JOPLIN – The Chillicothe Mudcats scored more runs in Thursday night’s game against the Joplin Outlaws than they had the first four games combined.  They pounded out 19 hits on their way to a 13-1 rout of the Outlaws.
Tyler Minto pitched seven scoreless innings to run his record to 1-1 on the year.  He gave up five hits and walked one but had eight strikeouts on the night.  Richie Mascheri pitched the eighth inning and gave up the only run of the night against the Mudcats.  Freddy Soto entered in the ninth and struck out two Joplin hitters on his way to a scoreless inning.
Matty Johnson led the way for the Mudcats, getting four hits in five at bats and also earning a walk.  He scored four runs, drove in two and stole six bases.  He also took another base on a throwing error.
Zach Amrein added three hits and four RBI’s, all coming in the final three innings.  Chillicothe scored 10 runs in the final three innings to put the Outlaws away.
Brett Sowers also chipped in two hits, two runs scored and three RBI’s.  Every Mudcat player collected a hit in the game and six of the nine scored runs.
Darian Sandford, Johnson, Sowers and Amrein, the Mudcats first four hitters, went a combined 11 for 21 at the plate.  They also scored 10 runs and drove in nine.  That is pretty good production from the top of the order.
Joplin helped the Mudcats out by committing four errors and scored their only run in the bottom of eighth on a RBI double by Skyler Rawlins when the game was no longer in doubt.
The win improved Chillicothe to 2-3 on the season while the Outlaws fell to 7-4.  The same two teams will battle Friday night at 7 o’clock in Joplin.