WILLMAR, Minn. — The Stingers pitching staff had one of its better outings of the summer on Monday night, but it wasn't enough in a 2-1 loss to Mankato at Bill Taunton Stadium.
Willmar (6-8) was coming off a 13-inning win against the MoonDogs on Sunday night and had won four straight in the series, but managed the lone run on eight hits in a game that was scoreless after the fourth inning.
Jonny Ortiz (Nova Southeastern) made his first start of the summer, and was solid for the Stingers. The only blemish of the night for Ortiz was a lead-off home run in the top of the first inning that gave Mankato (9-5) the lead for good.
Outside of that home run, Ortiz put together a strong outing, going 5 2/3 innings and striking out five, while scattering five hits.
The only other run Ortiz allowed was an unearend tally in the fourth that proved to be the eventual game-winning run for the MoonDogs.
After the MoonDogs increased their lead to 2-0 after the top of the fourth, Willmar struck right back to get within a run. With one out in the inning, Devin Foyle (Kansas) singled to right field, and Luke Becker (Kentucky) followed that with a single of his own. That paved the way for Eddie Estrada (Minnesota), who drove in Foyle with the second of his three hits on the night.
That was it for the offense for the rest of the night, as both pitching staffs settled in. Kiko Garcia (Pepperdine) came out of relief for the Stingers with a strong first outing of the summer, as well. He went 3 1/3 and allowed just two men to reach base, while striking out three.
The Stingers continue the brief two-game homestand on Tuesday with another matchup against the MoonDogs. Tuesday night is Veteran's Night at the Beehive, as nine veterans will be recognized, a night that will also feature postgame fireworks.
Tonight’s Center for Diagnostic Imaging player of the game was Eddie Estrada. CDI is your local medical imaging provider. It’s your choice where you go for medical imaging, for MRI, CT, mammograms and pain injections, choose CDI. Visit online at myCDI.com/CentralMN.
The 2016 season is presented by Marcus Construction. For more coverage of the Stingers visit the West Central Tribune online at www.wctrib.com.
