Six Homers Give Honkers Win Over St. Cloud

(Rochester, Minn.) – The Rochester Honkers (13-13) hit six home runs in a 10-8 win over the St. Cloud Rox Sunday afternoon at Mayo Field. Ryan Fitzpatrick (UC Irvine) became the fourth Honker ever to hit three home runs in a single game. Five batters in the Rochester lineup finished with multiple hits and six scored runs in the game.

St. Cloud’s starting pitcher, Jack Cushing (Georgetown), entered the game with a 0.72 ERA, which was third-best in the Northwoods League. After being held scoreless through three innings, the Honker offense finally got to Cushing in the fourth inning with solo home runs by Echavia and Ryan Fitzpatrick (UC Irvine).

The Honkers’ starting pitcher Beau O’Hara (Texas) held the Rox scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings, but gave up the lead in the top of the sixth inning on a solo home run by Ricardo Sanchez (Arkansas-Pine Bluff).

O’Hara earned the win (2-1) for the Honkers. He pitched six innings, giving up three runs (one earned) on ten hits. He struck out a batter and walked one.

The two teams will match up again tomorrow night in St. Cloud. First pitch from Joe Faber Field is 7:05 p.m. Drew Slade (Ripon) is scheduled to pitch for the Honkers. Slade is 2-0 this season with an 8.43 ERA. Ryan Shreve (Pacific) is scheduled to pitch for the Rox. Shreve is 2-0 this season with a 2.21 ERA.

The Honkers’ next home game is Tuesday, June 27, against the Thunder Bay Border Cats.