In a long overdue progression to the mean, the Honkers’ offense exploded on Wednesday night. The game lasted over four hours and saw a combined 29 runs scored.
The team had hit .198 with runners on base and 3/16 with the bases loaded entering Wednesday’s game. Typically, these “clutch” stats tend to balance themselves out.
Rochester got off to a hot start by blitzing Evan Esch out of the gate. They scored four runs in the first, then two more in the second. They held a comfortable 9-3 lead entering the bottom of the third, however the Express began chipping away.
In the seventh, the Honkers held a 12-8 lead. But they surrendered a run and loaded the bases. Brigs Richartz took Gabriel Aragon deep to turn the game upside down and put Eau Claire in front 13-12.
However, Rochester’s offense was clicking on all cylinders and had the response. Luca Dipalo hit the first triple of the Honkers’ season to lead off the eighth and Mattie Thomas drove him in with a sac fly.
Three hitters, Noah Rodriguez delivered the eventual death blow, sending a line drive down the left field line, scoring two.
Cam Cunnings gave manager Cade Peters’ squad 1.2 nearly perfect innings of work, striking out four and slamming the door on Eau Claire.
The Honkers improve to 2-7 with this win and send the Express to 4-5. The two will play game two tomorrow at Mayo Field.
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.
