The Duluth Huskies(21-24) beat the Willmar Stingers(24-22) tonight by a score of 9-7. The Huskies offense and starting pitching was the key to the victory on the road.
Starting pitcher Gaylon Viney(2-3) pitched tremendously tonight as he only gave up two runs off of five hits and struck out six across 6.0 innings. Before today’s game, Viney had only faced Willmar’s offense one other time. In that outing, Viney only went 0.2 innings and gave up two earned runs. Tonight was a different story as he was mixing up his pitches and changing speeds incredibly well. Victor Santana(0-0) came in relief for Viney and gave up two earned runs off of two hits. When Santana came into the game the score was 9-2 in favor of the Huskies. Once Santana was replaced by Joe Gonrowski(1-2) in the ninth the score was 9-4. Gonrowski did not have his best performance tonight as he gave up three runs, two of them earned, off of two hits in 0.1 innings of work. Once Gonrowski gave up his third run of the game he was replaced by Northwoods League All-Star closer Kevin Folman(1-1). Folman would come in with a runner on first and a 9-7 lead. Folman proved yet again why he is an NWL All-Star and punched out the last two outs via strikeout to record his 10th save of the season.
The Huskies offense was hitting on all cylinders tonight as they went up against Northwoods League All-Star Polo Portela(5-2). Portela only went 5.0 innings and gave up seven runs, five of which were earned. Before today’s game, Portela had only given up one earned run in 38.1 innings pitched. The Huskies had a five run fourth inning and a four run sixth inning. Big offensive nights came from Augie Isaacson and Chase Strumpf. Isaacson ended the day going 3-4 with a stolen base and an RBI while Strumpf went 2-4 with an RBI single and a solo homer. Strumpf’s final line was 2-4 with two runs scored and two RBI.
Huskies travel to Rochester to take on the Honkers next. First pitched is scheduled for 7:05 pm.
