Garrett Anderson, shown here in a game from last year, started on the mound for Blue Earth against Minnesota Lake on July 6. He pitched into the fourth inning before being relieved by Cody Sukalski.

The Blue Earth Pirates had more hits than the Minnesota Lake Royals when the two teams met in Minnesota Lake on Wednesday night, July 6, but the Royals had more runs and defeated the Pirates 6-4.

Blue Earth took an early lead with two runs in the first inning. Leadoff batter TJ Stallman opened the game with a single and moved to second when Brandyn Olsen also singled. A bases-clearing double by Lee Hodges gave the Pirates their 2-0 lead.

Minnesota Lake used a pair of singles and a fielder’s choice to push one run across the plate in the bottom of the second inning to cut Blue Earth’s lead to 2-1.

Singles by Hunter Bleess and Garrett Anderson and a walk to Hodges loaded the bases for the Pirates in the top of the third inning. Blake Boran and Kaylan Legred each produced RBI singles to increase Blue Earth’s lead to 4-1.

The Royals tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. A single, three walks, a hit batter and a sacrifice fly enabled Minnesota Lake to score three runs and knot the game in a 4-4 tie.

Neither team scored in the fifth or sixth innings. However, the Royals took the lead for good when they produced two more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. A single followed by a triple just inside the foul line produced the first run. Another single plated the runner who was on third to give Minnesota Lake a 6-4 lead.

Blue Earth was held scoreless during their final two at-bats and the game ended with the Royals getting the win.

Olsen, Legred and Cody Sukalski each had two hits for the Pirates with Olsen and Hodges each hitting a double.

Hodges had two RBI with Boran and Legred each getting credit for one.

Anderson started on the mound for the Pirates. He pitched three and one third innings and allowed four runs, all earned, on three hits. He walked five batters and struck out three.

Sukalski entered the game in the fourth inning and pitched four and two thirds innings. He allowed two earned runs on five hits while walking one batter and striking out three.

The Pirates were at home for a game against the Jackson Bulls on Friday night, July 8, and entertained the Cleveland Spiders on July 10. They are scheduled to host the Lake Crystal Lakers in a doubleheader on Saturday, July 16, with the first game set to begin at noon.