Padilla's Bat Not Enough for Beetles
June 20, 2012 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Alexandria Beetles News Release
Despite a 3-4 night from Ryan Padilla, who drove in five runs and hit his second homerun of the year, a slow start doomed the Alexandria Beetles who dropped an 8-6 decision to the Rochester Honkers for their second consecutive loss.
The Beetles (7-13), who conclude their 11-game road trip at 5-6, remain a half game ahead of the Honkers in the standings (7-14) with a game at hand.
Rochester won for the first time in four tries at home and five tries overall.
For the second straight night, the Beetles went down early as Rochester scored four runs in the first inning off starter Steve Weber (1-1). Reid Roper delivered the big blow in the frame, a three run homerun to right.
After tacking on an additional run in the second, the Honkers put a two-spot up in the fourth on a two-out single by Justin Parr to seize firm control 7-0.
The Beetles broke the shutout bit in the top of the sixth after Will Fulmer singled to lead off the inning, extending his on base streak to 18, and Ben Moore walked with two outs to bring up Padilla. The leftfielder hit a high fly over the left field wall to cut the deficit to 7-3
But with Alexandria threatening again in the top of the seventh, with runners on second and third and Tanner Vavra at the plate with two outs, Rochester shortstop Mike Lukkason made the most extraordinary of catches, sailing full extension into shallow center field to save two runs in what will surely be the defensive play of the year in the league.
Padilla added a two-RBI double in the eighth to add late-inning intrigue, but Rochester held on for the 8-6 final.
The two teams play the middle game of their three game set in Alexandria on Wednesday with a 7:05 CDT start time from Knute Nelson.
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