Waterloo goes for its third straight win over the Honkers on Tuesday from Rochester, Minn.
Box Score: http://northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=316925
By: Jared Shlensky
WATERLOO, Iowa – After snapping a three-game losing streak earlier on Monday with a 3-2 win over Rochester in a game that was suspended at the start of the ninth inning back on June 14th, Waterloo took down Rochester again, 8-4, in the series opener. The two wins improves Waterloo’s record to 5-1 over Rochester in the SCHEELS Highway 63 Cup Standings and puts the Bucks two games behind St. Cloud for first place in the North Division.
Rochester (7-28) scored first with two runs in the first. Kyle Kasser drew a walk to begin the game before Turner Bias singled to left, giving the Honkers runners on first and second. Drew Ellis then reached on a groundout to third, however, a throwing error by Matt Morrow on the double play attempt sailed over Tyler Curtis at first, allowing Bias to go from first to third and move Ellis up to second. Casey Worden drove in the first run of the evening with a sacrifice fly to left, bringing in Ellis. Alex Fitchett made it a 2-0 game with a two-out RBI single down the right field line.
Waterloo (22-13) evened the game with two runs in the bottom of the first. Taylor Boyd singled back through the middle to start the inning. After Lane Milligan struck out looking, Curtis cut the Rochester lead in half with an RBI double to left-center. Adam McGinnis followed Curtis with an RBI double off the UNI sign in right-center, bringing around Curtis.
The Honkers regained the lead with a run in the second. Joey Czarske led off the inning with a triple off the fence in left-center before Jacob Thomas brought Czarske into score with a sacrifice fly to left.
The Bucks then took their first lead of the evening with two runs in the second. Brody Weiss reached on an infield single before Matt Morrow moved him to third with a single to right. Boyd then drew a walk to load the bases before Milligan put Waterloo in front, 4-3, with a two-run single to right, scoring both Weiss and Morrow.
Waterloo extended its lead to three with two more runs in the third. Robert Neustrom extended his season-high hitting streak to 10 games with a solo home run to right to begin the inning. Zach Weatherford followed Neustrom with a single to center before Alex Boxwell advanced Weatherford to second with a groundout to the left side. Weiss then reached on a Rochester fielding error, which also allowed Weatherford to score from second for the final run of the inning.
The Bucks tacked on two, two-out runs in the seventh. McGinnis singled to center with one out before swiping second. Two batters later, Weatherford plated McGinnis with an RBI single to center. Weatherford then stole second before stealing third, however, the throw from Thoreson sailed into left field, allowing Weatherford to score on the play.
Rochester scored the final run of the game in the ninth. Thoreseon doubled off the right field fence on the second pitch he saw before moving up to third on a wild pitch. Thomas made it 8-4 with an RBI groundout to the left side, his second RBI of the game.
Jordan Accetta (4-1) earned the win, yielding three runs (one earned) on eight hits in a season-high 6 1/3 innings, striking out a pair and walking one. Hunter Spencer (4) earned a hold in his second straight relief appearance. Spencer retired all five batters he faced, two via the strikeout.
Jason Foster secured the win in the ninth inning. The right-hander allowed one run on one hit in his home debut.
Alex Fagalde (0-1) suffered his first loss of the year in his second start. Fagalde allowed a season-high six runs (five earned) on nine hits, striking out six and walking one over five innings.
The Bucks and Honkers conclude their two-game series on Tuesday night in Rochester, Minn. First pitch in the series finale is at 7:05 p.m. LHP Patrick Boyle (2-1, 4.94) gets the ball for Waterloo while Rochester counters with RHP Isaac Friesen (0-3, 5.62).
Waterloo returns home to Riverfront Stadium on Sunday, July 10th, for the start of a two-game series vs. the Eau Claire Express. First pitch in the series opener on Sunday is at 3:35 p.m.
Sunday’s game is another Kids Eat Free game and a Kids Candy Hunt. Kids 12 and under receive a hot dog, soda and popcorn for free. After the game, kids 12 and under are encouraged to stay for the Kids Candy Hunt. Candy will be spread throughout the infield grass for kids to pick up.
All Waterloo Bucks games can be heard online at waterloobucks.com with Jared Shlensky.