Waterloo returns home on Thursday for the start of a four-game homestand vs. Duluth

Game 1 Box Score: http://northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=366243

Game 2 Box Score: http://northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=317003

By: Jared Shlensky

ROCHESTER, Minn. – The Waterloo Bucks were swept for just the third time this season after falling to the Rochester Honkers, 7-5, in the resumption of July 5th’s suspended game before dropping a seven-inning contest 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one by a 6-2 final.

Trailing 6-2 in the fifth back on July 5th, Waterloo cut the deficit to one at one point on Wednesday but it wasn’t enough. Rochester took an early 1-0 lead with a run in the first. Alex Fitchett drew a five-pitch walk before stealing second. Two batters later, Casey Worden delivered a two-out RBI double down into the left field corner, bringing in Fitchett to score from second.

Waterloo (4-3, 26-16) took their first lead with two runs in the second. Alex Boxwell singled to center before Zach Weatherford belted a two-run home run to left-center. The homer for Weatherford was also his second of the season.

Rochester (2-5, 9-33) regained the lead with two runs in the third. Trevor Buis led off the inning with a single to left before Fitchett reached on a Waterloo fielding error. Drew Ellis then laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving both Buis and Fitchett into scoring position. Worden made it 3-2 with a two-run single to center, scoring both Buis and Fitchett.

Rochester extended its lead to 6-2 with three more runs in the fourth. Josh Davis led off the inning with a walk before Keaton Weisz moved him to second with a groundout to the left side. Buis was then intentionally walked, giving the Honkers runners on first and second. With two on and two out, Ellis increased the Honkers’ lead to four with a three-run home run to left-center. 

Waterloo cut the Rochester lead in half with two runs in the top of the sixth. Robert Neustrom pulled a double off the right-center fence before Adam McGinnis was hit in the side, giving the Bucks runners on first and second. Boxwell followed McGinnis with an infield single, however, the throw to first from Honkers catcher Jackson Thoresen sailed Worden at first, allowing both Neustrom and McGinnis to score.

Adam McGinnis trimmed the Rochester lead to 6-5 with a solo home run to center to begin the eighth. The home run for McGinnis was his team-leading seventh of the year and his league-leading 40th RBI.

Rochester went back up by two with a run in the bottom of the eighth. Davis drew a walk before Weisz reached on a fielder’s choice, however, a Waterloo throwing error allowed Davis to go up to third. Buis made it 7-5 with an RBI groundout to the left side, scoring Davis from third.

Patrick Boyle (2-2) went three innings for the Bucks, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks while hitting one batter and striking out four in the loss. Jonathan Buckley, Nate Spielvogel and Trevor Patterson each threw one scoreless inning in relief.

Waterloo (4-4, 26-17) took a 2-0 lead with a pair of home runs in the first two innings of game two. Boxwell belted a solo home run to left-center field in the first to make 1-0 before Jake Hand led off the second inning with a solo homer of his own to left-center.

Rochester (3-5, 10-33) tied the game with a pair of runs in the third. Jacob Thomas led off the frame with a single to left. Miles Lewis was then hit before Kyle Kasser singled to center. Buis cut the Waterloo lead in half on an RBI fielder’s choice, scoring Thomas. Two batters later, Ellis deadlocked the game with an RBI fielder’s choice, bringing in Kasser from third.

The Honkers took their first lead of the game with two runs in the fifth. Back-to-back singles from Kasser and Buis gave Rochester runners on the corners to begin the frame. A wild pitch from Derek Hendrixson scored Kasser from third to give Rochester their first lead of the night. Davis doubled the Honkers’ lead to 4-2 with a two-out RBI single to center, bringing around Buis.

Rochester extended their lead to four with two unearned runs in the sixth. Kasser singled to center with two outs before Buis reached on a Waterloo fielding error. Ryan Fitzpatrick was then hit to load the bases for Ellis. Ellis came through yet again for the Honkers with a two-run single to left, plating both Kasser and Buis,

Hunter Spencer (1-1) was charged with the loss in game two. The southpaw allowed two runs on two hits in 2/3 of an inning.

David Worrell (1-2) recorded the win with 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief. The right-hander allowed one hit and walked three while striking out two. Stevie Ledesma (1) secured the win with the five-out save. Ledesma yielded one hit and struck out two.

The Bucks return home on Thursday, July 14^th, for the start of a four-game homesatand against the Duluth Huskies. First pitch in the series opener is at 7:05 p.m. RHP Jordan Accetta (4-1, 3.23) gets the start for Waterloo while Duluth has yet to announce their starting pitcher.

Thursday’s game is a Thirsty Thursday and College Night. 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 cost just $2.00.

All Waterloo Bucks games can be heard online at waterloobucks.com with Jared Shlensky.