Matthew James’ (Illinois) first hit as a Buck sent the team ahead in the top of the 11th inning, but was not enough as Waterloo fell to the MoonDogs on a two-out, two-run homerun in the bottom half of the frame.
By: Matt Gruemmer, Waterloo Bucks
MANKATO, Minn. – Down to their last strike twice in the inning, the Mankato MoonDogs (11-11) walked-off with a two-run homerun in the bottom of the 11th inning to down the Waterloo Bucks, 4-3, (13-10) Wednesday night at Franklin Rogers Park. Matthew James (Illinois) lifted the Bucks ahead, 3-2, in the top of the 11th with a run-scoring single, his first hit of the season, down the line in left.
Trailing, 2-1, in the top of the ninth, Zach McKinstry (Central Michigan) tied the game for Waterloo with a leadoff homerun ball that hit the top of the fence in right-center field. Sean Trimble (2-1) (Long Beach St.) took the loss in extras, but was superb out of the bullpen, entering the game with two on in the bottom of the fifth. The game marked the fourth one-run finish between Mankato and Waterloo in the seven games the two clubs have played against each this season.
The Bucks drew first blood in the fourth when McKinstry plated Tyler Selesky (Florida Gulf Coast) with a single into centerfield. With three hits in the frame, Waterloo went up early, 1-0.
Mankato wasted no time in providing the equalizer, pushing one across in the bottom of the fourth. Brinn Bell (St. Ambrose) coaxed a two-out walk with the bases clear and was hit in on a deep double to left from Kevin Hall (North Alabama) in the next at-bat.
The MoonDogs took a 2-1 lead after scoring a run on two Waterloo errors in the fifth. Jack Flansburg (Cypress CC) reached base on a ground-ball error to first and later scored when Craig Nennig (Ohio St.) singled him in to third base.
Tyler Day (Stephen F. Austin) exited as the Waterloo starter in the fifth with two outs and runners on the corners. The right-hander allowed two runs, one earned, on five hits while walking two and striking out three in the no-decision start of 5 2/3 innings.
Trimble (2-1) entered out of the bullpen in the fifth and, after walking the first batter he faced, got out of a bases-loaded jam to preserve the deficit, 2-1. Allowing just one hit heading into the 11th, the reliever was a force on the mound, shutting down the MoonDogs for just two runs on three hits along with one walk and six strikeouts. Trimble’s only blemish was the two-out homerun on an 0-2 count to end the extra-inning affair.
Leading off the top of the ninth, McKinstry crushed his third homerun of the season to send the game into extras, 2-2. The long ball hit the top of the fence in right field before bouncing over for the game-tying hit.
Trading scoreless frames in the 10th, the Bucks tallied a run in the top of the 11th to take the lead, 3-2. James struck his first hit as a Buck with two-outs in the frame to plate Joseph Shepherd (Murray St. College) with a bloop single down the left field line. Shepherd pinch-ran for Mark Hernandez (Long Island) who opened the inning with a single to left-center field.
Down in the count, 0-2, Jack Flansburg (Cypress CC) recorded the two-out, two-run homer over the wall in right to capture the 4-3 victory for Mankato.
Waterloo closes the two-game series with Mankato Thursday at 7:05 p.m. CT. The meeting will mark the final regular-season matchup between the two clubs.
The Bucks return to Riverfront Stadium Friday to open a four-game home stand with a pair of games against both St. Cloud and Kalamazoo. Friday marks the Bark in the Ballpark promotion! Bring your pooch to the park! Dogs & their owners may purchase tickets at the gate for $10 with $5 of each sale being donated to the Cedar Bend Humane Society in Waterloo. Dogs & their owners are invited to participate in the Parade of Dogs around the warning track 30 minutes before the game!
The game is also a Flat Screen Friday where fans ages 18 and older can register to win one of three 32" flat screen TVs that will be given away each Friday home game.
Tickets are available at waterloobucks.com. You can also visit the Bucks Ticket Office at Riverfront Stadium or call 319-232-5633.
Bucks games are broadcast live on waterloobucks.com.
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The Waterloo Bucks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website. For more information, visit www.waterloobucks.com.
