Early Deficit Too Much to Overcome in RedHawks Loss
FARGO, N.D. – The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks were stifled offensively on Wednesday night as they fell to the Lincoln Saltdogs, 9-2, in front of 2,660 fans at Newman Outdoor Field. The RedHawks only had six hits through eight innings on Wednesday and managed only one extra-base hit in the loss.
RHP Andrew Tri (0-0) made his professional debut for the RedHawks as the game’s opener, pitching a scoreless first inning. RHP Austin Ver Steeg (1-3) replaced Tri and got the loss after giving up six runs on eight hits and a walk in 3.0 pitched. LHP Mark Finkelnburg (1-0) pitched well, allowing only two hits and striking out four batters over his 3.0 innings of work. RHP Michael Hope (6-1) allowed three runs on three hits in his one inning of work. RHP Luke Lind (0-1) came into the game in the ninth inning and allowed one hit while picking up a strikeout.
Fargo-Moorhead had only three batters (Correlle Prime, Leo Pina, and Alex Boxwell) with more than one hit in the game. Boxwell was 2-for-4 and hit a solo home run down the right field line in the sixth inning. Jordan George extended his on-base streak to 45 games with a hit and two walks in the game. George’s streak is the longest by a RedHawks player during their time in the American Association (2011-) and is the longest since Zach Penprase had a 49-game on-base streak in 2009.
LHP Ben Wereski (0-0) started for Lincoln and allowed a run on three hits and two walks in 4.0 innings pitched. RHP Jake Hohensee (2-3) gave up one run on two hits and a walk in 2.0 innings of work and got the win. RHP Carson Lance (2-4) faced the minimum and struck out two batters in his inning of work before handing the ball to RHP Garrett Delano (0-0) in the eighth. Delano gave up four hits but didn’t allow a run in two innings pitched to finish the game.
The Saltdogs started the scoring early, as they scored two runs in the third, fourth, and fifth inning. Ryan Long (3-for-5, 2 runs, 4 RBIs) and David Vidal (3-for-5, 1 run, 3 RBIs) both hit a home run and led the way for the Saltdogs in the win. Three other Lincoln batters (Yanio Perez, Skyler Weber, and Zak Taylor) had two hits in the game.
Fargo-Moorhead and Lincoln will conclude their season series on Thursday afternoon in Fargo. First pitch is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. on Thursday. The RedHawks are expected to start RHP Gage Hinsz (4-3, 6.36 ERA) while the Saltdogs are expected to start RHP John Richy (4-4, 6.26 ERA).
By Chad Ekren, Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
