The Honkers came up just short of their third win of the year in Monday night’s 9-8 loss in Mankato.
Rochester erased a five-run deficit in the fifth, bringing ten hitters to the plate. Luca Dipaolo supplied the big blow with a two-RBI double that scored Augusto Mungarrieta and Dom Rodriguez. Dipalo went 2/4 on the night.
Rodriguez singled home another run in the sixth, extending the Honkers’ lead to 8-6. He ended up with three hits. Also of note, Mungarrieta went 4/5 out of the two spot.
However, the lead wouldn’t last and the Honkers gave up three runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Grant Garza entered for the save opportunity for Mankato. Rochester was able to load the bases with two outs, but Jared Lewis struck out to end the game.
The Honkers are now 2-12. They will be back in Waterloo on Tuesday night.
The Rochester Honkers 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. Entering its’ 31st season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 26 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 350 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 (TEX), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (STL) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2023 World Series Champion, 2021 and 2023 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com and on ESPN+. For more information, visit northwoodsleague.com/rochester-honkers or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Honkers as your favorite team.