CornBelters Break Tie Late to Defeat Aviators
August 29, 2015 - Frontier League (FL)
Normal CornBelters News Release
ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Normal CornBelters, presented by Illinois Corn Farmers, broke a tie with runs in the final two innings to defeat the Rockford Aviators 7-5 on Saturday night at Aviators Stadium.
Richard Lucas powered a two-run homer over the tall left field wall in the second inning to give the CornBelters the early lead, but the advantage was cut in half in the bottom of the frame with an RBI triple by Dusty Robinson followed by a two-out game-tying single by Justin Fox.
The Belters regained the lead in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Ozney Guillen after Richard Lucas walked and Cameron Monger reached on an error. Jim Vahalik drove in Monger on a scalded low liner off the first baseman's mitt to push the Belters advantage to 4-2.
The Aviators again countered quickly as they used a lead-off walk, a single, an RBI double from Fox and a two-run two-base hit by Michael Hur in their fourth inning to take a 5-4 lead.
The game was knotted again as Guillen homered to right in the sixth inning for a 5-5 score. The CornBelters took the lead in the eighth inning on an unearned run when a ground ball by Chirino was muffed with the bases loaded, scoring Sam Judah from third base. Pat McKenna provided insurance with an opposite-field home run to right center field in the ninth inning.
Cole Brocker (5-2) worked the eighth inning for the win and Race Parmenter retired the side in order in the ninth for his 20th save. Matt Frahm (2-4) pitched the eighth inning and took the loss.
The CornBelters (55-34) maintain a four-game lead over the River City Rascals with seven games remaining and reduce their magic number to clinch the Frontier League West Division to three. The Aviators (45-44) remain tied with Florence for the final wild card playoff spot.
The CornBelters conclude the final regular season road trip at Rockford on Sunday at 3:05 p.m. against the Rockford Aviators as right-hander Jake Negrete (2-0, 2.46 ERA) starts on the mound for the Belters. The broadcast on WEZC-FM 95.9 and WJBC.com begins at 2:50 p.m. from Aviators Stadium with listen links found on Facebook, Twitter (@normal_baseball) and www.normalbaseball.com.
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