July 6, 2021
By Brennan Mense
JOPLIN, MO—The Joplin Outlaws set a franchise record by stealing ten bases and also surpassed their single-season high in MINK League play with 87 steals as they erased a three-run deficit to defeat the Jefferson City Renegades 9-7 at Joe Becker Stadium on Tuesday night.
Joplin (14-10) also regained sole possession of first place in the MINK League South division, moving a game ahead of Jefferson City (13-13), who had a three-game winning streak snapped in the process.
The Renegades scored in the first inning against Joplin starter Masayuki Maruhashi. Following a leadoff single by Tommy Reuther, David Dell replaced him on the bases with a fielder's choice, stole second, and moved to third on a wild pitch. Carter Mize then drove him in on a groundout to first.
For the second straight night, though, Joplin answered with a first inning longball. Renegades starter Brayden Boyer plunked Logan Cline with his first pitch, then two batters later, Caleb Feuerstake crushed his first home run of the season, staking the Outlaws to a 2-1 lead.
The score remained the same into the fourth, as both teams stranded multiple runners in the third inning. However, Jefferson City broke through in the fourth. After Maruhashi walked the first two batters of the inning, he was lifted in favor of Austin Gottula, who then walked another to load the bases with no outs. Gottula then coaxed a double play out of Ben Burton, scoring a run, but also allowing him to escape the jam with just one run allowed.
In the fifth, Feuerstake struck again to break the tie. Cline led off with a single and stole second, paving the way for Feuerstake to stroke a ground ball into right field. The Canadian did not stop there, stealing second and third and scoring on a sacrifice fly from Ethan Ellis, making it 4-2, Joplin.
In the sixth, Gottula began the inning with a groundout, but Brett Wiemers committed an error, which was followed by a walk. The right-hander bounced back, though, with a strikeout. Reuther then hit a slow bouncer to second, which Jeb Jenkins flipped to Jared Toler at first. However, Toler dropped the routine throw, allowing the inning to continue, while also bringing in a run.
The error would prove to be catastrophic, as Dell walked and Mize stepped to the plate. With the bases loaded, Mize turned around a 1-0 pitch and launched it over the right-field berm for a grand slam, putting the Renegades up 7-3.
Down, but not out, Joplin immediately fought back. Against new pitcher Deejay Seelbach, Wiemers drew a leadoff walk, then moved to third on a single by Brandon Ulmer. Ulmer took an aggressive turn around first, forcing an errant throw to second that brought home Wiemers. Calen Protaskey followed with a walk, which brought out a quick hook for Seelbach.
All-Star Shane Fontenot entered for Jefferson City, but did not pitch like one, hitting Ethan Lopez to start his outing, loading the bases. Cline then ripped a line drive to deep right, which was caught on the warning track, bringing home another run. Jenkins then struck out, and Feuerstake struck out to load the bases for Ethan Ellis, who rolled a 1-2 pitch to deep short, beating the throw to first to bring in the tying run.
An inning later, the Outlaws took the lead with a two-out rally against Fontenot. Wiemers led off with a single, but the next two batters struck out. However, Wiemers stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Ethan Lopez then lined the eighth pitch of his at-bat into left to give Joplin the lead.
Lopez wasn't done in the inning, as he ripped off second and third (the steal of third on the front end of a double steal). That proved to be fortuitous, as a wild pitch brought home Lopez with an important insurance run.
As it turns out, the Outlaws would not need the insurance. Jack O'Brien worked around a scoreless eighth, then gave way to Reese Weaks in the ninth. Weaks surrendered a two-out single, but struck out pinch-hitter Caden Diel to end the game, securing first place with a the 9-7 triumph.
Feuerstake was 3-for-3 with a homer, three RBI, two runs, and three stolen bases. His third steal in the eighth set the franchise record for both steals in a game and in a MINK League season. Lopez, Cline, and Wiemers all had two steals apiece as well, with the tenth belonging to Ethan Ellis.
Maruhashi went 3.0 innings plus two batters, allowing two runs on two hits, five walks, and five strikeouts. Gottula pitched 2.2 innings, allowing five unearned runs on one hits, four walks, and a strikeout. Chrisitian DeJesus (3-1) threw 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing a hit and striking out two to earn the win. O'Brien allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning, as did Weaks. Weaks earned his first save.
Joplin finishes their six-game homestand tonight against the Sedalia Bombers. First pitch is at 7:00 p.m. and the broadcast will be available on UclickTV on pay-per-view, as well as with all Joplin Outlaws and MINK League season passes.
Comments