Rox Win Home-Opener as Fans Are Welcomed Back to the Rock Pile
June 4, 2021 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
St. Cloud Rox News Release
Tyson Fisher of the St. Cloud Rox
(St. Cloud Rox)
Mankato, MN - In front of a packed stadium for the first time since 2019, St. Cloud (1-2) pulled out its first victory of the season, 5-4, over Duluth (1-4).
The Rox returned to Joe Faber Field for the first time in 2021 and gave fans one to remember. After falling behind 1-0 in the third, St. Cloud took control with five unanswered runs.
Duluth's pitchers struggled with control early in the game as Dylan Nedved (Iowa) and Chris Esposito (Nebraska-Omaha) both came across to score on wild pitches to give the Rox a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning.
In the fifth, the Rox extended the lead with a no-doubt two-run home run from Tyson Fisher (Dixie State). This was the first round-tripper for a Rox player this season and pushed St. Cloud's lead to 4-1. Fisher leads the way for the Rox in hits, RBI's and now, home runs on the season and he finished with a 2-4 today on Friday night.
On the mound, it was a triumphant return for R.J. Martinez (Minot State), who made his first start of his third season with the Rox. Martinez continued the Rox trend of strong pitching through the first three games. The lefty threw seven innings, allowing just one run on four hits with six punchouts.
After the game tightened up in the eighth, Kevin Davis (USC Upstate), another third-year member of the Rox, entered as the closer in a one-run game. Davis retired the Huskies in order, all via the strikeout to clinch the Rox' first win of 2021.
This is also the first win of David Bellamy's tenure as the manager of the Rox. Bellamy took over as the manager after two years as an assistant in St. Cloud and now has his first victory under his belt.
The Rox' output of five runs is the largest of the season and got contributions throughout the lineup. Esposito added his first two hits as a member of the Rox, including a double off of the right field wall, and came across home plate twice.
St. Cloud will face the Huskies again on Saturday afternoon, completing a two-game series with first pitch at 3:05 pm. The Rox will be back at the Rock Pile on Sunday afternoon against the Willmar Stingers, starting at 4:05 pm.
Images from this story
 Fans arrive for a St. Cloud Rox game |
 Tyson Fisher of the St. Cloud Rox |
Northwoods League Stories from June 4, 2021
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- Chinooks Lose Back and Forth Battle 9-5 - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Dock Spiders Score 13 Unanswered to Beat Booyah - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
- Rivets Comeback Bid Falls Short against Kokomo - Rockford Rivets
- Bombers Knock off the Growlers and Secure First Victory of the Season - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Rox Win Home-Opener as Fans Are Welcomed Back to the Rock Pile - St. Cloud Rox
- Booyah Can't Hold on in Fond du Lac - Green Bay Rockers
- Woodchucks Homer Twice in Win - Wausau Woodchucks
- Cratic Powers Mallards to 6-3 Win over Rafters - Madison Mallards
- Kingfish Reign Supreme, Snap Spitters Streak - Traverse City Pit Spitters
- Booyah Return to Fond du Lac - Green Bay Rockers
- Mallards Open up to Full Capacity as They Host Rafters - Madison Mallards
- Mudpuppies Dust up Loggers in 12-4 Loss - La Crosse Loggers
- Dock Spiders Set to Host Booyah on Fireworks Night - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
- Rivets Fall in Rain-Soaked Series Finale at Traverse City - Rockford Rivets
- Honkers Drop Second Straight in Close Loss to Waterloo - Rochester Honkers
- MoonDogs Walk-Off Rox to Keep Undefeated Streak Alive - Mankato MoonDogs
- Larks Get Sweet Win in Bearscat Jerseys - Bismarck Larks
- Chinooks Scoreless After Three, Fall 9-6 - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Dock Spiders Bounce-Back with Win at Lakeshore - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
- Mallards Win Tight, Extra-Inning Contest in Wausau - Madison Mallards
- Booyah Fall to Rafters on the Road - Green Bay Rockers
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