Blue Anchors Walk off Winners against Rox

Published on July 27, 2013 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Alexandria Blue Anchors News Release


Alexandria, Minn. - The Alexandria Blue Anchors had to use some dramatics against the St. Cloud Rox to win 10-9 Friday night at Knute Nelson Memorial Park. The win gives Alexandria a 9-11 second-half record and makes them 19-35 overall.

The Blue Anchors scored early against Kyle Fischer in the bottom of the first. Keegan Dale and Andrew Sohn each drew one-out walks and a bloop base hit by Albert Baur scored Dale giving Alexandria a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the second, a grand swing gave the Anchors a big lead. Michael Barash drew a lead-off walk but was erased on a fielder's choice by Andrew Mulato. After Dalton Leuschke flew out to left, three straight walks to Georgie Salem, Dale and Sohn gave Alexandria their second run. Then, on a 2-0 Fischer pitch, Baur sent a ball deep to right-center for a grand slam and giving the Blue Anchors a 6-0 lead.

The offense stayed hot in the third against reliever Jordan Talbot. Barash singled to start the inning and moved to second on a base hit by Mulato. Leuschke grounded into a fielder's choice to erase Mulato and runners were on the corners for Salem. A double by Salem brought home Barash to extend the lead to 7-0. Then a groundout to second by Dale plated Leuschke pushing the score to 8-0 in the Anchors' favor.

St. Cloud was able to get on the scoreboard against Spencer Koopmans in the fourth. Baur committed a fielding error and then a throwing error that put Chris Paul at second to start the inning. A single by Daniel Comstock put two runners in scoring position with no outs in the inning. An out later, a groundout to short by Devin Pearson scored Paul. Then a two-out base hit by Dustin Breshears scored Comstock to put the score at 8-2 in the Anchors' favor.

The Rox were again able to get to Koopmans in the fifth. Clay Williamson doubled to start the inning and went to third on a grounder by Adam Martin. Another double, this time by Luke Weber, brought home Williamson for the third Rox run. Then, with two outs, Comstock went deep to right-center field, cutting Alexandria's lead to 8-5.

The lead continued to shrink as the Rox tacked on in the seventh against Scott Sanderson. An error by Sohn off the bat of Comstock got things started. Then a base hit by Blake Headley put two on and a base hit by Devin Pearson loaded the bases with one out. A sacrifice fly Breshears made the score 8-6.

Taylor Simpson came into pitch the eighth and the Rox pulled even closer. A hit by pitch to Williamson started the inning and he went to second on a base hit by Martin. A walk to Luke Weber loaded the bases and then a double play by pinch-hitter Alex McRae brought home Williamson making the score 8-7.

The Blue Anchors thought they had an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. Salem singled against Reese Gregory to start the frame and went to second on a sac bunt by Dale. A walk to Sohn put two on and then a single by Baur loaded the bases. A hit by pitch to Ryan Blanchard plated Salem putting Alexandria ahead 9-7

In the top of the ninth, Zac Custer entered for the save. He walked Headley to start the inning and a triple by Devin Pearson made the score 9-8. A base hit by Breshears scored Pearson to tie the game at nine.

Barash drew a lead-off walk against Adam Maxon and Mulato bunted a popup to the pitcher for out number one. Tyler Curtis came into pinch run for Barash and he moved to second on a pickoff error by Maxon. Then Leuschke drew a walk and Salem reached on an error by the first baseman. With a 1-2 count, Dale singled into right field to bring home the winning run Curtis and give the Anchors a 10-9 walk-off victory.

Minnesota Baseball Academy Player of the Game - Albert Baur (3B) - The Newberry infielder continues his hot hitting as he delivered four hits in five at bats along with five RBI and a run scored. Baur is now hitting .349 on the season.

Notes: Baur now has two grand slams in 2013...His four hits ties a season-high...The grand slam is the eighth in Alexandria Northwoods League franchise history...The single for Dale in the ninth extended his hitting streak to 13...Each hitter in the starting lineup reached either by hit or walk...Friday marks a home sweep for the Blue Anchors and every time that happens fans leave the ballpark with a buy one get one free six inch sub courtesy of Subway...The Blue Anchors are hitting the road for seven days starting in St. Cloud before returning home for a game against the Waterloo Bucks on August 4th...Tomorrow's starter is RHP Chase Rihtarchik (3-1, 3.02)...The game can be seen live, starting at 6:05 p.m., at www.youtube.com/user/NorthwoodsLeague.

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Northwoods League Stories from July 27, 2013


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