Bucks fall in second longest game in Northwoods League History.

Box Score: http://northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=316751

By: Jared Shlensky

ROCHESTER, Minn. – After Tuesday’s game was suspended in the ninth​ inning due to the Northwoods League Curfew Rule, the Waterloo Bucks and the Rochester Honkers played a six hour, 10 minute contest that ended in the bottom of the 17th inning, with Waterloo falling to Rochester, 7-6, on a walk-off balk. The six hour, 10 minute game ranks second longest in Northwoods League History (by time) and longest in franchise history while the 17 innings ties the NWL Record for third longest (by inning).  

Mark Contreras started the bottom of the 17th with a one-out walk before advancing to third on Jackson Thoreson’s two-out single to left. With Jacob Thomas at the plate and a 0-2 count, Bucks reliever Andy Muehlberger (0-1) was called for a balk, allowing Contreras to score the game-winning run.

Muehlberger allowed one run on three hits in a season-high 2 2/3 innings of relief, striking out two and walking three.

Waterloo (11-4) brought a season-high 10 to the plate in the top of the first and scored all six of their runs in the frame. Alex Boxwell led off the game with a home run to right, putting Waterloo in front, 1-0. Zach Weatherford than reached on a Rochester fielding error before stealing second base. Robert Neustrom doubled the Bucks’ lead with an RBI double to left, bringing around Weatherford. Two batters later, Lane Milligan made it 3-0 with an RBI single before swiping second. Tyler Curtis then reached on an infield single, giving the Bucks runners on the corners. Brody Weiss followed Curtis with an infield single, scoring Milligan. After Curtis and Weiss moved into scoring position on a perfectly executed double steal, Perry drove them both in with a two-out, two-run single to right field.

Rochester (5-10) cut the Bucks’ lead to four courtesy of Contreras’s two-run home run in the bottom of the first. Chris Scalisi’s RBI single in the second made it a three-run game before a passed ball brought in Keaton Weisz, trimming Waterloo’s lead to 6-4.

Thoreson trimmed the Bucks’ lead to 6-5 with a leadoff home run in the third before hitting his second home run of the night to begin the fifth.

Hunter Spencer, Nate Spielvogel, Jonathan Buckley and Brandon Downey combined for 9 1/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen for Waterloo. Spencer yielded one hit and a walk over an inning while Spielvogel struck out two and retired four of the five hitters he faced in 1 1/3 innings. Buckley tossed five shutout frames in his season debut, allowing just one hit and three walks while striking out two. Downey extended his scoreless inning streak to 10 2/3 with two shutout innings of his own. Downey yielded two hits and a walk while striking out three.

Every Bucks starter reached base at least once while Weiss and Milligan each finished with three hits on the night.

Jared Crescentini earned a no-decision in his team-leading fourth start of the year. Crescentini allowed six runs (three earned) on eight hits over 4 2/3 innings, striking out three and walking a pair.

Hunter Van Horn (1-0) earned the win for Rochester. The southpaw retired two of the three hitters he faced in the top of the 17th.

The Bucks open a two-game road series in La Crosse, Wis., against the Loggers. First pitch from Copeland Park is at 7:05 p.m.  RHP Daniel Agramont (0-0, 0.00) makes his debut for Waterloo while La Crosse sends RHP Mark Nowaczewski (1-0, 1.92) to the mound in the series opener.   

Waterloo returns home to Riverfront Stadium on Saturday, June 18 for the start of a two-game homestand against the Thunder Bay Border Cats. Saturday’s game is at 7:05 p.m. and is Star Wars Night and a Post-Game Fireworks Extravaganza. The first 500 fans to Saturday’s game receive a free Star Wars T-Shirt! The Bucks will also be wearing special jerseys as part of Star Wars Night that will be sold during the game via a silent auction with the proceeds to benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley. Come dressed as your favorite Star Wars character as players from the 501st Central Garrison will be on hand for photos.