MoonDogs Complete Home-And-Home Sweep of Stingers in Saturday Slugfest at the Frank
August 15, 2020 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Mankato MoonDogs News Release
Mankato, Minn. -ÃÂ The Mankato MoonDogs and Willmar Stingers slugged it out at Franklin Rogers Park, Saturday night. The host MoonDogs won the battle, 6-5, amidst five lead changes in the early going.
Between the third and fifth innings was where all the scoring occurred, the MoonDogs and Stingers took turns scoring 11 runs. The lead changed five different times as Mankato prevailed to win, 6-5.
Willmar'sÃÂ Brennan McKenzieÃÂ put the Stingers on the board first with a solo home run to left in the third. The Stingers held the 1-0 advantage until the bottom half of the inning.
The MoonDogs tied the game in the bottom half of the third whenÃÂ Adam LaRockÃÂ grounded out to short deep enough to tie the game at one. In the next at bat,ÃÂ Michael CurialleÃÂ singled to scoreÃÂ Mikey Gottschalk. The score was 2-1 through three at Franklin Rogers Park.
MoonDogs recent newcomers, Tommy Beres and Mikey Gottschalk, each had a big night, Saturday, for a combined 5-8 with two puns scored, an RBI and a walk. (Image captured by Mansoor Ahmad)
The MoonDogs and Stingers traded a run a side in the fourth. After Willmar scored to tie the game at two in the top half of the fourth, Mankato responded with a run of their own in the bottom half.ÃÂ Tommy BeresÃÂ kept his hot bat going and roped a single to score, former Willmar Stinger in 2018,ÃÂ Jack Waletich, who had fun being a menace to his old squad, Saturday. It was a 3-2 game after the fourth with the home team, MoonDogs holding the one-run lead.
The fifth inning followed the same trend but with a trio of runs going to each side. After the Stingers scored three times to take a 5-3 lead, The MoonDogs went on to score three of their own and reclaimed the lead, 6-5. An infield single fromÃÂ Drew StahlÃÂ brought the MoonDogs within one, 5-4. Waletich supplied the go-ahead hit, a base knock just over the head of Willmar's jumping shortstop. Then, MoonDogs catcher, Beres kept clutch hitting coming with another RBI single. Mankato had a 6-5 lead through five at The Frank.
Drew Stahl and Michael Curialle rejoice amidst the MoonDogs fifth-inning surge at Franklin Rogers Park, Saturday. (Image captured by Mansoor Ahmad)
Ultimately, the MoonDogs would hold on for their 17th win of the season. Mankato and Willmar each had 10 hits on the night. The Stingers lost in the errors department with the game's only miscue defensively.
Christian Johnson (1-1)ÃÂ made his first appearance as the MoonDogs' starting arm, Saturday. The everyday reliever from Gustavus Adolphus College, pitched five innings en route to his first win. Johnson allowed eight hits for five runs. He walked two while striking out six. In relief,ÃÂ Nolan PenderÃÂ made his final appearance of the 2020 campaign and pitched 3.1 innings of scoreless baseball. The Bellarmine University right hander struck out a pair while working into the ninth inning.ÃÂ Andre GranilloÃÂ came in from the pen to get the final two outs of the game for his second save of the summer with a pair of strikeouts.
Willmar's losing pitcher wasÃÂ Trevor Divinski (0-2)ÃÂ after he went 4.2 innings and allowed six runs. While walking one and striking out five others, Divinski was hit off nine times, Saturday.
For tonight's box score clickÃÂ HERE.
Up next, the Mankato MoonDogs (16-20) are headed to Joe Faber Field to take on the St. Cloud Rox (23-12) tomorrow at 4:05 p.m.
Northwoods League Stories from August 15, 2020
- Spiders Start New Win Streak with 7-2 Victory over Rivets - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
- Rafters Snap Six-Game Win Streak in Narrow Loss to La Crosse - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Larks Say Goodbye to Five with Win - Bismarck Larks
- Spitters Sweep - Traverse City Pit Spitters
- Kingfish Win Extra Inning Affair 4-3 - Kenosha Kingfish
- Three Late Runs Seal Deal in Shutout Win over Waterloo - Rochester Honkers
- MoonDogs Complete Home-And-Home Sweep of Stingers in Saturday Slugfest at the Frank - Mankato MoonDogs
- Green Bay Takes Game One from Wisconsin - Green Bay Rockers
- Mankato Beats Willmar to Earn Series Win - Willmar Stingers
- Chucks Give up Late Lead, Fall to Booyah - Wausau Woodchucks
- Rafters Look to Close out Homestand Versus La Crosse - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Green Bay Heads to Wausau for Two Game Series - Green Bay Rockers
- Explosive Sixth Inning Leads MoonDogs to Comeback Win - Mankato MoonDogs
- Win Streak Ends at Six as Dock Spiders Fall to Woodchucks - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
- Former Waterloo Buck Dakota Bacus Debuts with the Nationals - Northwoods
- Loggers Rally for 5-3 Win to Sweep Booyah - La Crosse Loggers
- Mankato Pushes Past Willmar to Open Series - Willmar Stingers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
