Willmar, MN –  Ricky Ramirez put on a show against the Stingers on offense and defense. Ramirez threw out Willmar’s Greg Lambert who tried to run from first to third on a single. This ended the first inning. Then, in the second inning, the Rox All-Star made a diving catch in right field which also ended this frame. The Rox (28-13, 4-2) fell just short, 2-1, to the Stingers (23-21, 5-3) at Bill Taunton Stadium.

Ramirez (McNeese State) provided the only offensive spark and it came in the seventh inning. The right-fielder smashed a double off the centerfield wall with two outs and that scored Drew Freedman (Nova Southeastern). St. Cloud took a 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.

LHP Dan Metzdorf (Boston College) was solid on the mound as the St. Cloud starter. The southpaw lasted 6.2 innings, worked around 7 hits, and only surrendered one run which came towards the end of his outing. It was a bases loaded walk. Collin Strall (LSU) was summoned on out of the bullpen and allowed a solo home run in the eight inning and that proved to be the difference in the contest.Mark Skonieczny (Illinois) came of the bench as a pinch hitter and kick started the ninth with a lead off single. Ben DeLuzio (Florida State) was called upon as a pinch runner and advanced to second on a passed ball. St. Cloud had the tying run in scoring position, but fell just short.

St. Cloud returns to Joe Faber Field on Thursday, July 14^th to begin an action packed four-game homestand leading up to the All-Star break. First pitch on Thursday is at 7:05 p.m. CT against the Mankato MoonDogs and the Rox Solid Pregame Warmup starts at 6:35 p.m on 1390 AM The Fan. LHP Logan Salow (Kentucky) will make the start for the Rox. It is Rox Seat Cushion Giveaway presented by Medica. The first 300 fans 60 years & older will receive a seat cushion.

Single game tickets can be purchased 24 hours a day at www.stcloudrox.com, by calling (320) 240-9798 or by visiting the Rox ticket office located at the Municipal Athletic Complex.

The St. Cloud Times Player(s) of the Game is Ricky Ramirez. Ramirez made two spectacular defensive plays and drove in the Rox only run in the contest.

BOX SCORE – http://northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=317004

The St. Cloud Rox are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23rd season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 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, more than 150 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.stcloudrox.com