Zach Jones celebrated his 21st birthday by throwing six innings of one-run baseball and pitching the Waterloo Bucks into sole possession of first-place.

Lead-off hitter Mike Nyisztor reached base all five times he came to bat and score on four occasions as part of Waterloo's 7-1 victory over the Rochesters Honkers at Riverfront Stadium Saturday evening. Nyisztor went 3-for-3 with a pair of walks. He scored four times and drove in two runs, and also stole two bases.

Nyisztor opened the scoring with a two-run single in the second inning, then Blake Berry followed with a two-run double. The Bucks (4-1) scored their fifth run when Nyisztor stole second with two out in the fourth inning and came home on Dylan Phillips' RBI single. Nyisztor scored again in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Phillips, then touched home in the eighth on an Alex Ronnebaum run-scoring ground out.

Seven runs was more than enough for Jones. Over his 6.0 frames, he struck out seven while scattering five hits and walking none. Adam Ketelsen, Drew Irvine and Connor Anderson each fired a shutout inning of relief with four combined strikeouts and only two baserunners allowed.

The Bucks are now alone in first place in the Great Plains-East Division, with a one-game lead over second place Duluth.

Waterloo will finish the two-game series with Rochester on the road Sunday afternoon. The two teams will play at Mayo Field in Rochester, Minn., starting at 1:05 PM.

Contributing Author: Thomas Breach - Waterloo Bucks

More From Q98.5