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Published On: July 5th, 2019

Each Waterloo Bucks (21-17, 1-1) starter reached base in a 7-3 Fourth of July victory over the Rochester Honkers (19-18, 1-1). The Bucks’ win came in front of 2,411 fans, the largest attendance since July 4, 2016.

After Waterloo fell behind 1-0 in the first, Tony Jenkins (2-2, BB, 2 R, RBI, 2 SB) led off the home half with a single. The lightning-quick centerfielder stole second and third before scoring on an Alonzo Rubalcaba (1-4, 2B, RBI) double to center. Jenkins gave the Bucks a short-lived 2-1 lead with a sacrifice fly in the second, scoring Bryce Wooldridge (1-3, R, SAC).

Rochester threw up a two-spot in the fourth, chasing Bucks starter Luke Mattson from the game and taking a 3-2 advantage. Blake Wagenseller (0-2, BB, R) drew a walk to open Waterloo’s half, followed by a Trey Leonard (1-4, R) single. Wooldridge moved both men up with a sacrifice bunt, then Matt Campos (2-4, R, RBI) laced an RBI single to left. On the play, an errant Honkers throw allowed Leonard to score as well, putting the Bucks in front 4-3. Jenkins then singled, then a throwing error on a pickoff attempt allowed both runners to move ahead 90 feet. Bennett Hostetler (1-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI) brought in Campos on an RBI groundout, capping the scoring.

Mattson threw well in a no-decision during his Waterloo debut, allowing just two earned over 4.0 innings of work on six hits and a pair of walks while striking out three.

The Bucks added two more in the seventh as Jenkins walked and scored from first on a Hostetler RBI double. Patrick Ferguson (1-3, BB, RBI) singled, then a batter later Dylan Phillips (1-3, BB, RBI) lined a single to left, bringing home Hostetler.

In his first appearance as a Buck, Brandon Vial earned the win with 3.0 scoreless innings of one-hit, one-walk ball. Vial struck out two and racked up six whiffs on 40 pitches. Jimmy Smiley (1.0 ip, 2 H, K) and Phillips (1.0 ip, K) each tossed shutout frames to finish off the ballgame.

Waterloo heads to Rochester on Friday for a 7:05 p.m. first pitch on the Bucks Radio Network powered by 1650 The Fan.

Box Score