By: Connor Wachtel
Mankato, Minn. — The Mankato MoonDogs celebrated Independence Day on Saturday night by going on their first road trip of the summer. As fireworks rained over Riverfront Park in Waterloo, Iowa, so did the offense…
It was a back and forth ball game early in Iowa on the 4th of July. Ultimately, the Waterloo Bucks won the ballgame 6-5, but both sides took turns putting up runs throughout the night.
The Bucks posted two and three-run innings in the fifth and sixth frames that served as the big difference makers in the outcome. The MoonDogs got a few back amidst the madness, but it wasn’t enough to fight off the Bucks. They ended the night with six runs and 11 hits to Mankato’s five on eight hits.
The Dogs were on the board first when Danny Borgstrom roped an RBI single to score Zach Gilles in the top half of the first. In response, the Bucks answered back in the second when Xane Washington roped a single to center to tie the game.
In the fourth, the Dogs reclaimed the lead with a solo home run from the MoonDogs veteran slugger, Tanner Craig. It gave the them a 3-2 advantage through four at Riverfront Park.
The scoring ramped up from the fifth on. The Bucks took their first lead from a pair of fifth inning runs. In the bottom half, MoonDogs third baseman, Jake Thompson, roped a double to score Evan Berkey that temporarily interrupted the Bucks scoring surge. However, the Bucks picked up where they left off with a trio in the sixth. It included a two-run home run from Oraj Anu that upped the deficit to 6-3.
From there, the Dogs kept it quietly offensive in the latter top halves, posting one run in the sixth, seventh and eighth frames. The consistent offense brought them within one of the Bucks by the end of the eighth.
In the ninth, the Dogs got a few runners on but were denied the tying run and dropped their second straight game of the season, again to the Bucks, 6-5.
Beau Balado, earned the win for the Bucks out of the pen. Balado worked a pair of innings, surrendered a pair of hits and a run. Zach Button pitched the final 1.2 innings and was awarded the save as he shutout the Dogs late, allowing only a hit, walking two and retiring three on strikes.
In his first start with Mankato since last summer, Shane Barringer returned to the lineup and went three innings on the hill. He was hit off five times, surrendered a run and struck out three batters along the way. Christian Johnson was handed the loss for his 1.2 innings of work. He allowed three hits, a pair of runs, walked four and struck out one.
For tonight’s box score click HERE.
The MoonDogs will be back in Mankato Sunday night to take on the Waterloo Bucks for the final game of the series. First pitch is set for 5:05 p.m. at Franklin Rogers Park.
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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.
