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August 14, 2012

Willmar shuts out MoonDogs to even series

By Denny Weller Special to The Free Press

MANKATO — With a depleted pitching staff staring the Willmar Stingers in the face, left-hander Kody Gorden pitched the game of his Northwoods League career Tuesday night at Franklin Rogers Park.

Gorden scattered six hits over eight innings in front of 727 fans to blank the Mankato MoonDogs 4-0 and even the North Division best-of-three playoff series at one game apiece.

While Gorden was shutting down the ’Dogs with a bevy of pitches, Willmar second baseman Kenny Roberts belted two doubles, drove in a pair of runs and scored another to pace the offense. Forrestt Allday chipped in two hits and scored a run as the Stingers improved to 42-28 on the season.

“He did a great job of mixing it up on both sides of the plate,” MoonDogs’ first baseman Craig Massoni said. “He didn’t have anything that looked overwhelming, but he had our guys off balance all night. This is why you play baseball. I’ve got chills right now thinking about tomorrow night.

“This one stings a little bit right now because we wanted to get it done tonight. We’ve got another chance tomorrow, and I like our chances.

“We have to have better situational at-bats. We’re may be pressing too much in RBI situations. We just have to believe in ourselves and get the job done with runners in scoring position.”

Mankato (42-28) had a chance to crack Gorden’s confidence in the fifth when singles from Massoni and Danny Murphy along with a walk to Chad Christensen loaded the bases. However, Gorden got Kyle Turner to chase a curve ball for the final out.

“I got really pumped up after that bases loaded strikeout,” Gorden said. “We had a lot of pitchers leave so coach wanted to get as many innings out of me as possible. I threw strikes and my defense played great behind me.

“This just shows what a great group of guys we’ve got. When you pitch in relief you have to be more gung-ho and try to get strikeouts. When you start you have to stay calm, throw strikes and keep on an even keel. ... I can’t believe I made it eight innings.”

Gorden, who was making only his second start of the season in 22 appearances, struck out eight and walked one in throwing 120 pitches. Massoni led the MoonDogs with three hits, including a seventh-inning double off the right-field fence.

Roberts’ double off ’Dogs starter Boomer Scarborough and a pair of groundouts produced a Stingers’ run in the top of the fourth. After the Stingers added a run without a hit in the fifth, Roberts’ two-run double into the left-field corner two innings later closed out the scoring.

“We couldn’t string any hits together or get a big hit tonight,” MoonDogs’ manager Mike Orchard said. “Their guys pitched a heck of a game but I think we’ve guys who are in place to pitch tomorrow.”

Game 3 will be played at 7:05 p.m. today at Franklin Rogers Park.

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