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Eau Claire only manages four hits in return home to Carson Park
Coming home after a 6-game road trip shouldn’t be that tough of a pill to swallow but that’s exactly what it was on Sunday at Carson Park for Eau Claire Express Field Manager Dale Varsho and his team.
The Express gave up 5 runs in the first two innings and could never catch up to the Waterloo Bucks as they fell tonight 9-2.
“It’s tough to win any ball games when we’re constantly playing from behind,” said Varsho. “We haven’t played well the last few games so we need to try and figure out what it’s going to take to at least play good baseball.”
Brody Rodning got the start for the Express and went 5 innings but gave up 7 runs, 5 of them earned, on 7 hits and one walk. After recording two quick outs in the first inning he gave up back-to-back singles followed by a home run which put the Bucks up 3-0. Even though Rodning gets credited with the loss, Varsho isn’t hanging this one just on his pitcher.
“Brody pitched okay. He needs to figure out a pitch that gets more swings and misses,” said Varsho. “They put the ball in play and seem to put it where we’re not.”
The Express totaled just 4 hits. Centerfielder Brady Burzynski had two of them and second baseman Tyler Jones had the other two. Jones said that falling behind early set the tone for how they played the rest of the ball game.
“It really shouldn’t but I think it did tonight,” said Jones. “That shouldn’t happen in baseball but it does. We just try to beat it and get back tomorrow.”
Despite losing 3 in a row and falling to 4-9 on the season, Jones believes the Express are capable of putting runs on the board and winning more games.
“I think every guy in the lineup has shown what he can do,” said Jones. “It’s just a matter of everybody putting it together at the right time and having a complete lineup night in and night out.”
The Express return to action tomorrow they continue their 7-game home stand at Carson Park. Game 2 against the Waterloo Bucks is set for 6:35 p.m.
Left-hander Jeremy Mortensen will take the hill for the Express as he goes for his first win of the season.
Listen to all 72 Express games live on Mix 98.1 radio and online. Tomorrow’s game at Carson Park is sponsored by Highland Fitness where there will be a T-shirt and Water Bottle giveaway.
