The Mankato MoonDogs dropped the series opener of a home and home series with the Rochester Honkers by a score of 9-2 Tuesday afternoon at Mayo Field in Rochester.

The MoonDogs jumped out to a 2-0 lead on an RBI double by Brett Synek and a long solo blast by Derek Umphres.

However, those two runs would be the only runs the MoonDogs could muster in Tuesday’s loss, as Matt Kane tossed a complete game, allowing just two unearned runs for the Honkers.

Reid Roper had a big day offensively for the Honkers, driving in four runs.

Cord Cockrell suffered the loss for the MoonDogs, falling to 3-3 on the season.

With the loss the MoonDogs fell to 8-6 in the second half while the Honkers improved to 6-8.

The MoonDogs return home to conclude the home and home with Rochester on Wednesday evening at 7:05 p.m. at Franklin Rogers Park.

The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st 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 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel.

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