ROCHESTER- Minn. The Mankato MoonDogs started off their season with a 13-12 loss to the Rochester Honkers on Tuesday night at Mayo Field. Kenton Crews homered in the top of the first to give the MoonDogs a 2-0 lead. Then they batted around the order in the second, scoring five runs to take a 7-0 lead. It was the opposite of a pitcher's duel after that, with Rochester chipping away and eventually taking the lead back from Mankato in the bottom of the sixth 12-10.
A pair of bases loaded walks by the Honkers allowed the MoonDogs to tie the game in the eighth at twelve but the Rochester had the final say, scoring one more run in the bottom of the eighth, when Cam Adams singled off of Addison Reed to seal it. Zac Wiley drew a walk to start the top of the ninth but the MoonDogs were unable to advance him into scoring position, going down in order after Wiley's walk.
The MoonDogs starting pitcher Dariel Checo, who was recently coming off a good outing pitching in the NAIA college world series went 4.2 innings, allowing 10 hits, 9 runs (8 earned runs), and walking 2 while striking out six. The MoonDogs led by a run when Checo left the game having thrown 102 pitches. Austin Bollinger relieved Checo but was roughed up for 3 earned runs on 3 hits in just 1.0 innings of work. Addison Reed (0-1) took the loss for Mankato while Ryan Thompson (1-0), picked up the win for the Honkers, pitching a successful eighth and ninth inning against the MoonDogs hitters.
The MoonDogs will be back in action on Wednesday night for the second game in this home and home series against Rochester. First pitch at Franklin Rogers Park is 7:05pm. Ricky Digrugilliers (Minnseota State) is expected to make the start for the MoonDogs in the home opener. The home opener will also feature special guest and former Minnesota Twin Tom Brunansky, who will be on hand for the ceremonial first pitch and available for autographs before the game. The MoonDogs will finish their home opener with fireworks, presented by Wealth Enhancement Group.
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The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 23-year-old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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 170 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit [www.mankatomoondogs.com]or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the MoonDogs as your favorite team.
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The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The 23-year-old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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 170 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and two-time World Series Champion 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 or on Google Play.
