Honkers Blow Early Lead, Lose in 10th
Published on July 22, 2012 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Rochester Honkers News Release
(Rochester, MN) - The Rochester Honkers could not hold on to an early lead on Sunday afternoon and ended up losing 7-6 in extra innings against the Rox in St. Cloud, MN.
The Honkers jumped out in front right away thanks to a first inning grand slam from the bat of catcher Cole Lankford (Texas A&M). The homerun was Lankford's second of the summer. Lankford drove in another run in the top of the fourth on an RBI single, and he finished the game 2 for 4 with five RBIs.
The Honkers 6-1 lead would evaporate over the course of this game as the Rochester bullpen could not keep the Rox offense off the bases.
Starter Kevin Johnson (Illinois) worked 5.0 innings and allowed three earned runs on five hits and three walks. Johnson also struck out five Rox batters and was on his way to earning his first victory of the season, but wound up with the no decision.
Honkers reliever Phil Richmond (Coe) tossed 1.1 innings and gave up one run on two hits while striking out three. Chris Noble (Pikeville) pitched the next 1.1 innings and gave up two more runs.
Despite the early lead, the Honkers pitching staff let the Rox lineup creep all the way back and tie the ballgame in the bottom of the eighth after Rochester first baseman Chad Walach (Cal State Fullerton) committed an error on a ground ball that should have ended the inning. Instead, St. Cloud plated their second run of the frame and evened the score up 6-6.
Neither team would score in the ninth so the game would advance to extra innings.
After the Honkers went down without scoring a run in the top of the tenth, the Rox put the leadoff runner on in their half on a hit by pitch dealt by Honkers pitcher Tyler Lohr (Doane). Two batters later, St. Cloud first baseman Adam Martin (Western Carolina) hit the walk-off RBI double to win the game. Lohr was given the loss and moved his record to 0-1.
The Honkers (7-11, 22-31) have the next three days off for the 2012 Northwoods League All Star break, but will be back in action on Thursday, July 26th to take on the Waterloo Bucks (8-9, 27-25) in Rochester at 7:05 PM. Outfieler Dakota Smith (Kansas), first baseman Trevor Podratz (Hawaii), and left handed pitcher Jared Miller (Vanderbilt) will represent the Honkers on Tuesday, July 24th as North Division Midseason All Stars in Madison, WI. Podratz will also compete in the Home Run Derby, which precedes the All Star Game.
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- Honkers Blow Early Lead, Lose in 10th - Rochester Honkers
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