By: Connor Wachtel
Rochester, Minn. — Five unanswered runs for the Rochester Honkers between the sixth and seventh innings guided them to a 7-3 win over the Mankato MoonDogs, Saturday.
In the early going, The MoonDogs and Honkers took turns scoring runs. Each side scored a run in the first and second innings. Michael Curialle put the Dogs on top first with a solo home run on the game’s second pitch. After two innings, it was 2-2 at Mayo Field.
After that, it was Rochester’s game to lose. The Honkers scored five consecutive runs and had their tear rounded out with a three-run home run via Pearce Howard in the seventh. Howard logged each of the Honkers’ four RBI in Saturday’s game.
The MoonDogs scored once in the ninth, but still dropped the first game of the weekend series, 7-3.
The Honkers finished the night with one more hit than the MoonDogs, 6-5. An advantage in the errors column went to the MoonDogs, who finished with a perfect zero miscues in the field. The Honkers had one error.
Garnering the win for Rochester was their reliever, Salvatore Ferro (1-2), who went four frames from the fifth through the eighth. He gave up one hit, walked a pair and struck out four. Jack Zalasky got his first save when he closed out the ninth.
MoonDogs starter, Jake McMahill (1-2), went five innings and allowed three earned runs but got the loss. The Honkers got hits off McMahill five times while he walked five and struck out one.
For tonight’s box score click HERE.
Tomorrow, the Mankato MoonDogs (13-19) are back at home to wrap things up with the Rochester Honkers (6-22). The weekend finale at Franklin Rogers Park in Mankato, Minn., will begin at 5:05 p.m.
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The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 26th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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, over 230 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and MLB All-Star Jordan Zimmermann (DET). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. 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.