Honkers Rally for 7-5 Win over Bucks
Published on August 2, 2012 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Rochester Honkers News Release
(Rochester, MN) - The Rochester Honkers rallied late to beat the Waterloo Bucks 7-5 on Thursday night in Waterloo, IA thanks to a pair of huge long balls by the Rochester offense.
Right fielder Ben Lahn (Lamar CC) was the hero with his game-winning two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning to take a 7-5 lead. Chad Wallach (Cal State Fullerton) hit the game-tying solo home run two batters earlier to make the score 5-5.
This game was all Bucks through the first six innings however. They struck first with two runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead off of Rochester starter Chris Noble (Pikeville). Waterloo plated another run in the fourth to make it a three-run lead.
Noble lasted a strong 7.0 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks. Noble also struck out three Bucks batters on his way to earning the no-decision.
The Honkers trailed 3-0 going into the top of the seventh inning when the bats finally started to get going. The Honkers offense scored three times highlighted by a two-run double from the bat of Wallach. Wallach went 3 for 5 on the night with three RBIs.
Rochester took the lead 4-3 in the eighth on an RBI single by shortstop Michael Lukkason (Dakota Wesleyan) to plate Lahn. Lahn went 2 for 3 with two runs and two and RBIs.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Bucks scored two runs on a two-run double by third baseman Connor McClain (Indiana State) to take a 5-4 lead over the Honkers and put the pressure on the Rochester offense, but the Honkers were up to the challenge.
The home runs from Wallach and Lahn proved to be the difference in the game as the Honkers snapped their three-game losing streak with the victory.
Dakota Smith (Kansas) picked up his first win of the season in relief.
Left fielder Justin Parr (Illinois) finished his night 3 for 5 in the Rochester win.
The Honkers (10-16, 25-36) and Bucks (12-14, 31-30) will play game two tomorrow night, Friday, August 3rd, in Waterloo, IA. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM. Dylan Nelson (San Mateo) will start on the hill for the Honkers against Waterloo starter Mikey Ramirez (Citrus). Nelson is 1-3 in nine total games with a solid 2.96 ERA. Ramirez has a 1-6 record in 13 games with an ERA of 6.32.
The Honkers will be back home on Sunday, August 5th to take on the Thunder Bay Border Cats at 1:05 PM.
Northwoods League Stories from August 2, 2012
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- Rox Defeat Cats - St. Cloud Rox
- Mallards Make Themselves at Home in Road Win - Madison Mallards
- 9th Inning Struggles Drown Chinooks Thursday 3-1 - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Honkers Rally for 7-5 Win over Bucks - Rochester Honkers
- Former NWL Players Among Those in MLB Trade Deadline Deals - Northwoods
- Mallards Take Road Trip to Eau Claire - Madison Mallards
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