In their first action following a three-day break for the Northwoods League All-Star game, the Waterloo Bucks allowed nine first-inning runs and committed a season-high six errors in a 13-10 loss at Mankato Thursday night (July 21, 2016).

Robert Neustrom led the Bucks' offense, going 3-for-4 with a personal-best four RBI in the defeat. He drove in Waterloo's first run of the game in the first inning, before Adam McGinnis hit a two-out solo home run to right-center field to give the Bucks (6-7, 28-20) a 2-0 lead. The home run for McGinnis was his team-leading ninth of the season.

Mankato (8-5, 30-18) took control of the game in its half of the frame, bringing a season-high 15 batters to plate. Three Waterloo errors helped the MoonDogs score nine runs and build a seven-run edge.

The Bucks narrowed the deficit to 9-4 with a pair of two-out runs in the third inning. Lane Milligan lofted a two-run double that plated both Alex Boxwell and Travon Benton.

Waterloo added two more runs in fourth inning, scoring on a sacrifice fly from Milligan and a two-out single from Neustrom.

After the Moondogs scored a two-out run in the fifth, Tyler Curtis made it a 10-7 score with a solo home run for the Bucks in the top of the seventh. The home run was one of three on the night for the Bucks and the second of the year for Curtis.

Mankato scored twice in the bottom of the seventh and also added an insurance run in the eighth after surviving a Bucks' rally. Zac Sanders scored on a wild pitch and Neustrom hit a two-run home run to pull the Bucks to within 12-10, but they could get no closer.

Waterloo starter Brett Solano (4-4) was charged with the loss after allowing nine runs (only one earned) in 2/3 of an inning. He gave up five hits and walked three batters, while striking out one.

UP NEXT: The Bucks continue their four-game series against Mankato on Friday (July 21), again playing the MoonDogs on the road. The series shifts to Waterloo for the final two games on Saturday and Sunday.

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