Waterloo allowed a season-high 16 runs on 20 hits on Wednesday night vs. St. Cloud.
Box Score: http://northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=316811
By: Jared Shlensky
ST. CLOUD, MINN. – Waterloo was swept for the first time this season after falling to St. Cloud, 16-7, on Wednesday night in the series finale at Joe Faber Field. The Bucks never led on the night and are now one game back of St. Cloud for first in the North Division following tonight’s loss.
Denis Karas drove in the first runs of the game with a two-run homer to left-center in the second inning. Two batters later, Brandon Benson extended the Rox’ lead to 3-0 with a two-out home run to left.
St. Cloud (15-6) extended their lead to nine with six runs in the third. Drew Freedman’s two-run single in the third made it 5-0 before Benson’s two-run double increased the Rox’ lead to 7-0. Ricky Ramirez drove in the final two runs of the frame with a two-run single to right.
Waterloo (14-7) cut the St. Cloud lead to six with three runs in the fourth. Taylor Boyd led off the inning with a double down the left field line before Lane Milligan drew a walk, giving the Bucks runners on first and second. Tyler Curtis then reached on one of four errors committed by St. Cloud shortstop Freedman to load the bases. Adam McGinnis got the Bucks on the board with an RBI single to center before Alex Boxwell made it 9-2 with an RBI single of his own. Zack Soria trimmed the Rox’ lead to 9-3 with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Curtis.
St. Cloud quickly countered with a six-run fifth to go back up 15-6. Mason Mamarella put the Rox in double-figures with an RBI single before Webb Bobo drew a bases-loaded walk to give St. Cloud an 11-6 lead. TJ Friedl put St. Cloud in front by seven with a two-run double, bringing around Karas and Freedman. Ramirez increased St. Cloud’s lead to nine with his second two-run single of the night.
Boxwell led off the sixth his third single of the night before Luke Stratman drew a walk, giving the Bucks runners on first and second. Z. Soria then loaded the bases with a single to center before Zach Weatherford drove in his first run with an RBI single to center.
Bradon Illies led off the seventh with a single before a single from Mamarella and a Karas flyout to right moved Illies to third. Freedman brought in Illies for the final St. Cloud run of the night with a two-out RBI infield single.
The Bucks added two more runs in the eighth but it wasn’t enough to avoid their second straight defeat. Milligan’s RBI fielder’s choice cut the St. Cloud lead to 16-6 before John Gonzalez made it 16-7 with an RBI single to right, scoring Weatherford. The RBI single for Gonzalez was also his first hit of the season.
Patrick Boyle (1-1) suffered the loss in his shortest outing of the season. Boyle went 2 1/3 innings, allowing eight runs on eight hits and three walks.
Austin Caspersen (2-1) earned the win with three innings in relief. The right-hander yielded one run on five hits and one walk while striking out four.
The Bucks resume their six-game road trip tomorrow night against the Willmar Stingers. First pitch in the series opener is at 7:05 p.m. RHP Brett Solano (1-1, 5.24) takes the mound for Waterloo while Willmar counters with RHP Corey Binger (1-2, 3.37).
Waterloo returns home to Riverfront Stadium on Monday, June 27th vs. La Crosse. Monday’s game is another Buck Night. 10 oz. draft beer, 12 oz. fountain soda, small popcorn and ice cream sandwiches are $1.00 while hot dogs are just $1.50. All Waterloo Bucks games can be heard online with Jared Shlensky on waterloobucks.com.