Waterloo concludes its two-game series in Minnesota vs. St. Cloud in the series finale

Box Score: http://northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=317159

By: Jared Shlensky

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Waterloo matched a season-high with its fourth consecutive loss on Tuesday after falling to the St. Cloud Rox, 9-5, in the series opener from Joe Faeber Field. The Bucks managed just three base-runners through the first seven innings and have now been outscored, 33-11, during its losing streak.

St. Cloud (17-7, 41-18) jumped in front with an unearned run in the second. Angelo Altavilla led off the inning single to center before Brett Pop walked, giving the Rox runners on first and second. Two batters later, Drew Freedman reached on a dropped third strike. Marcus Carson brought home the first run with a two-out RBI infield single, scoring Altavilla from third.

The Rox doubled their lead with another two-out run in the third. A single from Mason Mamarella followed by an RBI double from Altavilla made it 2-0.

St. Cloud extended their lead to 7-0 with a five-run sixth. An RBI triple from Drew Freedman followed by an RBI single from Webb Bobo increased the Rox’ lead to 4-0 before Ricky Ramirez made it 5-0 with an RBI triple. A throwing error on Ramirez’s RBI triple scored the fourth run of the inning before Michael Strem’s RBI groundout scored Ramirez for the final run of the inning.

The Rox scored their final two runs in the seventh. Altavilla started the inning with a solo home run before the second RBI of the night for Freedman increased the lead to 9-0.

Waterloo (9-17, 31-30) scored all five of its runs in the eighth, cutting the St. Cloud lead to 9-5. Robert Neustrom started the inning with a single to right before Luke Barry was hit in back. Alex Boxwell then loaded the bases with a single to center before Kyle Crowl singled home Neustrom with an RBI single to right. Zach Weatherford brought home the second run of the game with a sacrifice fly to center. Zach Fricke then delivered a two-run double to right-center before scoring on a wild pitch for the final run of the evening.

Steven Baker (1-6) dropped his fifth straight loss, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits. The right-hander struck five and walked three in his third longest start.

Aaron Rozek (4-2) earned the win for St. Cloud. The southpaw tossed a season-high seven innings, yielding three runs on four, walking none and striking out five.

Waterloo concludes two-game road trip on Wednesday in Minnesota against St. Cloud. First pitch from Jon Faber Field in the series finale is at 7:05 p.m. with RHP Jared Crescentini (5-2, 3.86) opposing LHP Dan Metzdorf (3-1, 2.40).

The Bucks return home on Thursday for the start of a two-game homestand vs. the Eau Claire Express. Thursday’s game starts at 7:05 p.m. and is a Thirsty Thursday and College Night from Riverfront Stadium. College students receive a reserved seat ticket and two hot dogs for $7.00 while bottled water, 24 oz. fountain soda, 12 oz. draft beer and small popcorn just $2.00. All Waterloo Bucks games can be heard online at waterloobucks.com with Jared Shlensky.