Waterloo Bucks (4-1) right fielder Gabe Garcia went 5-for-6 with three runs scored and an RBI while righthander Harrison Durow earned the win as he fired 5.0 scoreless innings of two-hit, three walk baseball and struck out seven to power the Bucks to a 12-4 series-opening victory over the Minnesota Mud Puppies on Friday evening. The Bucks drew 14 walks and posted multi-run innings four times in the win.

With two away in the first, Garcia collected the first of his five base knocks followed by a walk issued to Max Jung-Goldberg (1-for-4, 2 BB, 2 R). A passed ball moved both into scoring position, then Cameron Repetti (2-for-3, 2 BB, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB) laced a single to right, plating the pair. Daniel Irisarri (1-for-3, BB, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI) promptly blasted a 2-1 offering over the left-center wall, his opposite-field two-run home run providing Waterloo with a 4-0 lead. Gabe Baldovino (1-for-2, 3 BB, R, 2B, RBI, 3 SB) then drew a four-pitch walk, stole second and third then scored on a wild pitch. The Bucks chased the Mud Puppies’ starter from the game after the first, seeing 47 pitches.

Garica continued the scoring in the second with a one-out single, went first-to-third on a Repetti base hit then scored on a wild pitch.

In the fourth, Repetti drew a walk with one retired and moved to third as Irisarri reached on an error. Baldovino rocketed an RBI double into right-center, followed by a Blaine Marchman (0-for-2, 2 BB, 2 RBI, SF) RBI groundout to score Irisarri.

The Bucks tacked on two more in the fifth, opened by Paul Steffensen (0-for-5, R) reaching on an error followed by back-to-back Garrett McGowan and Gabe Garcia singles, with the latter plating Steffensen. Jung-Goldberg bounced into a double play, but McGowan crossed home on the play to give Waterloo a 10-0 lead.

Garcia highlighted the Bucks’ scoring again in the seventh as he and Jung-Goldberg rapped back-to-back leadoff singles and Repetti drew a walk to load the bases. Tynan Shahidi (0-for-1, BB, RBI) pinch hit and drew a bases-loaded walk, then Marchman lifted a sacrifice fly to left.

Waterloo and Minnesota continue their series on Saturday evening at Riverfront Stadium with a 6:35 p.m. CST first pitch.