St. Cloud, Minn. – A late rally from the St. Cloud Rox came up just short on Sunday at the Rock Pile, as the Rox (6-4, 30-15) fell to the Rochester Honkers (4-8, 12-35) by a final score of 6-4.

The Rox held the Honkers hitless until the fourth inning, but Rochester still managed to put the first two runs of the game on the board in the third. Rochester would jump out to a 6-0 lead after five innings.

The Rox would rally late, however, pushing four runs across in the seventh inning.  The inning started with Webb Bobo (Southeastern Lousiana) getting hit by a pitch and Brandon Benson (Georgia College and State University) walking to put two on with no outs. After a sacrifice bunt from Marcus Carson (Kentucky) put the runners on second and third, Mason Mamarella hit a ball to third that was misplayed and brought home the first Rox run of the game.

All-Star Ricky Ramirez (McNeese State) followed with a double that brought home two runs, including Mamarella who came around to score from first. Michael Strem (Boston College) continued his hot streak, singling home Ramirez to raise his RBI total to 11 in the last three games.

The Rox pitching staff did not allow a run the last four innings. Bobby Gauvreau (Minnesota State, Mankato) started this stretch, throwing three innings and striking out two batters. Robbie Palkert (Nebraska) and Brian Glowicki (Minnesota) followed with a pair of single inning, one hit outings.

St. Cloud could not manage to get the tying run to the plate in the final two innings and fell two runs short.

The Rox will now head into the three-day Northwoods League All-Star break. The Rox lead the Northwoods League with seven selections to the All-Star team, and will have six players represented at the game. Ramirez will also participate in the Home Run Derby at the Harbor.

After the break the Rox will return to the Rock Pile on Thursday, July 21^st for a double-header against the Eau Claire Express. The first of the two games will be a continuation of the game that was postponed on July 7^th and will start in the bottom of the third inning, where the postponed game left off. Following a 30-minute break, a seven-inning game will be played.

Back by popular demand, Dueces Wild! Dueling Pianos presented by Bernick’s will be at the games on the 21^st, providing fans with entertainment throughout the game.

Tonight’s St. Cloud Times Player of the Game was Ricky Ramirez for his RBI double. For more coverage of the Rox during the 2016 season visit www.sctimes.com.

For more stats and information about the game, here is the boxscore.

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 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 or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store and on Google Play.