Blue Anchors Fall to Rochester 12-11

June 16, 2013 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Alexandria Blue Anchors News Release


Rochester, MN - The Alexandria Blue Anchors fell to the Rochester Honkers 12-11 Sunday afternoon at Mayo Field. The loss puts the drops the Blue Anchors to 4-13 on the season.

The Honkers grabbed an early first-inning lead against Blue Anchors' starter Colin Wendinger. Carter Burgess singled with one out and went to third on an errant pickoff attempt from Wendinger. Tyler Baker singled to bring home Burgess and give Rochester the 1-0 lead.

It didn't take long for Alexandria to respond in the top of the second. Albert Baur started the inning with a walk and one out later, Tim Cusick launched a two-run homer to give the Anchors a 2-1 advantage.

The lead increased in the top of the fourth off Rochester starter Jordan Milbrath. Baur singled to begin the inning and after Austin Listi was retired, Cusick launched an 0-1 offering over the fence for his second two-run bomb of the game. Ryan Blanchard followed with a walk, went to second on a balk and advanced to third on a fly ball by Andrew Mulato. On a full-count pitch from Milbrath, Aaron Overbeck blooped a single into right field scoring Blanchard, increasing the Anchors' lead to 5-1.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Honkers answered. Jeff Campbell led off the inning with a single and one out later, Reid Roper and Kevin Barker each collected a single. With the bases loaded, Tucker Tharp doubled down the left-field line to clear the bases and pull the Honkers within one. Tharp advanced to third on the throw and Burgess hit a double of his own to bring home Tharp and tie the score at five.

Alexandria regained the lead quickly in the top of the fifth. Gretz began the inning with a walk and went to second on a one-out single by Listi. Brandon Stennis entered in relief for Milbrath and Blanchard hit a two-out single scoring Gretz. With Mulato up at bat, a passed ball by Matt Halloran scored Listi and the Anchors led 7-5.

Rochester put up another crooked number in the bottom of the sixth. After entering in the fifth, Ty Walker allowed a single to Kevin Barker to start the inning and hit Tharp with a pitch. Burgess lifted a fly ball over the left field fence for a three-run homer to give the Honkers an 8-7 lead. After another hit by pitch to Baker, Walker was lifted for Zac Custer. The first batter Custer faced was Alex Greer and he hit the second Rochester homer of the inning to increase their lead to 10-7.

The Blue Anchors rallied in the seventh. Gretz singled in to center to begin the inning but was erased on a fielders choice by Baur. After Listi struck out, Cusick lined another ball over the fence for a two-run shot, his third home run of the day, bringing in Baur and closing the Honkers' lead to just one run.

Custer retired the first batter of the inning but allowed a single to Barker and he advanced to third on an error by center fielder Kris Goodman. Tharp drew a walk and Burgess was intentionally walked to load the bases. Taylor Simpson came in relief after Custer left due to injury and a single by Baker scored Tharp and Barker to increase the Honkers' lead to 12-9.

Alexandria had one last rally in the top of the eighth. Goodman walked with one out and went to third on a Sohn double. Another single by Gretz scored Goodman and one out later, Listi had an infield single to plate Sohn and cut Rochester's lead to 12-11. With Gretz the tying run on second and Listi the go-ahead run on second, Cusick grounded out to second base.

Wendinger finished the day with four innings pitched and five runs allowed on 10 hits, one walk and one punch out. Taking the loss was Walker (0-1) after going one inning allowing four runs on two hits, a walk and two hit batters. In 1.1 innings of relief Custer gave up two hits and two walks leading to three runs. Simpson struck out three batters and allowed one hit in 1.2 scoreless innings of relief.

Minnesota Baseball Academy Player of the Game - Tim Cusick (1B) - The big lefty from Dakota Wesleyan had a career game. He hit three home runs and knocked in six while scoring three runs. It is the first three-homer game in Blue Anchor history. In the past two games, Cusick is batting .400 with four home runs and seven RBI.

Notes: With one base hit, Baur is now working on an eight-game hitting streak...For the first time all season, the offense has put up double digit runs in back-to-back games...Every Anchors batter reached base by either hit or walk...Cusick now leads the team in home runs with five...This is the fourth loss of the season by one run...The Blue Anchors look to even the series with the Honkers Monday at Mayo Field...Cameron Mingo (1-1, 2.45) is the probable starter and the game can be seen live, starting at 1:05 p.m., on www.youtube.com/user/NorthwoodsLeague.



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