MANKATO — Taylor Black had only been in Mankato for about a week when, fielding a routine ground ball, the Mankato MoonDogs’ shortstop took a bad hop in the face and suffered a broken nose. The injury kept him out for a few games, and offensively, he’d been struggling.
“I’ve never seen a hop like that one,” he said. “This isn’t one of the best infields, but you have to make do with what you’ve got.
“You have to jump right back out there or you’ll never be the same.”
Black nearly doubled his season total for hits, slapping three singles, to lead the MoonDogs to a 7-1 victory over Brainerd in a Northwoods League baseball game Wednesday at Franklin Rogers Park. It was the fifth straight victory for the MoonDogs, the fourth winning streak of at least four games this season.
Black, who will be attending Kentucky next season, was hitting only .114, with four hits in 39 at-bats, with an on-base percentage of only .162. By going 3 for 4 on Wednesday, he’s now batting .180 with an OBP of .219, and he doubled his RBI total to four.
“It was one of those things that just clicked in batting practice,” Black said. “Coach (Kurt) Elbin noticed something in my swing so I worked on that.”
Black said his swing had become too long, and he was focusing on putting the ball in play instead of trying to drive it into the gaps.
Black’s biggest hit came in the fourth, with Brainerd leading 1-0. Two walks and a bean ball loaded the bases with one out, and Ryan Durant tied the game with an infield single off the pitcher. After the second out, Black lifted a two-run single to right field, and A.J. Pettersen picked up an RBI on a hit-and-run single that made it 4-1.
“We’ve got three good guys in the middle (of the defense),” manager Mike Orchard said. “A.J. is tough to sit because he’s a leadoff guy, and K.C. (Serna) has been playing well (at shortstop). If Taylor starts hitting, I’m really going to have a quandary. It’s a pretty good situation. It’s a long season, and guys get nicked up.”
The MoonDogs added another run in the sixth when Black singled and eventually scored in the back half of a double steal. In the seventh, Brian Haar, who was batting .130, roped a two-run double down the left-field line.
Black said he’s not worried about playing time, that he’s happy to share the shortstop duties with Serna. Pettersen was a freshman All-American shortstop at the University of Minnesota, but he’s fit in better at second base.
“(Orchard) is trying to work us all in and try to make each of us better,” Black said. “Whenever somebody is hot, they’ll get to play because we’re trying to win games, too.”
MoonDogs’ starter James Wise pitched a complete game, following Bennett Whitmore’s shutout on Tuesday. Wise allowed nine hits with five strikeouts. He’s given up only two earned runs in 25 innings.
“He struggled early, but he was lights out after that,” Orchard said. “He was intent on finishing it, he didn’t want to go only five, six innings. He wants to show the staff that he can go deeper in the game.”
The MoonDogs turned three double plays, including two that were started by Black.
The MoonDogs (23-9) host Brainerd at 7:05 p.m. today for Minnesota Twins Night. Former Twins’ outfielder Tony Oliva is the guest of honor, with appearances by Wally the Beerman and Twins’ organist Sue Nelson.
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