Rockets struggle on weekend trip

HAMMOND and MISHAWAKA — The Rockets had won seven in a row.

After a long, hot weekend on the road, it’s time to regroup.

The Portland Rockets went 1-3 over the weekend, splitting a doubleheader Saturday against the Hammond Lakers before dropping a pair of games Sunday to the Mishawaka Brewers.

Portland has dropped four of its last five as it gets read for a three-game homestand beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday against the Fort Wayne Titans.

Some early offense was enough for the Rockets (7-5) in their opener Saturday. They scored five times in the first inning sparked by a T.J. Lindstrand grand slam.

Garrett Scott and Austin Bueter made sure those runs were enough. The former went the first six innings for the win, and the latter struck out the side in the seventh inning to secure the save in the 5-3 victory.

Hammond took the second game 5-4 on a walk-off error after the Rockets had pulled even in the top of the seventh inning. Bueter suffered the loss in relief of Mitch Waters.

On Sunday, Portland managed just three hits in its opening 6-0 loss. It jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second game, but couldn’t muster much more offense as Mishawaka rallied for a 6-5 victory.