(Mankato, MN) – MoonDogs right fielder James Keithley reached base four times, but it was his legs that helped the MoonDogs (9-11, 26-28) steal one from Rochester Honkers ace Greg Martin (7-2) as Keithley produced three steals that led to all three MoonDog runs in a 3-1 victory over the Honkers (7-13, 25-29) Monday night in Mankato. MoonDogs starter Garett Claypool (1-0) pitched a gem, going 6 1/3 shutout innings and striking out nine Honker batters. Claypool allowed just three hits from a potent Rochester lineup.
Keithley finished the night 2-for-2 while stealing his sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth bases of the season. First baseman Adam Abraham drove a run-scoring double down the right field line in the fourth inning to get the MoonDogs on the board. Third baseman Nate Hanson and shortstop Sean Nicol each drove in a run for the MoonDogs.
After Claypool’s solid start, relievers Alan Oaks and Josh Castanza combined to finish off the seventh inning for Claypool without allowing a run. Adam Abraham gave up just his second run in seventeen innings, allowing a home run in the eighth inning. Chad Dawson struck out two in the ninth inning to record his thirteenth save of the season, tying the club record set by Neil Wagner for saves in a season.
The Honkers had a hard time solving the MoonDogs pitching staff, but third baseman David Flores managed to break out in the top of the eighth inning, homering to left field to take away the MoonDogs shutout. Honker center fielder Drew Hoisington recorded two of the four Honker hits. Honkers ace Greg Martin, who came into the game tied for the league lead in wins, went 7 1/3 innings giving up three runs, two earned, on four hits while striking out eight. Reliever Reed Woytek finished off the bottom of the eighth for Martin, getting the final two outs of the inning.
The MoonDogs travel to Rochester tomorrow night to finish off the home-and-away series. They will return home on Friday to face Thunder Bay on Team Poster Night presented by The Occasions Group and theFrontDoor.com. Game time Friday night is set for 7:05 pm.
