Comeback Kids: Stingers Respond from Early Deficit, Top MoonDogs
July 19, 2015 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Willmar Stingers News Release
Tyler Leffler of the Willmar Stingers
(Willmar Stingers)
Willmar, Minn. - The Stingers only had to come back one time Sunday night against Mankato, and they made that comeback well worth it.
After coming back on three separate occasions but losing Saturday night, Willmar answered the call after falling in a first inning hole Sunday and scored twice in the seventh inning to beat Mankato 7-5 and split the two-game series at Bill Taunton Stadium.
The MoonDogs (25-29, 7-11 second half) scored a run on two hits in the first inning against Stingers' starter Bradley Bailey, but Bailey's offense came to the rescue in the bottom of the same inning. The Stingers (34-18, 11-7) scored two times in their first at-bats with the benefit of just two hits in the inning. Sean Beesley started out the frame with a single, stole second and then moved to third on an error. After Reagan Fowler got hit by a pitch, Beesley scored on Ky Parrott's RBI groundout, Fowler would come around later in the inning on Eddie Estrada's RBI single.
The score stayed that way until the Stingers scored three more times in the fifth inning to open up the lead to 5-1. This time the three runs came in with only one hit in the inning, as Willmar continued to make the most of its opportunities. The Stingers loaded the bases with two outs for Tyler Leffler by way of two walks and a hit by pitch, and Leffler struck for the only hit of the inning, dumping a single into right field to plate a pair and make it 4-1. Troy Dixon's fielder's choice then helped bring in the third run of the inning.
The MoonDogs would tie it in the sixth with four runs off Bailey, but the Stingers' offense had another rally in it this night. Three straight hits in the seventh inning plated both runs, as Eddie Estrada tripled to lead off, Leffler doubled to score him, and Dixon singled to score Leffler to give the Stingers a 7-5 lead.
The win was not without a high pressure situation late, but Brady Anderson escaped two big jams to earn his 12th save of the season and his 32nd of his career to tie a Northwoods League record. Anderson got out of a bases loaded, one-out jam in the ninth to preserve the win, the Stingers 15th come-from-behind victory this year.
The Stingers now have off for three days for the Northwoods League All-Star break. They will play on the road for five straight games starting Thursday, and will be back at home on July 28 against Alexandria.
The 2015 season is presented by Marcus Construction. For more coverage of the Stingers visit the West Central Tribune online at www.wctrib.com.
CDI Player of the Game
Tonight's Center for Diagnostic Imaging player of the game was Tyler Leffler. 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.
Tyler Leffler - SS
Bradley
2-4 vs. Mankato
Double, 3 RBIs
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 Tyler Leffler of the Willmar Stingers |
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