Every inning of Sunday’s game between the Minot Hot Tots and Rochester Honkers told a story. Even before the game began the plot was twisting. In the end though, the Hot Tots powered through to defeat the Honkers 6-4 and secure their first home sweep in nearly a year.
Starting on the bump for the Hot Tots was CJ Hanson. In his tenth start of the season, CJ was still in search of his first win. From the start, he pitched his way towards that elusive victory. A three-up, three-down first inning got Minot off to a fast start.
The Rochester defense also helped out Hanson a bit. Back-to-back errors to begin the home-half of the first inning scored a run for the Hot Tots. Hanson was back on the mound in the second inning, and despite giving up a single and hitting a batter to begin the frame, a double play helped to extinguish the Rochester rally.
From the second inning hit by pitch, Hanson would retire the next 14 batters in order. Cruising through six innings, more run support was on the way. In the third inning, Max Ortega doubled to right field and brought Robbie Demetree across home to make the score 2-0 Tots.
In the bottom of the fifth, Demetree would fly out to right field and Jacob Pearl decided not to tag up from second base. It seemed like a normal play, but as the Honkers tried to throw the ball back to the infield, it skipped all the way into left field and Pearl would decide to advance and even score on the play.
A more bizarre play was waiting around the corner. Van Coughlin, a defensive replacement for the Honkers in the half-inning prior, took the first pitch he saw from Hanson for a ride in the top of the sixth inning. The home run seemed to spark energy back into the Rochester dugout, but the Hot Tots decided to appeal the play. The Umpires ruled Coughlin missed first base, therefore negating the run and putting an out on the board. Furious, Honkers field manager Aaron Levin offered his opinions to the umpiring crew and was soon after ejected from the game.
Rochester would get on the board in the seventh inning. A leadoff walk to break the consecutive outs streak was brought around to score on a Miguel Cantu double to left center. The Honkers had just a bit of momentum down 3-1 at the seventh-inning stretch.
Hason was removed from a season-long seven inning start and replaced on the mound by Franco Moran. Moran would struggle, allowing three hits and giving up the lead entirely.
Minot was quick to comeback, down 4-3 in the bottom of the eighth. With two outs, the Tots got started. Ryan Castro doubled, Joe Mrowiec walked and Jonah Shields was hit by a pitch. That sequence loaded the bases for Zach Doyle, who would not see a strike in his at bat. The bases-loaded walk tied the game and a four-pitch walk to the next batter, Jacob Pearl, gave Minot the lead back. Another walk occurred with a new Honkers pitcher in the game, and the score went to 6-4 Minot.
Kevin Rahe pitched a scoreless ninth inning and the Hot Tots celebrated a Sky Dancer Casino Big Win as well as a series sweep. CJ Hanson was named SportClips MVP for his quality start. He also threw the SRT Fastest Pitch of 88 mph. The Hot Tots would draw five clutch Buffalo Wild Wings Walks in the win.
