First-Place Rox Begin Crucial Weekend with Victory over MoonDogs

Published on July 24, 2021 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
St. Cloud Rox News Release

Justin Kirby of the St. Cloud Rox
(St. Cloud Rox)

With the win, the Rox extended their lead as the best team in the Northwoods League to three-and-a-half games over Mankato. For the full Northwoods League Standings, click here.

Justin Kirby (Kent State) led the way offensively after struggling for the last two weeks. Kirby had just one hit in his previous twelve games, but erupted for three hits today to jumpstart the offense from the bottom of the order.

At the top of the lineup, Brice Matthews (Nebraska) cleaned up with two hits and two RBI's. After joining the Rox at the beginning of the second half of the season, Matthews has already worked his way to double-digit RBI's with ten.

For the second night in a row, the bullpen stepped up in a huge way. Zach Gagnon (Tarleton State) took over after Trent Schoeberl (Minnesota) could only go four innings on the mound. Gagnon threw three scoreless frames to get the game into the late innings.

Josh Gainer (Long Island-Brooklyn) finished it off with two scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Gainer has not allowed a single earned run this season in just under 17 innings pitched, while striking out 27 opposing batters.

St. Cloud will go for the sweep over Mankato and try to split the season series with the MoonDogs on Sunday afternoon in the series finale. First pitch from Joe Faber Field is scheduled for 4:05 pm.

Justin Kirby of the St. Cloud Rox

Northwoods League Stories from July 24, 2021

• Booyah Stumble against Kingfish - Green Bay Rockers
• Late Rally Lifts Chinooks over Dock Spiders - Lakeshore Chinooks
• MoonDogs' Winning Streak Ends in St. Cloud - Mankato MoonDogs
• Growlers Drop Series Opener to Jackrabbits Despite Furious Comeback - Kalamazoo Growlers
• Mallards Fall 12-10 in Shootout against Woodchucks - Madison Mallards
• Woodchucks Outslug Mallards in Win - Wausau Woodchucks
• Losing Streak Ends with Another Win over Rockford - Traverse City Pit Spitters
• Rivets Fall Behind, Can't Come Back at Traverse City - Rockford Rivets
• Bucks 'Buck' Larks in Shutout Win - Bismarck Larks
• Kingfish Power Past the Booyah 10-6 - Kenosha Kingfish
• Honkers Use Late Burst to Drop Mudpuppies - Rochester Honkers
• First-Place Rox Begin Crucial Weekend with Victory over MoonDogs - St. Cloud Rox
• Rain Halts Bombers Game as They Lead in the Third - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
• Rafters-Bombers Postponed, Two Games Slated for Tomorrow - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
• Stingers Take Game 1 in Duluth - Willmar Stingers
• Duluth Pitching Crumbles Late Saturday - Duluth Huskies
• The Kingfish Drop Final Game of Series - Kenosha Kingfish
• The Kingfish Dominate in Battle Creek Doubleheader - Kenosha Kingfish
• Mallards Host Woodchucks for Weekend Set - Madison Mallards
• La Crosse Unable to Hold on to Early Lead, Swept by Rochester in 12-10 Loss - La Crosse Loggers
• Booyah Continue Road Trip - Green Bay Rockers
• Growlers Split with Mallards After 5-4 Extra Inning Victory - Kalamazoo Growlers
• Larks Score 13 Unanswered Runs as the Huskies Drop Their Fourth Straight - Duluth Huskies

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