Photo captured by Dylan Engel (Mankato MoonDogs)
Written by Connor Wachtel
ROCHESTER, Minn. – The Mankato MoonDogs had their five-game winning streak snapped after a 9-5 loss to the Rochester Honkers, Saturday night at Mayo Field.
The MoonDogs now stand at 19-15 on the season following the loss while the Honkers are now 14-18 on the year.
Both sides took turns scoring runs over the course of the first six innings at Mayo Field, Saturday night. There were a total of six lead changes along the way. Rochester came out on top with a 7-5 advantage after six innings of play.
After the MoonDogs Merila scored once in the first and third inning with once answer in the second from the Honkers, Rochester scored two more times in the fourth inning to take a 3-2 lead. In the very next inning, Sean Ross (Indiana State) helped the MoonDogs take back the lead, 5-3, when he launched a three-run homer over the fence in left during the fifth inning. Ross’ team-leading fourth blast of the summer gave the MoonDogs their final lead of the contest after five innings of play.
The Honkers rallied late and piled on six unanswered runs to pick up the victory, including four runs in the sixth prior to another pair in the eighth. After the Honkers tied the game, 5-5, in the sixth, Alex Pimentel (Sacramento City) singled to left to score one run, which served as the eventual game-winning run in the 9-5 ballgame.
For the Honkers, Frank Craska (Lafayette) picked up the win after dealing three shutout innings in relief on the hill. He is now 2-1 on the season.
Simon Gregersen (Des Moines Area CC), now 3-4 on the season, came down with the loss after pitching an inning and two-thirds in relief of southpaw starter John Lundgren (North Alabama), who pitched the first four frames.
The MoonDogs will now spend three consecutive days idle in Mankato before heading to Eau Claire to open a new two-game series at Carson Park, Wednesday and Thursday.
-DOGS-
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’ 28th 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 280 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 (NYM), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist 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 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com. 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.
