(7/26/06) Ryan Addison’s two-run single keyed a five-run third inning as part of his 3-for-5 night, and the Mankato MoonDogs toppled the first-place Duluth Huskies 8-3 before 1,489 fans at Franklin Rogers Park Wednesday night.

The Duluth Huskies have lost just twice in the second half of the season, and both times, those losses have come at the hands of the MoonDogs. The win brought the MoonDogs within three games of Duluth for the North Division lead.

Before an enthusiastic crowd at "The Frank" for Tribute To Dukes Of Hazzard Night, it was the Huskies who sped out to an early lead. Nick Sullivan’s home run in the second inning put the Huskies on top, but the lead would be short-lived.

Brandon Davis led off the third inning with a towering drive to left field that barely got over the wall to tie the score. Duluth starter Steven Hensley then had problems finding the strike zone, walking Chris Henault, Tim Smith and Robert Rodebaugh around a fielder’s choice. With the bases loaded, Addison’s single up the middle scored two. Nate Hanson, who entered the game hitting .430 over his last nine games, then drove a double into the left-center field gap to score two more, and the MoonDogs had a 5-1 lead.

Tyson Brummett was the beneficiary of the run support on a night where he, too, did not have his best stuff. In six innings, Brummett (3-3) allowed seven hits, walked four and hit a batter, but left with a 5-3 lead.

The MoonDogs extended the lead in the seventh, and again, it was Addison sparking the rally. Addison led off with a single, and moved to third on an error following a bunt by Hanson. Adam Kampsen followed with an RBI single, and Hanson scored on the Huskies’ second error of the inning. Michael Parker lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to complete the scoring.

Pat Cassa entered the game with the bases loaded in the seventh, and struck out Sullivan and Spencer Ingaldson to get out of the jam. He finished with five strikeouts in 2.2 innings to earn his first save of the season.