Waterloo wraps up its two-game series on Thursday evening vs. Duluth

Box Score: http://northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=316936

By: Jared Shlensky

DULUTH, Minn. – Six runs in the first five innings and 6 2/3 shutout innings from Steven Baker paced the Bucks to a 6-2 win over Duluth to open the second half of the season. The win also gives Waterloo their third consecutive win.

Baker (1-1) struck out five and retired 11 in a row at one point in his first win of the season. Baker allowed just four hits and a walk in a season-high 6 2/3 innings.  

Waterloo (1-0, 23-13) put up a two-spot in the first to take an early lead. Lane Milligan led off the game with a double down into the right field corner before Taylor Boyd brought him in with an RBI single off the mitt of first baseman Justin Ambrosino into right field. Boyd then stole second and third before scoring on Adam McGinnis’s sacrifice fly to right.

The Bucks extended their lead to three with an unearned run in the second.  Alex Boxwell reached on the first of two errors by shortstop Liam Sabino to begin the inning. Brody Weiss followed Boxwell with a single to center, moving Boxwell up to third. Matt Morrow then reached on the second error of the inning by Sabino, allowing Boxwell to score from third.

Waterloo increased its lead to 5-0 with two more runs in the third. McGinnis pulled a double down the left field line to begin the inning before Neustrom moved McGinnis up to third with a groundout to the right side. Zach Weatherford was then hit on the elbow to give the Bucks runners on the corners.  McGinnis made it 4-0 after sliding in safely at home on a passed ball from catcher Matt Brown. Weiss brought in the final run of the frame with an RBI single to center, scoring Weatherford from second.

The Bucks went up 6-0 with an additional run in the fifth. McGinnis and Jake Hand drew back-to-back walks to give Waterloo runners on first and second. Alex Boxwell then singled through the right side to load the bases. Weiss followed Boxwell with a sacrifice fly to center, bringing in McGinnis from third.

Duluth (0-1, 18-19) got on the board in the eighth to avoid the shutout. Brown was hit in the foot before Brendan McClary drew a walk. Daniel Amaral then singled to right to load the bases. Reid Long cut the deficit to five with a sacrifice fly to center, bringing in Brown from third. After moving up to third on Long’s sacrifice fly, McClary scored the final run of the night on a wild pitch from Jason Foster.

Bryce Reichmann (2) recorded a hold in a 1/3 of an inning. Reichmann retired the only hitter he faced on four pitches.

Foster allowed two runs (one earned) on a hit and two walks in one inning. Trevor Patterson retired three of the four batters he faced in a scoreless ninth inning to secure the win.

Ryan Tapani (2-2) was charged with the loss. The right-hander allowed a season-high six runs (five earned) on six hits and a walk in 4 1/3 innings.

The Bucks continue their five-game road trip tomorrow in the finale of a two-game series against the Duluth Huskies. First pitch is the series finale is at 6:35 p.m. RHP Jared Crescentini (3-1, 3.12) starts for Waterloo while LHP Michael Bruhin (0-0, 0.00) makes his season debut.    

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. ​