Patience Pays Off for Honkers in 7-5 Win to End Losing Streak

ROCHESTER, Minn. -- A common saying is "patience is a virtue." That patience was key to the Honkers (6-20) stopping their 10-game losing streak with a 7-5 win over the Thunder Bay Border Cats (2-24) tonight at Mayo Field.

The Honkers only had five hits but they drew seven walks and were hit by a pitch five times with three coming in the seventh.

Drew Ellis opened up the scoring for the Honkers in the bottom of the 2nd. After being called back from first on what was initially called a hit by pitch, Ellis, on the seventh pitch of the at-bat, jacked his first home run of the year over the 350 sign in left-center field to give the Honkers a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the third the Honkers added one more when Chase Lambert scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Joey Czarske to give the Honkers a 2-0 lead, while knocking Border Cats starter Shannon Broussard out of the game after 2.1 innings.

Honkers starter Alex Fagalde made his first start and had a good one, going five innings allowing only one run in the fifth, on Andy Weber's RBI single, but had eight strikeouts giving up three hits and two walks.

The Border Cats tied the game in the bottom of the sixth when Shane Shepard hit a ball over the scoreboard in right center. The ball was such a no-doubter off the bat that right fielder Alex Fitchett didn't move.

The Border Cats took the lead three batters later, when after an error by Keaton Weisz and a double by Andrew Fregia, that knocked Jackson Rose out of the game, Michael Papierski drove in first baseman Mitch Bigras on a groundout to short to make the score 3-2.

In the bottom of the sixth the Honkers were able to tie the game at three without securing a base hit. Jacob Thomas worked a one-out walk, Keaton Weisz was hit by a pitch, and Miles Lewis worked a walk to load the bases. Kyle Kasser, in for the injured Chase Lambert, reached on a fielders choice that allowed Thomas to score.

In the seventh, Sam Bjornjeld gave up two runs on two solo home runs. The first to lead-off hitter Bobby Honeyman and the second to left fielder, Anthony Brocato, making the score 5-3.

The Honkers had the last say however by scoring four runs in the seventh in an unconventional way. the Honkers only had two hits in the inning but had three batters get hit by pitches. Turner Buis lead off the inning with a single and scored along with Joey Czarske, Jacob Thomas' two-run single to make the score 5-5. Drew Ellis scored during Jackson Thoreson's at-bat on a wild pitch to take the lead 6-5. The final run of the inning was scored by Jacob Thomas when Kyle Kasser reached on a fielder's choice.

Ricky Delgado came in to close out the game and was awarded the save, but made things interesting. Reached full counts to hitter. walking the second batter of the inning Andy Weber, and hitting Brocato and subsequently walking Shane Shepard. However he got out of the jam by striking out Shane Shepard for his first save of the year.

Sam Bjorngjeld (W,1-1) was awarded the win, and the loss was given to Tom Mullin (L, 0-2).

The Honkers look to start a winning streak tomorrow as they face Thunder Bay for the second consecutive day at 7:05 at Mayo Field.

Quick Hits

• Chase Lambert left the game in the bottom of the fourth with an apparent upper body injury while stealing second base. Injury occurred on the slide.
• Mark Contreras missed his third straight game with a wrist injury, making him unable to swing a bat. He will be getting it examined by doctors in the coming days.
• Continually amazed by the arm strength of utility infielder Keaton Weisz. Starting at third today, Weisz made a diving play on a shot down the line, then made the throw to beat Border Cats shortstop Andrew Fregia to first with ease. A cannon for a right arm. However his youth was on display as well, when he rushed a throw to first that bounced in and out of first baseman, Drew Ellis' glove to allow Mitch Bigras to reach and eventually score.
• Broussard making first start/appearance this season