ROCHESTER, Minn. — The Rochester Honkers dropped their 2026 season opener to the Eau Claire Express by a final score of 9-3 Wednesday night at Mayo Field. Free passes and a slow offensive start proved costly for Rochester throughout the evening.
Field Manager Jason Jácome handed the ball to veteran right-hander Jaylen Cream out of Cameron University for Opening Night. Cream battled through early trouble but struggled to settle into a rhythm on the mound.
After walking three consecutive batters in the first inning, Cream escaped further damage by striking out Anthony Martinez. However, Martinez responded later in the second inning with a two-run home run to left field after Eau Claire had already plated a run in the first on an RBI single, giving the Express an early 3-0 advantage. After adding another run following the 2 run homer in the 3rd and 1 run in the 4th, Eau Claire would jump out to a commanding 5-0 lead.
Eau Claire controlled the game behind a strong outing from starting pitcher Bryce Ehr. The UW-Stevens Point senior delivered an efficient performance, tossing 5.0 innings while striking out eight Honkers batters.
Ehr spoke after the game about what was working for him on the mound.
“The fastball was located, and then I dropped a few off-speed pitches in there when I needed to,” Ehr said.
The Honkers offense was held quiet until Jackson Gluek stepped to the plate in the fifth inning. Gluek launched Rochester’s first home run of the season deep over the right-field wall to put the Honkers on the board.
That would be the lone offensive highlight for Rochester. Cooper Kruk accounted for two of the Honkers’ three hits on the night, but a four-run eighth inning by Eau Claire put the game out of reach.
The Honkers will look to even the opening series against the Express Tonight at 6:35 p.m. 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. Now in its’ 32nd season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 24 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, 360 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 two-time World Series Champion Max Scherzer (TOR), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford and World Series Champion and Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live on FloSports. For more information, visit www.rochesterhonkers.com 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.
