(6/17/06) The Mankato MoonDogs saw the best and worst of its pitching staff in Saturday night’s doubleheader, losing 14-0 to the Alexandria Beetles in the first game, then winning the second 1-0.

Dan Klous (2-0), whose 0.56 ERA entering Saturday’s game ranked sixth in the Northwoods League, lowered it even further by throwing a complete game, one-hit shutout. The league’s leading hitter, Caleb Curry, led off the game with a single to right for the Beetles’ lone hit. Curry was erased on a double play, and only Klous hitting Jeff Tezak with a pitch in the fourth inning prevented Klous from facing the minimum number of batters in the game.

The MoonDogs scored just one run in the two games, but it was enough to salvage a split. Chris Brown led off the fifth inning of the nightcap with a walk, and pinch-runner Bobby Verbick moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Chris Henault singled to put runners on the corners, and Chris Rodriguez – returning to the lineup from an injured back – singled up the middle to score Verbick.

In the first game, Fabian Gomez had a difficult MoonDogs debut, going 3.1 innings and allowing eight hits and six runs, two of which were unearned. Another MoonDog making his season debut, Tom Porter relieved Gomez in the fourth inning and could record just one out, walking three. Jason Belk came in and gave up seven runs over 3.1 innings, including a home run to Derek Vanbuskirk.

Mike Metzger finished the first contest 4-for-4 for the Beetles in support of Drew Saberhagen, son of former Major Leaguer Bret Saberhagen, who pushed his consecutive scoreless innings streak to begin the season to 20.