GAME 1:
MANKATO-Minn. The MoonDogs bats were hot on a sunny Tuesday afternoon at Franklin Rogers Park, posting nine runs off eighteen hits to beat the Rox 9-2 in game one of a home and home doubleheader.
After giving up a run in the top of the first inning, the MoonDogs were in control the rest of the afternoon, taking a lead 2-1 in the bottom of the third off a Peter Maris two RBI single to short center field. They added another run in the bottom of the fourth before a huge six-run fifth put the game out of reach for St. Cloud.
The fifth started with a lead-off single from MoonDogs second baseman Brett Synek. Maris followed with a sharp line drive triple down the right field line, scoring Synek. The hits kept coming for the MoonDogs in the fifth as Craig Lepre doubled to score Maris, Tanner Rockwell reached on a single and Brinn Bell and Ridge Smith followed with an RBI double and single respectively. Tyler Sullivan kept things rolling with a two RBI single to right center field to bring their total to six.
St. Cloud Rox starting pitcher Tim Faix didn’t have his strongest outing as he picked up the loss going 4.1 innings and giving up eight earned runs on thirteen hits, including two doubles, a triple, and a walk. MoonDogs starter Blake Battenfield got the win for his efforts, giving up one earned run off two hits and a home run over five complete innings pitched. Garrett Ring came on to pitch four innings of shutout ball in relief for Mankato, allowing zero runs on just one hit.
The MoonDogs will be back in action this evening in St. Cloud at Joe Faber field to try for the doubleheader sweep with first pitch at 7:05pm. Fans can listen to all MoonDogs games on AM1230 The Fan Mankato with the voice of the team Josh Horton. With this afternoon’s victory the MoonDogs maintain their second half division lead with a record of 5-2 while the Rox drop to 3-4.
GAME 2:
The Mankato MoonDogs cruised to a 9-2 victory over the St. Cloud Rox at Franklin Rogers Park on Tuesday afternoon, but the Rox prevailed in the nightcap with a 3-2 victory at Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud.
The MoonDogs jumped out to 1-0 lead when Brett Murray scored from second on a puzzling ground ball single to the right side that ricocheted off the first baseman’s glove and was then thrown away by the second baseman.
St. Cloud bounced back with a two-run single down the left field line by Harrison Wenson to give the Rox a 2-1 lead after four innings of play.Mankato struck back in the top of the seventh, tying the game at 2-2 on an RBI bloop single to left field by Craig Lepre.
Wenson broke the 2-2, beating outan infield single on a ground ball in the hole between shortstop and third that allowed Chris Paul to score from third.Tyler Peitzmier picked up the win in relief for the Rox, allowing just one run in 2 2/3 innings on the bump. Dalton Sawyer earned the save with a scoreless ninth.
Cord Cockrell pitched well, earning the no-decision, allowing two runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings of work. The right-hander struck out six and walked just one. Jacob Westerhouse pitched well, but was the victim of the ground ball single, suffereing his second loss of the season for the MoonDogs.
The MoonDogs and the Rox conclude a three-game series on Wednesday evening. First pitch from Joe Faber Field is slated for 7:05 p.m.
The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel.
###
