Rochester rallies for four runs in the final four innings to level the season series.
Duluth, Minn. – After two days off, the Huskies couldn’t shake off the rust.
The Duluth Huskies dropped their fourth game of the season at Wade Stadium on Wednesday night, losing 6-2 to the Rochester Honkers in an East versus West matchup in the Great Plains Division. It was a game with action far and few, with the sides mustering a combined 12 hits, with scoring only coming in four of the 18 half innings.
The Huskies started Omaha product Harrison Kreiling for the fifth time this season. Kreiling, despite walking a season-worst eight batters, manufactured his third win of the season in Duluth’s 9-1 thrashing at La Crosse.
After a pair of strikeouts by Kreiling, a timely two-out hit put Rochester ahead. Alex Pimentel drilled a two-out triple into the gap in right center field, scoring a pair of Honkers. It was the first time the Huskies trailed first in four games.
The Huskies had early chances to take the lead, but couldn’t pull through against Rochester (13-16) starter Nathan Hansen. Duluth left JD Rogers at third base in the first inning, then stranded Hudson Sapp on second base in the second inning.
The Huskies (15-13) left three runners in scoring position in the first three innings, but made no mistakes in the fourth. The Huskies would score a pair of runs on back-to-back pitches, with Sapp drilling an RBI double to half the deficit, then Bobby Blandford recording his sixth RBI of the season to knot the game at two.
Kreiling worked his way out of trouble again to close his outing. The Omaha product recorded his season-high ninth strikeout of the game to leave the bases loaded in the fifth. Kreiling finished his fifth start throwing four shutout innings, giving up two runs on two hits.
Rochester struck back in the fifth inning, adding a pair of runs to take a 4-2 lead. The Honkers earned their lead back on a bases-loaded double play, then recorded another two-out base knock on a Theo Hardy single up the middle. Both runs against southpaw reliever Isaac Rohde.
Manny Casillas entered for the Huskies, and after two pitches, he surrendered his first run of the season. First baseman Michael Brown launched a solo shot over the right field wall for his first home run of the season.
Rochester would get another run across off of Casillas. Tyler White singled up the middle, stole second, and then scored on a throwing error to make it 6-2 Rochester. The Huskies committed three errors on Wednesday night.
Rochester starter Nathan Hansen earned a debut win, going to 1-0 on the season. Isaac Rohde was given the loss for Duluth, dropping to 0-1.
The Huskies will end their home schedule in the first half tomorrow for game two against the Honkers. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 P.M.
