Outlaws Pull Away From Prospects to Secure Two-Game Sweep
- Uclick TV
- Jun 6, 2021
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 7, 2021
June 5, 2021
JOPLIN, MO—Calen Protaskey launched a solo home run and the Joplin Outlaws used an 11-hit attack to defeat the Des Moines Peak Prospects 5-1 on Saturday night at Joe Becker Stadium.
Joplin (2-0) took a 1-0 lead with one out in the second when Protaskey turned on a first-pitch fastball from Des Moines (0-4) starter Cody Wolfe and deposited it over the left-field fence for a solo homer.
Des Moines immediately mounted a threat against Joplin starter Jeremiah Kennedy. The Prospects began the inning with a single and a walk, then advanced both runners into scoring position with one out.
Anthony Toreallus then lifted a fly ball to right field that Jeb Jenkins caught near the line, then fired a one-hop throw home to Protaskey, who tagged out Sam Nicolino to end the inning and keep the Outlaws in front.
In the middle innings, Joplin added on to the lead. Lawson Faria brought home Cade Lott with an RBI infield single in the fourth inning. The following frame, Jared Toler blooped a single to left that brought home Ethan Lopez, extending the lead to 3-0.
In the meantime, the Joplin defense continued to step up. The fifth inning ended with Toler snagging a line drive at first base and doubling off a runner for an unassisted double play.
The next inning ended with a much more difficult play, as Faria left his feet to snare a line drive off the bat of Alex Haapajaki and fired to Logan Cline covering second for another inning-ending twin killing.
Des Moines trimmed the deficit to 3-1 in the seventh as Kade Reinertson greeted new pitcher Jack O'Brien with a double off the left-field wall, then scored two batters later on Bryce Hall's RBI single.
However, O'Brien stranded the tying runs on base in the seventh, the struck out three straight batters following an eighth-inning leadoff double to send the game to the ninth.
Joplin added a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the eighth as a throwing error allowed Toler and Sam Golden to cross the plate. With a four-run lead, Reese Weaks tossed a scoreless ninth to cap off a two-game sweep of the Peak Prospects.
Ethan Lopez went 3-for-4 at the plate with two stolen bases and a run scored to lead the 11-hit attack, while Toler added two hits and an RBI, and a run scored of his own.
On the mound, Kennedy tossed 4.0 shutout innings, allowing three hits and walking three with one strikeout. Masayuki Maruhashi (1-0) tossed 2.0 hitless innings with a walk and a strikeout to earn the win, while O'Brien followed with 2.0 innings of work, allowing a run on four hits with five strikeouts. Weaks threw a scoreless inning with a walk and two strikeouts.
The Outlaws will continue their homestand with a two-game set against the defending (2019) MINK League champion St. Joseph Mustangs, which begins Sunday night with a 7:00 first pitch. The game is available on UclickTV on pay-per-view, as well as with all Joplin Outlaws, St. Joseph Mustangs, and MINK League season passes.
Comments