Waterloo remains four games back of Willmar for the fourth and final playoff spot in the division following Wednesday’s win.
Box Score: http://northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=317222
By: Jared Shlensky
WATERLOO, Iowa – A season-high 17 runs and four hits apiece from Travon Benton and Robert Neustrom paced the Bucks to a 17-10 win over the Thunder Bay Border Cats in the series finale. Waterloo matched a franchise-high with 22 hits in the series sweep, the Bucks’ first in over a month.
Waterloo (12-21, 34-34) has now scored in the first inning in four consecutive games after bringing 11 to the plate and scoring six times in the bottom of the first. Alex Boxwell scored from third on a wild pitch for the first run of the game before Adam McGinnis extended the Bucks’ lead to three with a two-run single to right. A sacrifice fly from Luke Barry made it 4-0 before Brody Weiss increased the Waterloo lead to five with an RBI double to left. Benton brought home the final run of the inning with an RBI single to right-center.
Thunder Bay (13-20, 19-48) cut the Waterloo lead to six with two unearned runs in the top of the second. Bobby Honeyman brought home a pair with a two-out run single to center after a Waterloo fielding error kept the frame alive.
The Bucks put up eight runs in the bottom of the second to take a 14-2 lead. Neustrom’s two-run double scored the first two runs of the inning. Another Thunder Bay fielding error allowed Waterloo to score two more runs before Boxwell made it 11-2 with an RBI single. Zach Weatherford increased Waterloo’s lead to 13-2 with a two-run double before McGinnis scored the final run of the inning with an RBI fielder’s choice.
Waterloo tacked on an additional run in the fourth, increasing their lead to 15-2. Milligan singled to right to begin the inning, however, a fielding error on the play allowed Milligan to advance to third. Two batters later, Neustrom brought home Milligan with a sacrifice fly to right.
The Border Cats scored five runs in the fifth, trimming the Waterloo lead to 15-7. An RBI fielder’s choice by Gee Gingras scored the first run of the inning. Mitch Bigras brought home another run with an RBI single before a wild pitch from Steven Baker allowed Bigras to score. Ryan Sutterer’s two-out, two-run single to left completed the five-run inning.
Honeyman led off the seventh with his fourth single of the night before Jordan Gillerman gave Thunder Bay a pair of runners in scoring position with a double to left. Gingras recorded his second hit and his second and third RBIs of the evening with a two-run double down the left field line in the top of the seventh, making it a 15-9 contest.
Waterloo scored their final two runs in bottom of the seventh. Benton extended the Bucks’ lead to seven with an RBI triple down the left field line before Boxwell brought in Benton an RBI groundout to the left side. Thunder Bay recorded three straight two-out singles in the ninth and scored the final run of the night on Sutterer’s two-out RBI single to right.
Nate Spielvogel (2-3) earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief. Spielvogel faced the minimum in two innings and allowed just one hit on the night. Joey Burris (1-7) was charged with the loss. Burris allowed a season-high 14 runs (seven earned) on 15 hits and two walks in two innings
Waterloo begins its final regular-season road trip on Thursday in Minnesota vs. the Willmar Stingers. First pitch from Baker Field at Bill Taunton Stadium is at 7:05 p.m. RHP Kyle Leahy (1-1, 4.50) get the start for Waterloo in the series opener while Willmar has yet to announce its starter.
The Bucks return home Saturday, August 13, for the final regular-season series of the year vs. St. Cloud. First pitch in the series opener vs. the Rox is at 7:05 p.m. Saturday’s game is Minions Night, Reader Recognition Night and a Post-Game Fireworks Extravaganza. The first 500 fans to Riverfront Stadium on Saturday receive a free Minions Cap while all 1,000 minute readers will be honored with a Pre-Game Parade before the game.
The Bucks are also hosting a Youth Baseball Camp before Saturday’s game. The camp is open to children ages 17 and under and will begin at noon at renovated Riverfront Stadium. The cost to attend is $20 per person. Bucks players will run the camp. Individuals interested in attending the clinic may arrive at 11:45 a.m. on the day of the camp with the entry fee and a baseball glove. Each participant must fill out a Player Information Sheet/Waiver, which will be available on the day of the camp. For more information, contact the Bucks office at (319) 232-0500. Camp participants will receive a ticket to that night’s game.
