ROCHESTER, Minn. -- By striking out 14 times, and making three errors that all contributed to runs, gave the Honkers (11-17, 18-45) no chance despite a late comeback to win the opener against Battle Creek (14-11, 32-29) as they lost 7-5

The Bombers left runs on the board getting runners thrown out at home three times before the fifth but they score five after that point to make up for it.

Ricky Delgado was unable to repeat his dominant pitching performance from last Thursday as he gave up five runs, with only one earned, in 4.2 innings, allowing nine hits while walking two and striking out three.

Delgado was able to work around trouble in the first four innings, but in the fifth he encountered trouble and the defense didn't help him.

With the score 2-2, Delgado walked the first batter of the inning, Daniel Patzlaff, and forced Christian Helsel to hit a ground ball to third but Drew Ellis failed to make the play giving the Bombers runners on first and second. Then Delgado walked Nick Podkul to load the bases. Delgado was able to retire the following batter Dean Miller on a sac fly but that gave the Bombers a 3-2 lead. Delgado then forced a very catchable ball to right, that would've scored another run regardless, but Alex Fitchett muffed it, allowing the third run of the inning to score, the second scored on a wild pitch during that at-bat, and gave the Bombers a 5-2 lead.

In the seventh the Bombers added two more as they hit their second home run of the game, when Daniel Jiping hit a two run shot, off of Brett Herbner to left to give his team a 7-2 lead. The Bombers' first home run came in the third when Nick Piorier hit a solo shot to right center.

For the Honkers, they were unable to match the offensive production and strikeouts ruled, but they were able to score over four for the first time in six games.

The team struck out 14 times, and only scored two runs, both before the fifth, The first game on Alex Fitchett's RBI single in the second, and the second run came on Drew Ellis' tenth home run of the year.

The Honkers showed fight at the end of the game, as they often do, with another home run off the bat of Ellis, this time a 3-run shot in the bottom of the eighth but they couldn't add anymore as they lost 7-5.

Ricky Delgado was dealt the loss to drop to 1-4, as Cody Puckett got the win to improve to 5-2, and Jonathan Cheshire earned his first save of the season.

With the St. Cloud Rox win the Honkers are a game away mathematically eliminated from playoff contention as they fell nine games behind of the Rox with nine games to go. If the Rox hold on to win in their second game of a double header versus Thunder Bay, the Honkers playoffs hopes will be officially dashed.

The Honkers and Bombers play again tomorrow at 7:05 at Mayo Field.

 

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