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FL River City Rascals

Dominant Start from Tim Koons Snaps Losing Streak

June 28, 2016 - Frontier League (FL)
River City Rascals News Release


Tim Koons led the way with a dominant pitching performance and Mike Jurgella drove in the winning runs in the seventh inning to give the Rascals a 2-1 victory over the Joliet Slammers and snap their six game losing streak Tuesday night at CarShield Field.

The 2-1 lead not only broke the losing skid and avoided River City (20-18) falling to .500 for the first time since May 29th, but it was their first lead in the past 41 innings played here at CarShield Field.

Battling throughout the night with Koons was the Slammers southpaw Sean Townsley and he had a 1-0 lead to work with after the fourth inning via a RBI single from Marc Flores. Townsley allowed only one runner in scoring position in the first six frames and the only Rascals to record a hit off him were Josh Ludy, Steve Pascual and Willi Martin.

However that would change and the lefty got into trouble in the seventh inning as Kyle Gaedele drew a one out walk representing the tying run in a 1-0 game. One pitch later, Clint Freeman hit a ball on the ground to the first baseman but the Slammers were unable to turn a double play retiring just Gaedele at the second base bag.

Making his Rascals debut, Pascual moved Freeman into scoring position with a single and chased Townsley out of the game with two on and two out and top of the order due up next.

"I was a little nervous at first tonight but then when I got in there I just focused on sticking to a certain approach and was able to have a lot of fun," Pascual said.

Slammers manager Jeff Isom went to the righty Kevin Simmons and he walked Alexi Colon on six pitches to load the bases and put the tying run in scoring position for Mike Jurgella. Down to his final strike, Jurgella lined a single over the shortstops head and Freeman and Pascual came into score without a throw giving the Rascals a 2-1 lead.

"Simmons got ahead of me in the count and then with two strikes I just battled and got a pitch that I was able to handle," Jurgella said. "Koons was dealing so I was happy I was able to give him the lead."

A ground ball up the middle ended the frame and Tim Koons got to come back out and needed one out to record a new season high for innings pitched. He recorded two before a single from Carter Bell set up a situational matchup with lefty Michael Gunn and Marc Flores. Gunn came it firing strikes and struck Flores out to keep Koons in line for the win.

"I came in with the goal of pumping strikes and wanted to set the game up for Zac Treece to shut the door in the ninth," Gunn said.

Koons finished with a season high 7 2/3 innings allowing one run on five hits and tallied a season high eight strikeouts, one shy of tying his career high. The third year Rascal retired nine in a row at one point and had all his pitches working for him to improve to 3-1 on the year.

"He had a great breaking ball tonight and his sinker was running from hitters," manager Steve Brook said. "All-around great outing tonight and when you are struggling that's what you need, a pitcher that goes out there and gives you a great chance to win."

Prior to tonight, the Rascals were 14-0 when leading after eight innings and closer Zac Treece kept that trend going as he retired the side with a pair of strikeouts to snap the Rascals six game losing skid.

"It felt great when he recorded that final out," DH Willi Martin said. "We needed a win to get this season rolling again and I got a good feeling about this final stretch right here before the all-star break."

The Rascals play 13 games in the next twelve days before the all-star break and this series with the Slammers continues Wednesday night as Francis Ramirez takes the mound for the second time this year. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 at CarShield Field.

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