Joplin’s Garrett Chun had three hits, including two doubles, a team-high four RBI and scored a pair of runs at the plate to lead the Outlaws past Sedalia 10-4 on Saturday at Joe Becker Stadium.
The win for the Outlaws is the team’s sixth straight and gives Joplin sole possession of first place in the MINK League South Division with a 20-18 record. The Bombers, who came into the matchup tied with the Outlaws for first, fall to 19-19.
“These guys are playing selfless baseball and really playing for each other,” Joplin manager Gonzalo Gonzalez said about his team’s six-game win streak. “That is something you don’t really see in summer baseball. They are coming together and having team at-bats while the guys on the mound are picking each other up. To see the guys buy into the process is a beautiful thing.”
“From the first day he got here with that home run and double, he has been a spark plug for this team,” Gonzalez added about Chun’s impact. “He has definitely picked it up over the last couple of games, but for him to do what he did for our team—it wasn’t just his ability to get hits, but to hold other guys accountable and really be a good teammate on and off the field—he is just a great caliber of kid. We are going to miss him. He is leaving us on the 18th and there is no way we will be able to replace his bat.”
ON THE MOUND
Edrian Rangel started and took a no-decision for Joplin after allowing one run on two hits, two walks and three strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. Brett Graham allowed two runs on two hits in 2/3 of an inning. Cole White earned the win after allowing one run on three hits and three strikeouts in two relief innings. Connery O’Donnell and Justin Schrader each pitched a scoreless relief inning, with Schrader striking out two.
Toby Scheidt started and took a no-decision for the Bombers after allowing three runs on four hits and two walks in four innings of work. Parker Wright pitched one scoreless relief inning, walking one and allowing one hit. Austin Droege took the loss after allowing four runs on three hits, two walks and a strikeout in one relief inning. Hunter Tennison allowed three runs on one hit and two walks in 1 2/3 relief innings, while Zach Hillman did not allow a run while surrendering two hits in 1/3 of an inning.
GAME ACTION
Joplin opened the game with the first run touching the plate in the last of the first inning when Chun doubled to left field to score Liam Bailey, who walked with one out before stealing second, to give the Outlaws an early 1-0 advantage.
The Bombers knotted things back up with the Outlaws in the top of the third inning when Will Menendez hit a solo home run with one out.
Joplin got the run back in the bottom half of the inning when Caden Bressler walked to lead off the third before moving to second on a wild pitch and to third on a groundout to get within 90 feet of home. Chun came through once again, this time with a one-out RBI single to center field to put the Outlaws on top 2-1.
Bailey drew a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch in the last of the fourth inning to give Joplin insurance and a 3-1 advantage.
Sedalia swung the momentum in its favor with one swing of the bat in the top of the sixth. After back to back singles to start the frame, Brayden McGinnis launched a three-run home run to give the Bombers a 4-3 lead.
Joplin rallied back in the bottom half of the sixth to tie the game when Bailey doubled to left field to score Carson Johnson, who walked to lead off the inning before advancing to second on a single from Bressler. Chun followed with a go-ahead two-run double to left field to put the Outlaws back on top, 6-3. Matt Campbell brought home Chun later in the inning with a sacrifice fly to push the lead to 7-4.
“Garrett’s double was huge, especially after giving up that three spot,” Gonzalez said. “Every time they scored, we were able to respond and in the next inning we were able to put up a zero. That’s good baseball right there.”
Joplin added three more insurance runs in the eighth highlighted by RBI singles from Carson Carpenter and Tyler Davis.
ON DECK
Joplin hosts Jeff City at 7 p.m. on Sunday at Joe Becker Stadium before welcoming Carrol for a two-game series on Monday and Tuesday.
