBI singles off Wilmer Jimenez.
The final Haulers run scored on a Jimenez wild pitch.
Green Bay starter Stiward Aquino lasted just three innings, giving up three runs on six hits.
Seven relievers would take the mound for the Haulers-- Chad Green (2.0 IP), Richard Lovelady (1.0), Ryan Zeferjahn (0.2), Mike Goodkin (0.1), Kenley Jansen (1.0), Louis Angel Medina (0.2) and Nick Burdi (0.1) -- with Green earning his seventh win of the season.
St. Louis starter Argenis Batista left the game in the fifth inning with an undisclosed injury.
Walkers outfielder Andrew Benintendi exited after suffering back spasms while running the bases.
He is expected to be out for five days.

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MBL news: Week 18 -- Awards and standings

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Record: 61-57, 3rd, 13 GB Des Moines
St. Louis took advantage of a weary Madison bullpen to score eight times in the top of the 13th inning to lift it to a 15-7 win over Comiskey Park (1969).
The River Walkers received six walks in the inning, five of which came with the bases loaded.
Edmond Americaan, however, did drive in the inning's first run with a single off Muskies reliever Kyle Barraclough.
The final two runs scored on a pinch-hit double from Jared Thomas off Jared Miller.
A two-run triple from Jean Carmona off Madison reliever Drew Steckenrider gave St. Louis a 7-5 lead. Byron Buxton had tied it with a sacrifice fly earlier in the inning.
The Muskies tied it bottom of the eighth when Francisco Lindor launched a two-run homer off Jake Brentz.
St. Louis starter Brendan Spagnuolo worked 5.1 innings. giving up five runs on eight hits.
He was followed to the mound by five relievers -- Brad Hand (1.2 IP), Phil Maton (0.0), Brentz (2.0), John Curtiss (3.0) and Thad Ward (1.0) -- with Curtiss earning his second win of the season.

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The game between St. Louis and Madison at Comiksey Park (1969) on August 22 has been postponed by rain.
It will be made up as part of a doubleheader on August 23.

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Record: 62-57, 3rd, 13.5 GB Des Moines
St. Louis put up 15 runs for the second consecutive game, but this time it took nine innings rather than 13 as it routed Madison 15-3 in the opening game of a doubleheader at Comiskey Park (1969).
Left fielder Edmond Americaan had a huge game going 4 for 6 with two homers, two runs scored and seven RBIs.

The River Walkers broke on top in the top of the third when Jared Thomas led off with a double off Madison starter Diego Ontiberos and scored on an Americaan single.
That lead grew to 3 -0 in the fourth, Byron Buxton driving in the first run with a single. Buxton later scored on a double by Thomas.
The game became a blowout in the sixth when St. Louis scored six times.
Americaan drove in the first run with a single off Ontiberos.
Jean Carmona plated the next two with a single.
Bo Bichette made it 7-2 with an RBI single off reliever Drew Steckenrider..
Michael Toglia completed the uprising with a three-run homer of Steckenrider.
Jimmy Lambert worked the first five innings, giving up two runs on five hits.
Bill Warson handled the next 3.1, allowing just one , before turning it over to Thad Ward who finished off the lopsided win.

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Record: 63-57, 3rd, 13 GB Des Moines
Aaron Nola took a shutout into the ninth inning before running out of gas and St. Louis completed a doubleheader and three-game sweep of Madison with a 5-0 win at Comiskey Park (1969).
Nola (9-6) worked 8.1 innings. allowing eight hits while striking out six and walking two.
He exited after allowing consecutive one-out walks in the ninth.
Brent Suter stepped in to strike out Reese McGuire for the second out.
John Curtiss then relieved and got Tim Anderson to ground out to end it.
The River Walkers got the only run they needed in the top of the first when Bo Bicehtte launched a one-out homer off Muskies starting pitcher Stephen Gonsalves.
St. Louis would not strike again until the eighth when Christian Arroyo hit a solo shot off reliever Billy McKay.
The Walkers broke it open in the ninth, getting a two-run homer from Michael Toglia and an RBI double from Byron Buxton.

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Record: 64-57, 3rd, 12.5 GB Des Moines
St. Louis responded to a two-run top of the first inning by Cleveland with five in the bottom half and went on for a 7-5 win at Busch Stadium (1997).
The Guitar Heroes' Mac Horvath led off the game with a home run off River Walkers starting pitcher Alex Faedo.
Bryan Reynolds and Austin Riley reached on a one-out double and single, respectively.
Reynolds scored on a Gioncarlo Stanton sacrifice fly

St. Louis answered quickly in the bottom half against Cleveland starter Tyler Beede.
Bo Bichette and Andrew Benintendi opened the inning with consecutive singles.
Rhys Hoskins chased them home with a homer, putting the Walkers ahead 3-2.

