Nic Jackson belted two home runs and Jake Laber pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings to lead the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks to a 6-2 victory over the Kansas City T-Bones in front of a sell-out crowd of 4,893 at Newman Outdoor Field on July 7, 2012.
Jackson’s first home run started the scoring in the first. Jackson turned on a 2-1 change-up and sent it over the right field fence giving the RedHawks a 1-0 lead.
Fargo-Moorhead increased their lead to 3-0 in the fourth after a Ryan Delgado line drive single scored Jackson and Jon Gaston advanced home after a throwing error by Kansas City catcher Bubby Williams bounced into the outfield.
Eric Campbell singled, Delgado doubled, and Todd Jennings singled in the sixth to increase the RedHawks lead to 5-0.
Kansas City would attempt a rally in the seventh, hitting three straight singles before RedHawks reliever Mike Zenko finished the inning off with a fly-out.
Nic Jackson would put a stamp on the RedHawks victory with his sixth home run of the season and gave the RedHawks enough of a cushion en-route to the 6-2 victory
Nic Jackson was 3-for-4 with two home runs, three runs, and two RBIs and Ryan Delgado was 2-for-4 with a double, a run, and two RBIs to lead Fargo-Moorhead (26-21).
“His bat’s got a little juice in it recently,” said RedHawks manager Doug Simunic on Jackson, “this ballpark is made for him.”
Bubby Williams was 3-for-4 with two RBIs on a double in the ninth and Devin Goodwin was 2-for-4 for the T-Bones (27-22). Starting pitcher Brian Grening (5-3) was the losing pitcher, throwing seven innings and giving up six runs (five earned) on 11 hits with six strikeouts.
Redhawks starter Jake Laber pitched 6 2/3 innings giving up no runs on six hits, two walks, with six strikeouts. Mike Zenko pitched 1 2/3 innings of relief before Tom Boleska came in to pick up his league leading 14th save of the season in the ninth. Boleska struck out one batter and caught a line drive in his 2/3 innings pitched.
“It was a good team effort,” explained RedHawks manager Doug Simunic, “the key to the game was Jake Laber we definitely need him in the win.”
The RedHawks and T-Bones continue their four-game series tomorrow with a 1:00 p.m. game. Tickets are still available at www.fmredhawks.com or by telephone at (701) 235-6161.
