Anchors drop series finale to Bucks

July 14, 2013 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Alexandria Blue Anchors News Release


Waterloo, Iowa - The Alexandria Blue Anchors lost the deciding game of the series to the Waterloo Bucks Saturday night at Riverfront Stadium by a score of 11-3. The Anchors are now 6.5 games back of first in the second half with a 3-7 mark and 13-31 mark overall.

The Bucks were first on the board against Tyler Beck in the third. Jake Riffice doubled to start the frame and went to third on a sacrifice bunt my Pat MacKenzie. With the Anchors' infield drawn in, Connor McClain grounded a ball to second baseman Tyler Curtis and his throw home was not in time to catch Riffice and Waterloo led 1-0.

After Beck retired the first two batters in the fourth, an error by Keegan Dale opened the floodgates off the bat of David Kerian. Austin Pernell then hit an infield single and Riffice was hit by a pitch to load the bases. On a 2-2 pitch, MacKenzie doubled to center clearing the bases and increasing the Bucks' lead to 4-0. McClain then singled to right field to score MacKenzie, extending Waterloo's lead to 5-0.

In the top of the fifth, the Anchors got on the board against Landon Simpson. Ryan Blanchard singled with one out and went to third on a double to right by Kris Goodman. A groundout to second by Curtis brought home Blanchard helping Alexandria draw closer, 5-1.

Dale singled against Simpson to start the sixth and went to third on a double by Tim Cusick. After Albert Baur grounded out to the pitcher, Andrew Sohn singled to plate Dale and make the score 5-2 in the Bucks' favor.

Drasen Johnson entered in the seventh and the Blue Anchors drew even closer. Goodman hit a one-out single and stole second. After Curtis struck out, Georgie Salem walked. Dale grounded a ball between the legs of Chesny Young scoring Goodman and cutting Waterloo's lead to just 5-3.

The bottom of the eighth put the game out of reach for Alexandria as 11 batters came up to bat. After pitching two shutout innings, Mickie Kuening gave up three in the inning and Scott Sanderson came in and he gave up three runs as well. At the end of the frame, the Bucks led 11-3.

Taking the loss was Beck (1-5) going five innings and giving up five runs, one earned, on eight hits while striking out three batters. In 2.1 innings of relief, Keuning gave up four hits and three walks, with one strikeout, leading to three runs allowed. Finish the game was Sanderson who surrendered three runs on three hits and two free passes.

Minnesota Baseball Academy Player of the Game - Tyler Beck (P) - Though he took the loss, Beck pitched extremely well. The five innings by the Augsburg northpaw is his most in a start since he went six innings on June 25 against Willmar.

Notes: The one earned run allowed by Beck is the lowest earned runs allowed since he threw six shutout innings against Duluth on June 12...Eight hits allowed ties a season-high given up by Beck in a game this season...Goodman has hit safely in 11 of his past 12 games...The RBI for Sohn is his first since July 8...Cusick's bat is starting to heat up again as he has had a hit in all four of the games on the current five-game road trip...The Blue Anchors wrap up their road trip with a game at Mankato Sunday before returning home for four games...On the mound is Corey Fitzgerald (0-4, 7.01) to take on the MoonDogs.



Northwoods League Stories from July 14, 2013


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