Michael Toglia continued the onslaught with a single, and Romy Gonzalez made it five straight hits, launching the second homer of the inning to pushing the St. Louis' advantage to 5-2.
An RBI double from Riley in the fifth pulled Cleveland to within 5-3.
But St. Louis went up by four after Andrew Benintendi knocked a two-run single off reliever Alex Lange in the sixth.
Riley had a two-run double off Thad Ward in the seventh, making it 7-5.
But that was as close as the Heroes could get.
Faedo (11-8) worked six innings, giving up three runs on six hits. He struck out seven and walked one.
Thad Ward got the first two outs of the seventh but allowed two runs.
Phil Maton finished the seventh and handled the eighth.
Jake Brentz took care of the ninth, earning his fourth save.

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Record: 64-58, 3rd, 13.5 GB Des Moines
Cleveland put up three runs in top of the ninth inning to tie the game and Gioncarlo Stanton homered in the 10th to help give Cleveland a 5-4 win over St. Louis at Busch Stadium (1997).
The River Walkers led 4-1 going into the top of the ninth, but they could not maintain it.
Reliever John Curtiss retired the first two batters, but it fell apart.
Zack Colllins drew a walk and Brian Dozier hit a triple, making it 4-2.
Nelson Velazquez followed with an RBI single, ending up at second himself following an error by St. Louis left fielder Andrew Benintendi.
Closer Jake Brentz took over and Bryan Reynolds greeted him with a single, Velazquuez crossing the plate to tie it.
In the 10th. Walkers reliever Tony CIngrani retired Jake Bauers to open the inning.
But his 0-1 pitch to Stanton traveled 401 feet over the right-field wall and put the Guitar Heroes up for good.
Cleveland starter Jameson Taillon worked 4.2 innings, allowing four runs on six hits.
He was followed to the mound by six relievers -- Will Smith (1.1 IP), Rex Brothers (1.0), Ryan Pressly (0.1), Dan Jennings (0.2), Edwin Diaz (1.0) and Tommy Kahnle (1.0) -- with Diaz notching his fifth win.
Kahnle earned his first save since joining the Guitar Heroes after his trade from the River Walkers.

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Record: 64-59, 3rd, 14.5 GB Des Moines
Steven Brault handled the first 7.1 innings and a pair of relievers took care of the rest as Cleveland shut out St. Louis 2-0 at Busch Stadium (1997).
With the win, the Guitar Heroes took the final two games of the three-game series.
Brault (6-6) allowed just three hits during his time on the mound. He struck out four and walked two.
Dan Jennings got the final two outs of the eighth inning.
Closer Edwin Diaz worked around a lead-off single from Byron Buxton in the ninth to earn his 32nd save.
Cleveland got its first run in the top of the second.
Zack Collins drew a one-out walk from River Walkers starter Brandon Spagnuolo.
He scored when Brault connected on a two-out double.
The game's only other run came in the sixth thanks to a Nelson Velazquez homer off Spagnuolo.

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MBL news: Week 19 Awards and standings

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Record: 65-59, 3rd, 13.5 GB Des Moines
Pinch-hitter Juan Gil drove in three runs with a bases-loaded triple with two outs in the top of the 15th inning to help give St. Louis a 6-4 win over Toledo at Braves Field (1946).
Tied at 3-3, Romy Gonzalez got things going for the River Walkers in the 15th with a one-out walk from reliever Kyle Bradish.
Byron Buxton followed with another walk before Christian Arroyo struck out for the second out.
J.T. Realmuto drew the third walk of the inning, loading the bases for Gil.

Gil knocked the second pitch from Bradish of the high wall in right-center field to put St. Louis ahead 6-3.
Yasiel Puig opened the bottom of the 15th with a homer off Walkers reliever Phil Maton, and Ender Inciarte followed with a single.
But Maton retired the next three batters to earn his second save of the season.
The Mud Hens put their first five runners on base -- Willy Adames driving a run in with a double and Tyler Esplin one with a single -- against St. Louis starter Jimmy Lambert to take an early 2-0 lead.
Lambert surrendered an RBI single to Cal Raleigh in the third, as the Hens lead grew to 3-0.
St. Louis got on the board against Toledo starter Walker Powell in the fourth, Arroyo drawing a bases-loaded walk.
A two-run homer from Michael Toglia in the fifth tied it at 3.
Lambert lasted 5.2 innings, allowing three runs on nine hit.
The Walkers used all eight of their relievers -- Brent Suter (0.1 IP), John Curtiss (0.1), Tony CIngrani (1.1), Thad Ward (0.0). Brad Hand (0.1), Jake Brentz (2.0), Bill Warson (4.0) and Maton (1.0) -- with Warson notching his first win of the season.

