Midwest League Action: Games of September 2, 2009

Complete scoreboard

Cedar Rapids 4 @ Wisconsin 3: As it began its final homestand, a three-game set against Cedar Rapids, Wisconsin found itself trying to leave a final, positive impression for the home crowd at Fox Cities Stadium. But that didn't happen Wednesday night.

@Dayton 8, South Bend 6: Rookie Donnie Joseph was called upon to retire one batter with two on in the top of the ninth and he struck out pinch-hitter Victor Estevez on four pitches to preserve an 8-6 victory for the Dragons, keeping them very much alive in their battle for the final playoff spot with the Silver Hawks.

@Fort Wayne 5, Great Lakes 4: Much was made when Fort Wayne lost three of its top sluggers (Matt Clark, James Darnell and Sawyer Carroll) at the start of the second half. But the TinCaps (45-20 second half, 90-45) haven’t slowed, matching the team record for wins in a half (established in the first half).

West Michigan 10 @Lansing 2: Whitecaps version | Lugnuts version

@Burlington 2, Clinton 1: With the win over the team behind them in the Western Division wild card race, Burlington needs just one more loss by Clinton to secure its playoff spot. The two teams have two more games left in this series.

@Peoria 3, Kane County 2:

The last time the Peoria Chiefs were at O’Brien Field for an eight-game homestand, pitcher Aaron Shafer dominated both of his starts.

After a four-game road trip, the Chiefs returned to O’Brien with Shafer talking the hill. It was like he never left.

Shafer led the Chiefs to a 3-2 Midwest League victory Wednesday night over the Kane County Cougars in the opener of a three-game series that could foreshadow a second-round playoff meeting.

@Quad Cities 2, Beloit 1 (12 innings): Burlington's 2-1 win over Clinton eliminated postseason possibilities for Quad-Cities about 50 minutes before the River Bandits edged Beloit 2-1 in 12 innings. By the time Jason Stidham scored D'Marcus Ingram with a gap-splitting double to left center with two outs in the bottom of the Bandits' second consecutive 12-inning game, Quad-Cities already was looking forward.