(7/31/06) Jake Shafer threw a four-hit shutout for the St. Cloud River Bats, who scored four times in the first inning en route to a 5-0 win over the Mankato MoonDogs on Monday night.

The win snapped the MoonDogs’ four-game winning streak against the River Bats, and was the MoonDogs’ second home loss in a row after a stretch of nine wins in 10 games at Franklin Rogers Park.

The only serious threat the MoonDogs posted all night came in the third inning, when they loaded the bases with one out on two singles and a hit batter. Chris Henault scorched a ball to left field, right at left fielder John Caddell, and not deep enough to score Brandon Davis from third. Ryan Addison then fouled out behind the plate to end the threat.

St. Cloud jumped on top in the first inning when Mankato starter Pat Cassa walked four batters, including three in a row and three with the bases loaded. Upset with what he perceived to be a tight strike zone, Cassa (2-1) was ejected from the game in the second inning, but not before the damage was done.

Kevin Camacho, who had similar problems with the strike zone in his only other appearance of the season on July 22, also against St. Cloud, came on to pitch the final 7.1 innings. Camacho allowed nine hits but just one run while striking out two.

The top of the River Bats lineup created problems for the MoonDogs all night, as Bryan Cartie and Ryan Curry each contributed three hits to St. Cloud’s 12-hit attack. Cartie’s double to left led off the game and the River Bats’ four-run inning, while Curry remained St. Cloud’s hottest hitter against the MoonDogs this season, upping his average to .405 in nine games.

James Keithley led the way offensively for the MoonDogs, going 2-for-2 with a walk.