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Record: 66-59, 3rd, 12.5 GB Des Moines
Aaron Nola worked seven innings and St. Louis got home runs from Andrew Benintendi, Romy Gonzalez and Edmond Americaan homers to power St. Louis to a 9-3 win over Toledo at Braves Field (1946).
The River Walkers didn't need a homer to grab a 2-0 lead in the top of the first.
Americaan led off the game with a single off Mud Hens starting pitcher Jon Duplantier and moved to third when Bo Bichette reached on an error by Mud Hens catcher Shane Langeliers.
Andrew Benintendi scored Americaan with a single.
Gonzalez brought Bichette home with a sacrifice fly.
St. Louis stretched its lead to 5-0 in the third.
Benintendi drove in the first run with a double. Gonzalez followed with a two-run homer.
After Toledo had pulled to within 5-3, Americaan made it 6-3 with a run-scoring double off Mychal Givens in the sixth.
The Walkers got their remaining runs on a solo homer from Benintendi in the seventh and a two-run shot from Americaan in the eighth.
Nola handled the first seven innings, allowing three runs on seven hits.
Curtiss shouldered the load the rest of the way for a weary Walkers bullpen, going two innings without giving up a run.

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Record: 67-59, 3rd, 11.5 GB Des Moines
Rookie Romy Gonzalez connected on a two-run, two-out double in the top of the 10th inning to help St. Louis to a 4-3 win over Toledo at Braves Field (1946).
With the victory, the River Walkers completed a three-game road seeep of the Mud Hens.
Andrew Benintendi got things moving for the Walkers in the 10th with a one-out single off Toledo reliever Justin Davidson.
With two outs, Rhys Hoskins followed with a walk.
Gonzalez then connected for his double, putting St. Louis ahead 4-2.
Toledo tried to rally in the bottom of the inning.
It got a pair of early singles from Cornelius Randolph and Yasier Puig off Bill Warson to put runners at first and second with one out.
Closer Jake Brentz took over and was greeted by a Josh Bell single which loaded the bases.
Cal Raleigh got in a run with a ground out.
But Ildelmaro Vargas also grounded out to end the game.
Down 2-1, St. Louis tied it in the top of the eighth on a homer from Michael Toglia off reliever Justin Dunn.
Walkers starter Alex Faedo allowed one run on five hits over six innings. He struck out nine and walked one.
Six relievers took the mound for the Walkers -- Tony Cingrani (1.0 IP), Thad Ward (0.1), Brent Suter (1.2), Brad Hand (0.0), Bill Warson (0.1) and Jake Brentz (0.2) -- with Suter earning his first win of the season.
Brentz notched his fifth save.

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Record: 68-59, 3rd, 10.5 GB Des Moines
Byron Buxton drove in the game-winning run with a bases-loaded single off Springfield's Gerson Moreno in the bottom of the 11th inning, as St. Louis downed the Prairie Fighters 3-2 at Busch Stadium (1997).
Christian Arroyo scored the winning run after reaching on a one-out double.
Juan Gil then drew an intetional walk.
J.T. Realmuto struck out for the second out before pinch-hitter Jean Carmona was given an intentional walk to load the bases.
Buxton followed with his single on a 3-2 pitch, slapping a line drive past the shortstop.
The contest was scoreless for seven innings before Jose Ramirez snapped the tie with a two-run homer in the top of the eighth off River Walkers reliever Brad Hand.
St. Louis tied it in the bottom of the inning, Michael Toglia answering with a two-run shot.
Walkers starter Argenis Batista worked seven scoreless innings, giving up four hits while striking out nine and walking three.
Hand handled the eighth and ninth innings, allowing the two runs on Ramirez' homer.
Jake Brentz didn't allow a baserunner in the 10th or 11th, striking out three during that span to earn his seventh win.

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MBL news: Awards and standings for August;

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MBL news: Rookies of the Month for August; September 1 standings
River Walkers outfielder Michael Toglia wins National League Rookie of the Month.

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MBL news: American League leaders on Sept. 1

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MBL news: National League leaders on Sept. 1