Mankato, Minnesota—Trailing the St. Cloud Rox by a half game in the North Division Second Half standings; the Mankato MoonDogs hosted the Waterloo Bucks at Franklin Rogers Park in the first game of a seven game home stand.
The MoonDogs would eventually fall to the Bucks by a final score of 5-3, and are now a game and half behind the Rox who were able defeat Thunder Bay.
Each team would get two across in the first inning, the MoonDogs runs coming off a Jordan Washam bases loaded hit, and then there was nothing for four innings as pitching took over.
Dalton Lehnen got the start for Mankato, and lasted 5.0 innings on the bump, surrendering four runs, three earned, while striking out six.
Waterloo would break the deadlock in the sixth by scoring two, one of which came on a two-out strikeout that got past catcher Jake Roberts and allowed one Buck to cross the dish.
The Bucks would get one more unearned run in the eighth off of lefty Kenny Varnell, who gave the MoonDogs 3.0 innings out of the ‘pen, striking out one and giving up one hit.
Trailing by three heading into the ninth, Gavin Wehby would knock one over the right field wall for his first homerun of the season. It was not enough to spark the ‘Dogs offense, however, as Bucks pitcher Derek Hendrixson would retire the final three MoonDogs in short order, including two strikeouts.
Charlie Skantze would make his ‘Dogs debut in the ninth and would get both batters he faced out, striking out one.
The MoonDogs will be at home all week as we enter the final stretch of the season and could use all the support they can get, as fight for a North Division playoff spot. Tickets are available and can be picked up at the gates, in their office at 1221 Caledonia St., or online at www.mankatomoondogs.com
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The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23rd 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 150 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visitwww.mankatomoondogs.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store and set the MoonDogs as your favorite team.
The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The 22-year-old summer collegiate 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 150 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store.
