Rochester, MN – The St. Cloud Rox (45-22) are back in first place in the second half North Division Standings tied with Mankato with 4 games remaining in the regular season. St. Cloud snuck past Rochester, 4-3, on Wednesday after another challenging ball game. The first round of the playoffs for the Rox is on Monday, August 15^th and it is yet to be determined if this will be a home game at Joe Faber Field. If St. Cloud wins the second half of the North Division, the team would host a first round playoff game.

Another test. Another close game. In the 8^th inning, with the score tied 3-3, Mason Mamarella (Kent State) tomahawked a ball on the ground that spring boarded high in the air on the infield in which he beat out for a base hit. Moments later, Mamarella took off for second base and then advanced to third on a throwing error by Rochester’s catcher. Brett Pope (Western Carolina) came up clutch with an RBI double down the left field line to score Mason. This proved to be the game-winning run. Pope finished the game with 3 hits, 2 RBI, and was on base 4 times.

Rox reliever Collin Strall (LSU) faced troubled waters in the bottom of the 8^th inning, but managed to swim back to shore. The righty absorbed a double and hit a batter. With one out and runners at second and third, Strall retired the next two batters he faced to end the inning unharmed. The All-Star also struck out the side in the bottom of the 9^th to close the deal and earn the victory. Strall earned the victory, not the save, because he entered the game, tied 3-3.

This game was tied, 1-1, after 4 innings. Brendan Illies (UNC) doubled down the left field line and that scored two runs. St. Cloud grabbed a 3-1 lead. Illies finished with two hits on the night.

Rox starting pitcher Dan Metzdorf (Boston College) maneuvered through 6 innings with just 3 hits and one run allowed. It is the 5^th straight start Metzdorf has lasted at least 6 innings on the mound.

Despite the victory, the Rox left a season high 16 runners on base and at least one in every inning except the 9^th frame. St. Cloud has stranded 50 runners on base in their last 4 games. On the bright side, the defense for the Rox was exceptional in the two-game series with zero errors.

The final two regular season home games for the Rox are Thursday and Friday of this week (August 11^th & 12^th). On Thursday, The Rox will celebrate Turn Back the Clock Night presented by Capital One by honoring the former minor league team with special throwback jerseys, and giving away Throwback Prints for the first 400 fans. On Friday, it will be fan appreciation night for the final regular season home game! Both of these games start at 7:05 p.m against the Madison Mallards. RHP Doug Van Dyke (University of Dubuque) will start for the Rox on the mound Thursday.

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 Brett Pope. Pope was on base 4 times with 3 hits and drove in the go-ahead game winning run in the 8^th inning.

BOX SCORE – http://northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=317220

 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