The Big Sticks were in Grand Forks once again for the last of three games on the road. After splitting the doubleheader yesterday, Friday’s matchup with the Wheat City Whiskey Jacks would be the rubber match of the series.

Starting on the mound for the Big Sticks, making his eighth start of the season after going seven innings in his last outing, was Joe Harris. For the Whiskey Jacks, it was Sam Marhefke who was also making his eighth start on the year.

The Sticks offense in this game was spearheaded by the efforts of Angel De La Cruz when he got them on the board in the top of the first on a two-run bomb to score Stafford.

Then, in the third, De La Cruz got another pitch to hit and he didn’t miss it, going yard for his second two-run homerun to put the Sticks up 4-0.

After getting the early run support, Joe Harris put on a show for the fans at Kraft Field. Harris tossed all nine frames on his way to a complete game, only allowing one run in the seventh by way of a sacrifice fly. This performance by Harris is the first nine-inning complete game for a Big Stick pitcher this season.

Even though Harris didn’t need it, the Sticks got a run in the eighth, as Stafford swiped home on a Gellos stolen base, and a run in the ninth, by way of an Alex Thurston sacrifice fly to score Chewy Sanders. This effort led to the Big Sticks being able to secure the 6-1 victory over Wheat City.

The Big Sticks got their 6 runs on 8 hits with no errors, and the Whiskey Jacks got their 1 run also on 8 hits with no errors. Joe Harris earned his third victory of the year to improve his record to 3-2. Sam Marhefke was tacked with the loss as he also pitched a complete game in this one.

The Big Sticks improve their second half record to 10-9 and are only one game out of first place behind the Sabre Dogs and Tommyknockers. The Whiskey Jacks fall to 7-12 on the half and are four games out of first as they sit second to last in the division.

The two teams will both head back to Dickinson as the series continues with two games at Dakota Community Bank & Trust Ballpark. First pitch on Saturday, July 23 is set for 7:35 PM MDT.