The Minot Hot Tots scored first with back-to-back home runs in the second inning but would end up on the losing end of a Sunday afternoon affair against the Mankato MoonDogs.
Christian Stratis kicked off the scoring with a leadoff home run to left field in the second inning. Right after he went yard, teammate Charlie Kalbrener did the same. The Hot Tots raced out to a 2-0 lead and let starting pitcher Trent Harris go to work.
Harris started the game with a Hot Tot record seven strikeouts for the first seven outs. Despite some baserunning traffic, he held the MoonDogs scoreless through three. Mankato got on the board with a home run of their own to lead off the fourth inning from Miken Miller. The solo shot was the only damage done in that inning, but Mankato was back on the bats in the fifth against Harris.
With two out and a runner on, Collin Jennings launched his first home run of the summer to give the MoonDogs their first lead at 3-2. The homer took Harris out of the game after 4.2 IP.
Mankato kept pulling away against Minot relief pitching through the eighth inning. The MoonDogs picked up three runs in the seventh and one more in the eighth.
Minot wouldn’t start the comeback until the ninth. A hit by pitch and two walks loaded the bases for Noah Dreier, he grounded into a fielder’s choice and reached safely at first, scoring a run. The Hot Tots brought Christian Stratis to the plate as the tying run with the bases again loaded. Startis grounded into a game-ending double play, finishing the two-game series with two losses.
Minot will hit the road for two games in Duluth before returning to North Dakota for a game in Bismarck on Thursday.
Sunday’s SportClips MVP was Trent Harris who recorded nine strikeouts. Mankato closer Will Page-Allen hit 90 mph for the SRT Fastest Pitch. In the fifth inning, Trenton Lombardo threw out two attempting base stealers for the game’s First Command Plays of the Game. Minot drew four Buffalo Wild Wings Walks.
