Waterloo returns home on Thursday for the start of a two-game series vs. Mankato

Box Score: http://northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=316873

By: Jared Shlensky

LA CROSSE, Wis.  – After falling 7-1 in game one of Wednesday’s day-night doubleheader, Waterloo dropped game two to the La Crosse, 7-1, at Copeland Park in the finale of the four-game series. Daniel Agramont took a no-hitter into the fifth inning in his second start of the year, but failed to complete the fifth after allowing five straight baserunners to reach in the frame.

After having to come-from-behind in the first three games of the series, Waterloo scored first in the finale with a run in the top of the third. Taylor Boyd led off the inning with a single through the left side before Zach Weatherford doubled to left, giving the Bucks runners on second and third. Tyler Curtis followed Weatherford with a deep sacrifice fly to right, bringing in Boyd from third for the first run of the night.

Griffin Conine ended Agramont’s no-hitter with a two-out line drive single just over the head of a leaping Boyd at second. Conine then stole second before moving to third on a wild pitch. After Gavin Johns walked, a throwing error by Agramont on a pickoff attempt to first scored Conine for the first La Crosse run of the game, and moved Johns up to second. Mason McCoy gave La Crosse their first lead of the night with an RBI single to center, bringing around Johns. After moving up to second on the throw home, McCoy stole second before scoring the third and final run of the inning on Justin Wylie’s RBI single.

La Crosse (16-14) added four more two-out runs in the sixth to go up by six. Jake Hirabayashi recorded the first of six straight hits with a single to right. Conine brought in Hirabayashi with an RBI double to left-center before Gavin Johns scored Conine with an RBI single to center. McCoy then doubled in Johns before Wylie brought in McCoy with an RBI single, putting La Crosse in front of Waterloo, 7-1.

Waterloo (19-10) cut the Loggers deficit to five with a two-out run in the eighth. Jake Hand drew a two-out walk before Robert Neustrom was hit in the hand. Brody Weiss then made it 7-2 with an RBI single to left, bringing around Hand for the final run of the night.

Despite taking a no-hitter into the fifth, Agramont suffered the loss. The right-hander allowed three runs (two earned) over 4 2/3 innings, yielding four walks while striking out two.​

Tim Mulvey tossed two scoreless innings of relief in game two after working a perfect ninth inning in game one of Wednesday’s day-night doubleheader.

Andrew Perez (1-0) earned the win in his first start of the year. The southpaw allowed one run on four hits, walking three and striking out four. 

Waterloo returns home on Thursday vs. Mankato. Thursday’s game is a Thirsty Thursday. Get 20 oz. bottles of water, 24 oz. fountain soda, 12 oz. regular draft beer and small popcorn for just $2.00 each.

First pitch in the series opener vs. Mankato is at 7:05 p.m. RHP Steven Baker (0-1, 1.35) gets the ball for Waterloo while the Moondogs have yet to announce their starting pitcher.

All Waterloo Bucks games can be heard online at waterloobucks.com with Jared Shlensky.