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Brainerd blanked
by Rochester 5-0 BRAINERD BLUE THUNDER By JOE LINDHOLM Sports Writer The Brainerd Blue Thunder's Kris Jiggitts found himself one out away from getting out of a sixth-inning jam with only a 2-0 deficit in a Wednesday matchup against Northwoods League opponent Rochester.
Unfortunately, a passed ball skipped by catcher Jared McDonald and another run scored. It would be more than enough for the Rochester Honkers in a 5-0 shutout victory before 188 fans at Mills Field.
The Honkers Zach Robertson got his first victory of the season going six innings and giving up just five hits. Jiggitts suffered his first loss of the season while getting three strikeouts and walking three batters.
Blue Thunder Manager Jeff Cammann sees positive signs from Jiggitts and feels that the veteran Blue Thunder pitcher is coming around. "He (Jiggitts) battled through and we will eventually score some runs for him. We haven't given him much run support," Cammann said. "He's very mature and understands the game. He knows we will be scoring some runs at some point."
Brainerd has been haunted by the big inning this season. In last night's loss against the Waterloo Bucks, the Blue Thunder gave up four runs in the 10th inning in losing 7-3. In Wednesday night's game Jiggitts was coasting along through five innings having given up no runs and only four hits. Third basemen Troy Landi made a nice fielding play to get out of the fifth inning.
The wheels started to come off slowly in the sixth inning. Jiggitts struck out Devin Goodwin to start the inning. Eric Stephens walked and Aaron Johnson singled to put two runners on with one out. They both advanced one base on a wild pitch. Both runners would later come in to score giving the Honkers a 2-0 lead. Austin Wates received an RBI on one of the runs but was thrown out at home later in the inning on a play from Jiggitts to McDonald. The Honkers would load the bases again with two outs and two more runs would come in on wild pitches making the score 4-0. Mike Gedman came on to replace Jiggitts and got the last out of the inning.
Down 4-0, Brainerd had to try and create scoring chances. The Blue Thunder tried the running game several times but could not get the stolen base. Codi Harshman lead off with a walk in the seventh inning and Cammann decided to try and have Harshman run. It didn't work as he was thrown out and the rally was stopped before it got started.
"I greenlighted him," Cammann said. "I told him if you get a jump let's do it. He didn't get a great jump but Codi can run." When the team is struggling to score runs more pressure does get put on the running game. "It does put a little more incentive on the running game," Cammann admitted. "When we do get a baserunner I do need to talk myself out of some things."
"Tonight we got six hits. It is slow but it is coming around. We just need that two-out hit," he said.
Scott Foley and Chris Restko each arrived at the ballpark from Eastern Illinois University with about a half-hour left in the game and both got a chance to get into the game. Restko went into play the outfield and Foley pitched 1-2-3 ninth inning for the Blue Thunder.
Before the game, the Blue Thunder also honored former outfielder Andy Dirks who is currently playing with Wichita State. Dirks was a fan favorite and a player that Cammann had a chance to coach. "Andy played for me out in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He played for us the summer of his freshman season and he is a great player. The guy goes all out all the time."
Rochester 000 004 100 - 5 8 0
Brainerd 000 000 000 - 0 6 1
Rochester: Zach Robertson, Ryan Dawson (7).
Brainerd: Kris Jiggitts, Michael Gedman (6), Casey Geiger (8), Scott Foley (9).
W: Robertson (1-1). L: Jiggitts (0-1).
2B: R Austin Wates.
SB: R Wates 2, Aaron Johnson, Cole Tyrell.
RBIs: R Justin Hilt 1, Wates 1.
LOB: R 10, B 9.
T: 3:10.
A: 188.
Records: R 2-2, B 1-4. Next: Rochester at Brainerd 6:35 p.m. Thursday.
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