AA Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks

'Hawks Rally Falls Short 5-4 to N.J.

Published on September 4, 2015 under American Association (AA)
Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks News Release


FARGO, ND - Mistakes proved costly on Thursday night as the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks dropped game three of four 5-4 before 2,792 at Newman Outdoor Field to the New Jersey Jackals.

Peter Mooney got to RedHawks' starter Ty Kelley right away in the initial frame. Peter Mooney doubled to left to start and Anthony Gomez would lay down on a sac bunt advancing him to third. Though A.J. Kirby-Jones proceeded to ground into a double play Mooney scored making it 1-0.

Fargo-Moorhead got a single off of Jackals' starter Shawn Sanford in the first and second innings but finally broke through in the third. Michael Leach led off by reaching on an error and would later be driven in on a groundout from Chad Mozingo tying the game 1-1.

The two teams would exchange runs in the fourth. Mark Threlkeld led off with a double and would score on back-to-back wild pitches from Kelley. In the home half of the inning it was Joe Dunigan who answered the bell. Leading off the inning, he took the first offering from Sanford and rocketed it out to straightaway center for his 14th homer of the season tying the game 2-2.

The RedHawks would use the Leach-Mozingo connection again in the fifth. Leach singled to left to lead off and would be driven in on another Mozingo grounder giving the 'Hawks a 3-2 advantage.

New Jersey stormed back and pounded the RedHawks in the eighth. Kelley came out for the start of the frame and gave up a leadoff solo home run to Kirby-Jones to start. After striking out Threlkeld he surrendered a single to Castro signaling the end of the line for the right-hander in favor of lefty Jonathan Chudy out of the 'pen. Chudy came in and recorded a strikeout but walked D'Vontrey Richardson bringing out Doug Simunic for another pitching change. The skipper went with Benji Waite who would face Jared Schlehuber. Schelhuber would proceed to drive in Castro and Richardson stole home on a gutsy play giving New Jersey a 5-3 lead in a wild half-inning.

Fargo-Moorhead had their chances in the eighth. Chad Mozingo singled and would eventually reach third with Ryan Pineda at the plate and the bases loaded. Pineda got plunked on the elbow by reliever Brandon Sisk which made it 5-4 with two outs. After a mound visit from former big-leaguer and pitching coach Anthony Claggett, Sisk struck out Leach to end the threat.

Facing the top of the order for Fargo-Moorhead, Hector Nelo came on for the bottom of the ninth in search of his 21st save of the season. Nelo induced three consecutive ground ball outs helping the Jackals escape with a 5-4 win.

Ty Kelley (6-7) takes the loss in his final start of the season while Sisk (8-6) earns his eighth win of the season and third as a Jackal.

Zach Penprase went 3-for-5 while Joe Dunigan went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI on his solo home run in the fourth. Celebrating his 27th birthday, Chad Mozingo went 2-for-5 with a run scored and a pair of RBIs.

Fargo-Moorhead slips to 41-55 while New Jersey improves to 53-40 with the win. With the loss, the RedHawks streak of seven consecutive series wins is snapped. However, with a win tomorrow the club can settle with a split in a four game set. Tyler Alexander (4-5, 3.31 ERA) will take the hill in the series finale and his last start of the 2015 season.

Tomorrow night is Fan Appreciation Night, featuring former RedHawks' great Jeff Bittiger and the final "Friday Fireworks" night of the season. First pitch is set for 7:02 with a 6:40 pre-game show on 740 AM The Fan as Scott Miller will reside on the call.

Check out the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks Statistics

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