The Chaska Cubs (20-8) took on the Minneapolis Cobras (4-7) on July 19, looking to bounce back from a tough loss to Shakopee on July 17. That night, the Cubs faced a tenacious pitching staff and fell 4-0 in a Section 2 game.
Cubs ace Drake Kilber took the mound to face the Cobras from the Park National League. Going into the game, Kilber was tied with Pete Ohnsorg for the team lead in innings pitched (41.67) and had a 1.51 ERA, trailing only Nolan Kemp (0.31) and Sam Tyrpa (1.40).
Cubs pitching continues to be one of the team’s strengths. Of the eight pitchers with more than 10 innings pitched, seven have an ERA under 3.00.
After two innings, the Cobras had failed to score as Kilber struck out four to keep the game scoreless. In the bottom of the second, Mac Born led off with a single and later scored on Jaeger Solis’ fielder’s choice. The Cubs would then mathematically double their run total in each of the next three innings.
In the third inning, Maddox Foss led off by reaching first on an error by the first baseman. Wyatt Rogers followed with a single. Foss scored on a wild pitch, and Rogers came home on a hit by Michael Gabbard to give Chaska a 3-0 lead.
Minneapolis answered with three runs in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 3-3. Anthony Steinhoff (2-1, 2.70 ERA) came on in relief of Kilber.
The Cubs regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth when Jacob Welter reached on another error by the first baseman. Both teams’ infields appeared to struggle with the dry field conditions, leading to several fielding and throwing miscues.
Welter stole second and scored on Wyatt Rogers’ deep single to left. Walker Rogers reached on another Cobras error to load the bases. Wyatt later scored on an Alex Twenge line drive to right, and Walker crossed the plate after Mac Born reached base on yet another Cobra error. Chaska led 6-3 after four innings.
The Cubs sent 10 batters to the plate in the fifth inning. Hayden Anthony led off with a single and stole second. Maddox Foss then blasted his first home run of the season over the left-field fence. Wyatt Rogers drew a walk, and his brother Walker singled to move him to third. Alex Twenge also walked before Mac Born came within a few feet of matching Foss’s home run, driving a long ball off the fence to score both Rogers brothers. Twenge and Born later scored on a hit by Michael Gabbard as the Cubs extended their lead.
Matthew Totten (1-1, 1.82 ERA) pitched the sixth and seventh innings for Chaska and held Minneapolis scoreless.
The sixth inning also gave Cubs fans a chance to see some of the club’s veteran pitchers at the plate. Normally a relief pitcher, Andy Dauwalter stepped into the batter’s box, and fellow reliever Mason Windschitl followed with a walk. The Cubs did not score in the sixth but ended the game in the seventh via the 10-run rule.
Tyler Polster led off the seventh with a walk. Hits by Mac Born and Michael Gabbard moved Polster to third before Hayden Anthony drove him home to give Chaska a 13-3 victory.
Cubs’ manager Bob Poppitz commented after the game.
“Each game we try to put the best lineup we have on the field, and most nights it clicks,” he said. “The guys did it tonight. It’s great to have a solid bench with players who can step in whenever they’re needed.”
Coach Ben Hendrickson added, “The team is on track and headed in the right direction at this point in the season. No worries at all. It’s great to have so much talent and guys who gut it out.”
Statistics for the Cubs prior to the Minneapolis game:
- Games played: Walker Rogers and Griff Wurtz – 24
- At-bats: Walker Rogers – 88
- Home runs: Walker Rogers – 6; Mac Born – 5
- Batting average (minimum 30 at-bats): Maddox Foss – .367 (34 AB), Wyatt Rogers – .333 (64 AB), Walker Rogers – .330 (64 AB)
The Cubs traveled to Burnsville on July 21 before returning home for a four-game homestand on July 22, 23, 24 and 26.
On July 29, the Cubs will host perennial Minnesota baseball power Meisville, the defending Class A state champion.
