FL River City Rascals

Ball Bounces Miners Way in ComeBack

Published on August 29, 2007 under Frontier League (FL)
River City Rascals News Release


Marion, IL - As cliché as it may sound, the Southern Illinois Miners won a game of inches by a matter of them as a few breaks went the home teams' way as they rallied to defeat the River City Rascals 7-4 Wednesday night at Rent One Park.

Jeff Miller got the Rascals kick-started in the first off Miner right-hander Nick Tisone with his second home run in as many days to make it 1-0 River City.

Jonathan Miller breezed through the first three innings for River City, allowing just one hit while striking out four.

The Miners finally got to the righty in the fourth when Andre Marshall singled leading off and then scored on a fielder's choice ground ball. Chris Hall picked up the RBI and the game was tied at one.

Southern Illinois followed up their run by sitting the Rascals down in order in the fifth and then sent two long balls over the fence in the home half of the inning. Joey Metropoulos led off with his nine blast of the season, his second of the series, and that was followed one out later by Mike Scanzano, his first of the season making it 3-1 Miners.

Tisone, in control of the game since the first inning, left in the sixth with one out with an apparent arm injury. Brian Wilburn was his replacement and the Rascals came to life off the left hander in the seventh.

With one out Jared Bunn walked, moved to second on a throwing error and then scored on a Ryan Czyz single. Czyz took second on the throw home, but it didn't matter where he was at as Ken Lup then tripled off the new pitcher Rick Hummel to tie the game. With Lup at third, Jeff Landry was hit by a pitch. Brad Hough then came to the plate and bounced a ball back to Hummel. The right-hander started to throw to first but then realized he needed a double play. His hesitation cost the Miners as Hough was just safe at first to score Lup and the Rascals led 4-3.

It would stay that way until the eighth when the Miners singled off Miller to start the inning. Ralph Santana then sacrificed Scanzano to second. Miller was then lifted and Joe Newman came in. Newman faced one batter and induced a ground ball holding the runner at second for the second out.

With Newman on the mound Miner manager Mike Pinto brought in a right handed pinch hitter. Toby Rumfield countered and brought in Rascal closer Mike Benacka to face Mike Victor.

Victor, down 0-1 in the count, lifted a shallow fly ball to center that dropped and scored the tying run on a close play at the plate that could have been called either way. Jason Arrowood was the next hitter and he lined a pitch off base umpire Mark Winters that appeared to be heading to Landry at short for the final out to be made. By rule, the ball was called dead and Arrowood was awarded first base. Rascal killer Chris Hall then stepped to the plate 0-3 on the night. Hall came in with five of his then eleven home runs against the Rascals as he connected for his twelfth, off the very top of the fense in left, to put Southern Illinois on top for good at 7-4.

Mike Benacka blew his third save of the season and dropped to 2-5 going .1 innings and allowing the three runs on three hits.

Travis Hope (4-3) came into the game for the Miners in the eighth and worked two innings for the win. Miller pitched well for the Rascals as he struck out ten in 7.1 innings as he received a no decision.

The Rascals (35-57) now return home for their last home stand of the season as River City hosts the Gateway Grizzlies. First pitch from T.R. Hughes Ballpark will be at 7:05 pm on Thursday night. Justin Young (0-0) will take the mound for River City.

Check out the River City Rascals Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Frontier League Stories from August 29, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central