Bucks Fall From Division Lead After Loss To St. Cloud

The Waterloo Bucks no longer lead the division race after being swept in a series for the time this season. St. Cloud completed the two-game sweep with a 16-7 win over the Bucks in the series finale Wednesday night (June 22, 2016).

The Bucks never led and now trail the first-place Rox by one game in the Northwoods League's North Division standings. The two teams entered Wednesday's game as division co-leaders following St. Cloud's 5-4 victory Tuesday night at Joe Faber Field.

The Rox (15-6) used the long ball to establish control of Wednesday's game early. Denis Karas hit a two-run homerun to left-centerfield in the second inning. Then, two batters later, Brandon Benson increased the lead to 3-0 with a two-out homerun to left.

A six-run third inning extended St. Cloud's lead to 9-0. Drew Freedman’s two-run single grew the margin to five before Benson’s two-run double made the score 7-0. Ricky Ramirez drove in the final two runs of the frame with a two-run single to right.

Waterloo (14-7) cut the deficit to six with a three-run fourth inning. A lead-off double by Taylor Boyd and a walk by Lane Millingan gave the Bucks a pair of runners. Tyler Curtis then reached on one of four errors committed by St. Cloud shortstop Freedman, which leaded the bases. Back-to-back singles by Adam McGinnis and Alex Boxwell each scored a run, before Zack Soria's sacrifice fly to center field trimmed the Rox' lead to 9-3.

St. Cloud quickly countered with a six-run fifth inning, which increased the Rox' advantage to 15-6.

For Waterloo, Boxwell led off the sixth with his third single of the night. Then, Luke Stratman drew a walk and Soria follow with a single to center to load the bases. Zach Weatherford drove in the lone run of the inning with an RBI single to center.

The Rox began the seventh inning with consecutive singles by Bradon Illies and Mason Mamarella. Illies eventually scored on a two-out infield single.

Waterloo tallied a pair of runs in the eighth inning and scored a single run in the ninth to complete the scoring.

Patrick Boyle (1-1) suffered the loss in his shortest outing of the season, going 2 1/3 innings. He allowed eight runs on eight hits and three walks.

UP NEXT: The Bucks continue their six-game road trip when they open a two-game series at Willmar Thursday night (June 23).

Story By: Jared Schlensky - Waterloo Bucks​