MANKATO — It’s only a two-game losing streak, just the third time in 35 games that the Mankato MoonDogs have lost consecutive games.
So manager Mike Orchard isn’t concerned that having already wrapped up a playoff berth by winning the North Division’s first-half championship, his team won’t still be playing to win.
“We have a lot to play for,” he said. “Pride, for one thing. Chess, checkers, Nintendo ... it doesn’t matter what I’m playing, I want to win.
“These guys want to win and have a good season. If we keep doing what we’re doing, we’ll be OK.”
The MoonDogs, who set a franchise record by winning 23 games in the first half of the season, began the second half by dropping a 5-3 decision to La Crosse in a Northwoods League baseball game Friday at Franklin Rogers before 907 fans. Orchard was OK with the performance, though he was still a little upset about the 4-3 loss to Brainerd on Thursday, when his team committed three errors.
“We always need to play well,” he said. “A few games aren’t going to make or break a season. We played horribly (Thursday) night, that was not acceptable. (Friday) we played OK. We fought back.”
The MoonDogs fell behind 1-0 in the first inning, then watched as La Crosse scored four runs in the fourth, ending the night for starter Zach Whitman. Relievers Alex Burgos and Josh Castanza finished the game without allowing any more runs.
The first MoonDogs’ run came in the fifth when A.J. Pettersen drew a one-out walk and eventually scored on a wild pitch.
In the seventh, Mankato added two runs, but it could have been more. Kenny Held and Pettersen started the inning with consecutive singles, and K.C. Serna delivered a two-run single. Danny Miller reached on an in field error, putting runners on first and third with no outs.
However, Miller was caught off first, which eventually led to Serna being caught in a rundown between third and home, with Miller moving all the way to third. But consecutive strikeouts ended the threat.
Serna had two of the MoonDogs’ six hits, and Mankato stranded eight runners.
“The fielding has been a little sloppy,” Orchard said. “Sometimes, we’re giving them four or five outs in an inning. The pitching has been good all year, and the hitting has improved. We just have to clean up the fielding.”
The MoonDogs (23-11) and LaCrosse finish the series at 6:05 p.m. today at Franklin Rogers Park.
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