Aviators Win 3-0; Lose 5-2
July 22, 2014 - Frontier League (FL)
Rockford Aviators News Release
LOVES PARK, IL - The Rockford Aviators, presented by Pearson, split a double-header with the River City Rascals to open up a four-game series tonight at Aviators Stadium.
Game 1
A dominant pitching performance and well-timed hits led the Aviators to a shutout victory over the Rascals 3-0.
Things looked a little shaky for Aviators starting pitcher, Ryan Zimmerman, in the top of the first inning as the Rascals loaded the bases, but were unable to score. That was the only time in the game that a Rascal base runner made it past second base.
Zimmerman had perhaps his best performance of the year. He threw six innings and never allowed a run while giving up just six hits while walking just one batter and striking out five en route to his third victory of the season.
The win helped drop Zimmerman's ERA from 4.30 to 3.86.
Tanner Witt had his second home run of the year, a solo shot, in the bottom of the third inning to put the Aviators up 1-0 and they never looked back.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Tyger Pederson had a RBI double that allowed Kenny Bryant to score from second to give the Aviators a 2-0 lead.
Insurance runs are always helpful and the Aviators tacked one on in the bottom of the sixth inning on a RBI double by Mason Morioka that scored Kyle Dhanani to make the score 3-0.
Gerardo Sanchez entered the game in the top of the seventh inning for his first appearance since the 2014 Frontier League All-Star Game. He picked up his thirteenth save of the season after allowing two hits and striking out one batter.
Game 2
The long ball ultimately led to the loss for the Aviators in the second game of the double-header as the Rascals won 5-2.
In the top of the third inning, Zach Kometani hit a three-run bomb off of Nick Grim to give the Rascals a 3-0 lead near the midway point of the game.
The Aviators had their chances, however, putting runners at second and third base three times, but were never able to push a run across.
In the top of the seventh inning, the bad just got worse as Josh Smoker gave up a two-run jack to the league-leader, Josh Ludy, to make the score 5-0.
Things got a little interesting in the bottom of the seventh as Michael Hur hit his first home run of the year, a two-run shot, that cut the lead to 5-2, but with a runner on first, Edgar Corcino and Kenny Bryant each struck out and the Aviators rally fell short.
The Aviators and the Rascals will play the third game of the series on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. and gates will open at 6:05 p.m. It will be Read Around the Bases night and all kids who have completed the Read Around the Bases program will receive free admission to the game.
For ticket information, visit www.rockfordaviators.com or call the box office at 815-885-2255.
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