Three Solo Homers Power Chucks to Win over Bullfrogs
Wausau, WIS – The Wisconsin Woodchucks (1-1) hit three solo home runs, including two in a row in the third, to secure a 5-3 victory over the Green Bay Bullfrogs (1-1) at Athletic Park in Wausau on Wednesday.
The ‘Chucks struck first in the bottom of the first. Center fielder Andrew Smith reached on an infield single and promptly stole second. Andrew Kendrick brought him home with a double to left field, and Wisconsin took a 1-0 lead.
The lead was short-lived, however, as Green Bay bounced back in the top of the second as Kyle Benyo hit a two-run home run to left to give the Bullfrogs a 2-1 lead.
But the ‘Chucks answered back in a big way. Stevie Mangrum and Andrew Kendrick hit back-to-back jacks in the third to give Wisconsin a 3-2 advantage.
The lead lasted until the sixth, where Green Bay levelled the score on an RBI groundout. The idea of a tie score didn’t please Milton Rivera, who drew a walk in the bottom of the sixth and then got to work on the base-paths, stealing second and then third. Aaron Soucy brought him home with a double, and the ‘Chucks reestablished a lead.
Ivan Nunez saw Mangrum and Kendrick leave the park and decided to join the party, smacking a solo home run of his own to extend the lead to 5-3. The Bullfrogs got a runner to third base in the ninth, but Orsen Josephina struck out the final three batters he faced to seal the deal.
DJ Moreland had a strong start for the Woodchucks, allowing two runs over four innings while striking out eight. The bullpen was excellent, as four pitchers combined to strike out eight batters, with just one unearned run allowed between them. Tyler Garam picked up the win with two innings of relief, and Josephina tallied his first save of the campaign.
The Woodchucks are back in action tomorrow night in Rockford, Illinois for the first of a pair of games against the Rivets.
