Coach Joe Sczublewski and the Albert Lea High School baseball team know that to keep games close, the Tigers need tough pitching and solid defense.

Both were in short supply Tuesday.

The Tigers struggled against a strong Rochester John Marshall crew and lost 12-2 in a six-inning Big Nine game at Hayek Field.

&uot;They’ve got a pretty good team and a pretty good pitcher, and we didn’t play very well,&uot; said Sczublewski.

After taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, the Rockets exploded for eight runs in the second while chasing Albert Lea starter Josh Diaz. They added two in the fifth and ended it with one in the sixth.

The Tigers scored in the second, when Jared Butler singled, Kris Pleiss reached on an error and both scored on a double off the fence by Travis Klatt.

They were the Tigers’ only baserunners of the day off senior right-hander Greg Polp, who struck out eight and did not issue a walk.

Tony Dugstad pitched four-plus innings of effective relief for the Tigers, giving up three hits and no earned runs.

&uot;We had some errors at key times that kind of opened the flood gates,&uot; said Sczublewski. &uot;We’ve got to start hitting the ball better. Two hits is not going to cut it.&uot;

The Tigers, 1-7 in the Big Nine and 2-8 overall, travel to Mankato West for a 4 p.m. doubleheader Friday.

Rochester JM 12, Albert Lea 2

John Marshall

180

021

&045; 12

9

1

Albert Lea

020

000

&045;

0

2

2

LP &045; Josh Diaz