By: Connor Wachtel

Mankato, Minn. — A seven-run seventh helped the Mankato MoonDogs comfortably salvage a split with the Rochester Honkers, 11-1, Sunday afternoon.

The sixth inning saw Mankato score seven times on three hits while they received help from six free passes. That was the driving factor in the MoonDogs securing their 14th win of the summer.

 

 

The Honkers and MoonDogs traded runs in the fourth. Rochester scored first on a fielder’s choice. Jake Thompson tied the game for Mankato in response. His single down the left field line scored Evan Berkey and made it 1-1.

In the sixth, Michael Curialle blooped a single to score Zach Gilles with the bases loaded. After the Honkers made a move to the pen, Adam LaRock, Tanner Craig and Drew Stahl drew back-to-back-to-back bases-loaded walks to add another trio of runs. At that point, the MoonDogs had fully batted around and Gilles found himself batting a second time. The MoonDogs’ center fielder was hit by a pitch a second time in the same frame and added another run to the onslaught. Dylan Phillips batted next and slapped a two-RBI single. The seven-run inning came to a close with the MoonDogs holding an 8-1 lead through six innings.

Phillips put some more salt in the wound of the Honkers with a three-run home run in the eighth to make it 11-1. Phillips finished Sunday with five RBI in his 3-for-5 showing.

 

 

The box score featured nine hits for the MoonDogs and six for the visiting Honkers. Both sides finished with an error.

 

 

AJ Wood (1-1) got the win Sunday for the MoonDogs. Wood came in for relief work in the sixth before the offense’s explosive bottom half. Wood was perfect in his one inning on the hill. Jarret Krzyzanowski was the MoonDogs starter on Sunday. In his final outing of the summer, Krzyzanowski went five innings, gave up three hits and a run. He also walked and struck out a trio of Honkers hitters.

 

 

Honkers’ starter, Larson Kindreich (1-1), had the loss in Sunday’s affair at The Frank. KindReich was efficient till the sixth where the MoonDogs scored four on the southpaw arm. He finished his day going 5.1 innings, allowing five hits and five runs (four earned). Despite the struggles, he struck out five and did not surrender a walk.

For tonight’s box score click HERE.

Tomorrow, the Mankato MoonDogs (14-19) are back at The Frank to play host to the St. Cloud Rox (19-11). The two-day series begins with a 6:35 p.m. first pitch, Monday.

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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’ 26^th 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.