MoonDogs Blow Four-Run Lead, Lose in Extras at Rochester Thursday
July 17, 2020 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Mankato MoonDogs News Release
Rochester, Minn. -ÃÂ The Mankato MoonDogs suffered a gut-wrenching loss Thursday night, blowing a four-run lead and losing to the Rochester Honkers, 7-6, in extra innings.
Mankato struggled with timely hitting and defensive miscues again in their 13th game. They totaled 15 hits and six errors. The errors and untimely hitting played the biggest part in the MoonDogs falling to a 2-10 record this season
The errors came early and often for the Dogs. Rochester got on the board in the first off the first mishap and held a 1-0 lead through one.
Maddux Houghton, the MoonDogs right fielder, led off the third with a base knock that later resulted in a run after aÃÂ Zach KokoskaÃÂ RBI single to tie the game, 1-1.
The MoonDogs batted around in the fourth afterÃÂ Emanuel DeanÃÂ wore a pitch and took a free pass to start off the inning. Two batters later, Dean's UCLA teammate,ÃÂ Michael Curialle,ÃÂ drove him in from second on an RBI single. From there, the bases loaded with MoonDogs while the Honkers had yet to get an out. It took a move to the bullpen before Rochester could get an out. Then, with one down, the Honkers walked inÃÂ Evan BerkeyÃÂ andÃÂ Zach GillesÃÂ popped an RBI double off the left-field wall. It scored a pair and made it a 5-1 game following the four-run, three-hit fourth in Rochester. However, it was all downhill for the Dogs from there...
In the fifth, the Honkers ran it back with three hits for three unearned runs, getting help again from two more MoonDogs errors. It was a 5-4 game at Mayo Field after five innings.
The Honkers tied the game in the ninth whenÃÂ Connor DenningÃÂ grounded out to second and scoredÃÂ Kyle HuckstorfÃÂ from third.
The 10th inning sawÃÂ Mason HullÃÂ add a sixth RBI to his summer resume by singling to left to scoreÃÂ Zach KokoskaÃÂ who resided at second to start the inning due to the ITB rule that was in effect. The Dogs took the 6-5 lead into the bottom half and lost the lead and more in the second go around.
After a walk to put two on, Honkers' second baseman,ÃÂ Taison Corio, doubled to right field to score two. It was the game-winning hit and gave Rochester their third win of the season in walk off fashion.
Rochester's reliever,ÃÂ Kragen Kechely, got the win after pitching in the ninth and 10th frames. He surrendered a run and three hits, but struck out two of his six outs.
MoonDogs second-year vet,ÃÂ Shane Barringer, started pitching and was solid, going six complete innings. Barringer's outing was deemed undecisive after previously being in line for the win. In his second start of the season, he allowed no earned runs while giving up three hits. He walked one and struck out eight.ÃÂ Jarret KrzyzanowskiÃÂ pitched the seventh frame and allowed a walk and struck out two others. MoonDogs two-way threatÃÂ Dylan PhillipsÃÂ moved to the hill from first base in the eighth and struck out the side. Phillips moved back to first for the ninth to make room forÃÂ Tyler Eckberg. Eckberg blew the save in the ninth. Likewise,ÃÂ Keon TaylorÃÂ did the same in the 10th against his old team, the Honkers, surrendering the win on an extra-base hit. He was handed his second loss and blown save of the summer.
The MoonDogs (2-10) are back in Rochester, Minn., tomorrow to close out the series with the Honkers (3-6). First pitch, at Mayo Field, goes out at 7:05 p.m.
Northwoods League Stories from July 17, 2020
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- Loggers Win Wild Walk-Off vs. Wisconsin Rapids - La Crosse Loggers
- Corio's Heroics Hand Honkers Walk-Off Win - Rochester Honkers
- MoonDogs Blow Four-Run Lead, Lose in Extras at Rochester Thursday - Mankato MoonDogs
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