Balk is the talk of Lunkers' loss

On an overcast night in which the temperature dipped into the low 60s, the Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers warmed the stadium with explosive tempers stemming from a controversial balk call in the ninth inning that gave Rochester the go-ahead run in a 3-1 Honkers victory.

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The Lunkers have lost seven of their last nine games to drop to two games below .500 (14-16).

With runners on first and third with one out in the top of the ninth inning, Lunkers reliever Mike Frongello was called for a balk, bringing in the deciding Rochester run.

Manager Ryan Levendoski charged from the dugout for a tense argument with home-plate umpire Kyle Cothran. Frongello made his displeasure known during the remainder of the inning, making exaggerated - and legal - fake pickoff moves of the remaining runners on base.

Stephen Wickens took an unsuccessful swing Monday night during the Lunkers' game against the Rochester Honkers in Brainerd. Brainerd Dispatch/ Kelly Humphrey» Purchase reprints of this photo.

Rightfielder Michael Kvasnicka dropped a routine fly ball later in the inning, giving Rochester an insurance run.

After the inning's end, Frongello yelled at Cothran while leaving the mound. Levendoski bolted from the dugout to help catcher Nate Hammes escort the Frongello from the field. Frongello threw his glove and hat with authority once in the dugout. And assistant coach Shane Gunderson argued with Cothran before the bottom of the ninth.

Gunderson was ejected in the bottom of the ninth when he lit into field umpire Jon Burzynski to dispute a close double-up call. It was apparently the first time Gunderson has been tossed from a game in his lengthy career.

Levendoski declined to talk about the balk after the game. He did talk about Frongello, however.

"I liked how he was fired up," Levendoski said, "but he needs to control his emotions."

Rochester 3, Lunkers 1

Key play: A ninth-inning balk called on Lunkers reliever Mike Frongello scored the go-ahead run.

Attendance: 335

Records: Brd 14-16, Roch 17-12

Next: Rochester vs. Brainerd 7:05 p.m. Tuesday at Mills Field.

The story of the game, outside the late theatrics, was the poor situational hitting of both teams. Rochester stranded 12 runners and Brainerd stranded seven.

"We had chances but we couldn't get the crucial hit," Levendoski said. "Rochester could be saying the same thing."

Brainerd's only run came on Andrew Gudmunsen's RBI fielder's choice that brought home Dennis O'Grady in the third inning.

Lunkers starter Michael Gedman went eight innings, allowing one earned run and striking out seven. Gedman effectively danced from trouble after allowing 10 hits and one walk.

"He pitched phenomenal," Levendoski said.

Rochester 000 100 002 3 11 0

Brainerd 001 000 000 1 7 2

Rochester 3, Brainerd 1

WP: Jay Johnson. LP: Mike Frongello. Sv: Arik Sikula.

2B: Stephen Wickens (B), Corey Jones 2 (R), Danny Brock (R), Mitch Karraker (R).

SB: Justin Gominsky (B), Jones (R).

RBIs: A.Gudmunsen (B), P.J. Sequeira (R), John Tommasini (R).

LOB: Brd 7, Roch 12

T: 2:22