Bismarck completed a two-game sweep over the Honkers on Wednesday.
Rochester fell behind early but responded in the second when Paul Schoenfeld and Dom Rodriguez started the third inning with back-to-back doubles. Rodriguez scored later in the inning, giving the Honkers the lead.
The Larks responded with two in their half of the third, but Rochester retook the lead on a Paul Schoenfeld RBI single. Rodriguez then doubled home two more.
Josiah Granados started and was phenomenal through five innings, giving up just three runs and striking out 11. However, he gave up the lead in the sixth, and Bismarck never looked back.
The Honkers will now head to Minot trailing first-place Duluth by two and a half games.
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.