FL River City Rascals

Crushers win 14-10 slugfest

Published on July 20, 2009 under Frontier League (FL)
River City Rascals News Release


O'FALLON, MO - The Crushers enacted some revenge on the Rascals, taking game one of the series 14-10 Monday night in front of 2,373 at T.R. Hughes Ballpark. River City took all three games against Lake Erie prior to the All-Star break.

Lake Erie (28-23) scored ten runs spread across the third, fourth and fifth innings. The Crushers hung five in the third on two home runs, both two run blasts against Chris Ingoglia (5-5). Drew Saylor and Luke Hetherington connected on the long balls to give Lake Erie a 6-3 lead.

The Crushers got another two run long ball, this one courtesy of Andrew Davis in the fourth inning. Saylor struck again in the fifth, plating two on a double to left field to make it 11-4 Crushers.

The Rascals (31-20) showed some resiliency in the sixth, scoring five runs to cut the deficit to 11-9. Seven consecutive Rascals reached base, courtesy of six singles and fielding error by Lake Erie. Jorge Gutierrez, Scott Houin, JoJo Batten, Chad Maddox and Scott Robinson each knocked in a four. River City was inches away from tying the game up when shortstop, Jodem Rivera, leaped a caught a liner drive off the bat of Joe Billick with the bases loaded.

Lake Erie tacked on a few more late in the game on Saylor's second home run of the night and an Eddie Tisdale two run blast in the ninth. All three runs were off Rascal reliever, Mike Hart.

Ingoglia picked up his fifth loss, allowing 11 runs on 12 hits in six innings with six strikeouts. The southpaw surrendered three home runs in the contest.

The Rascals actually took a 3-1 lead in the second inning on a long home run by Ryan Groth, a three-run blast over the right field wall.

Josh Faiola (2-6) earned the win in relief of Thomas Vassella, who lasted only three innings in his first start of the season allowing four runs on three hits. Faiola went 2.1 frames and gave up five runs (four earned) on five hits.

Jacinto Gonell picked up his eighth save, allowing only a Houin solo home run in the ninth.

Maddox, Robinson, Groth and Billick all had two hits with Groth driving in three and Houin a pair of runs.

Lake Erie had six players with at least two hits as the Crushers slam five runs round trippers after blasting seven last night against Gateway. Saylor was the star, going 3-4 with two home runs and five RBI.

The teams will meet in game two tomorrow night at T.R. Hughes when a pair of rookies take the mound. Pablo Lopez (1-0) will go up against Chris Rigo (NR), who is making his professional debut. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

Check out the River City Rascals Statistics

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Frontier League Stories from July 20, 2009


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