Smock’s Walkoff Single Wins It

Tied 1-1 in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded, Luke Smock (UW-Milwaukee) drove a single to left field that scored Justin Schnell (UW-Stout) and gave the A’s a 2-1 victory over the Burlington Barons Tuesday night.

Schnell led off the inning reaching base on a walk by Barons starting pitcher Steven Kleyheeg. Up came Cooper Goose who laid down a bunt that was fielded by the Barons catcher, but he launched a throw into center field trying to throw out Schnell who would then advance to third. Gus Walker (Marian University) would then come to the plate and show bunt as the Barons brought their infield in, but Kleyheeg couldn’t find the strike zone and walked Walker on four straight to setup Smock’s winner.

Walker scored the games first run in the bottom of the third inning to give the A’s a 1-0 lead, but the Barons would respond immediately in the top of the fourth after a leadoff single followed by a double scored their only run of the game off of A’s starter Jared Reklaitis. Reklaitis would throw a complete game, scattering six hits, walking just one and striking out 16 to pick up his team-leading seventh win of the season.

Reklaitis has been outstanding once again this season for the A’s. In his eight starts this season, seven have been complete games. Throwing 57.2 innings thus far, he has gone 7-1, allowing just eight earned runs and walking only five.

The A’s next game will be Thursday at home against the Kewaskum A’s in a makeup game from a June rainout. Thursday will be Plymouth Dirt Track Night with drivers and race cars from the Plymouth Dirt Track racing circuit at the park, showcasing their race cars in the parking lot pre-game for fans to see and take pictures with.