Button bloop boosts RiverHawks in 6-2 win
May 19, 2012 - Frontier League (FL)
Rockford RiverHawks News Release
O'FALLON, Mo. - The RiverHawks totaled 14 hits in their first win of the season, but most of their run-scoring in Saturday's 6-2 victory at River City came off two bloops and a blast off the wall.
Evan Button and Devin Shepherd's back-to-back, two-out hits in the fifth inning - Button's flare single to left field drove in two runs; Shepherd scorched a double off the base of the wall in right - keyed a three-run, tie-breaking rally. Elvin Millan's sixth-inning pop fly that landed just behind shortstop for a run-scoring single gave the Rockford pitching staff some breathing room.
Button was 2-for-4 and also singled in an insurance run in the ninth inning. Shepherd, who hit behind Button in the cleanup spot on Saturday, was 3-for-5.
Five Rockford pitchers combined on a five-hitter as the Rascals scratched out their runs on a RBI groundout by Charlie Lisk in the fourth inning and another by Jeremy Synan in the seventh. Drew Rucinski (1-0), who relieved starter Cody Hallahan with the bases loaded and two away in the fifth inning, struck out Lisk to end the threat and was awarded the win. Rucinski and three other relievers combined to retire the last eight batters of the game in order.
Lisk, the Frontier League's all-time home-run leader, is hitless in six at-bats in the season opening series.
Rockford never trailed. In the fifth inning, River City starter Justin Edwards (0-1) walked back-to-back hitters with one out and was then called for a balk. With two outs, Button dropped a soft single into shallow left field to break a 1-1 tie. He reached third thanks to an error on the play and scored on Shepherd's double off the Big Dog Wall.
The rubber match of the season-opening, three-game series is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Sunday.
The RiverHawks' home opener is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Friday, May 25 against Lake Erie. The Power Connection sponsors a postgame fireworks extravaganza.
The RiverHawks are members of the Frontier League, an independent professional baseball league in its 20th season. Games are broadcast on WNTA-FM (100.5) Advertising and season-ticket information is available by calling (815) 885-2255. Fans can also visit www.rockfordriverhawks.com.
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