Hit Parade Continues, MoonDogs Win Again (7/20/05)

Playing for a share of first place in the North Division, the MoonDogs continued their 6-game series with Thunder Bay with their second win in as many nights in Thunder Bay. Powered by 14 hits, with six for extra bases, the MoonDogs took Wednesday night’s contest by a score of 5-4.

With what appeared to be an ominous start to the game, the MoonDogs fell behind early in the 1st, when the Border Cats loaded the bases with no one out. After an infield fly, and a walk, which pushed across the first run of the game, the bases were still loaded with only 1 out. MoonDogs starter, Cameron Young, regained his composure striking out the next batter and then induced an inning-ending ground ball to escape the inning down only one run.

The Border Cats scored twice more in the third before the MoonDogs answered with a pair of manufactured runs in the fourth. Then in the fifth, after a Shane Buschini double, Alberto Cruz crushed his third homerun of the season, and gave the ‘Dogs a 4-3 lead.

That lead held until the bottom of the seventh when the Border Cats answered with a long-ball of their own to tie the score at 4-4, but it wouldn’t stay that way for long. Leading off the 8th, Michael Jenkins launched a bomb of his own, which would eventually be the game winner, pushing the MoonDogs ahead 5-4.

Looking for a little insurance in the 8th, Buschini smashed what appeared to be his league leading 9th homerun of the season. As he was rounding the bases, he was called out by the home plate umpire for apparently stepping out of the batter’s box with his back foot when he swung. With the umpire pointing to a foot print behind the box, Buschini promptly returned to the plate to demonstrate how his back foot left the box only after he hit the ball, but it was to no avail.

With the game on the line, the MoonDogs looked to All-Star closer Neil Wagner to slam the door in the ninth. Leading off the inning with a hit batsman, Wagner didn’t allow another batter to reach and ended the game with a strikeout, a win and a share of first place in the North Division.

Eight different MoonDogs collected hits in the game, with six having multi-hit games Jenkins led the charge going 2-4, with an RBI and two runs scored.

With 6 games remaining on this the longest road-trip of the year for the Dogs, they continue their series in Thunder Bay tonight and look to gain the outright lead in the North Division. Click on the "Listen Live” link to hear all the action from Port Arthur Stadium starting at 6:05 p.m. For tickets or information about upcoming games call the MoonDogs Ticket Office at 507-625-7047.