Iriart's Two Home Runs Lift Normal in Series Opener
June 27, 2018 - Frontier League (FL)
Normal CornBelters News Release
NORMAL, Ill. - The thunderstorms in the area broke up and let Chris Iriart stay red hot to knock two home runs in the series opener as the (17-20) Normal CornBelters defeated the (21-19) River City Rascals on Tuesday night.
After setting a Frontier League record with four home runs in four straight at-bats over the weekend at Gateway and collecting four home runs along with eight RBIs, Iriart stayed hot and smacked another two into left field. His first was a two-run homer in the sixth that tied the game at four and to become the league leader with 13th. In his next at-bat, Iriart launched the first pitch he saw into left again for his 14th home run to give Normal a 6-4 advantage. He recorded his third straight multi-RBI game along with his eighth extra-base hit in the last three games and just one strikeout.
"Chris has been locked in. We talked about his approach over the weekend, and kind of change his approach a little bit," said Billy Horn. Having better command of his body, taking some pitches earlier in the count and he has been working some pitchers. He is swinging the bat well and making really good contact and obviously when hits the ball, he is going to hit it pretty hard or a long way."
David Perez in his first start didn't last long. The righty went three innings and gave up two runs while walking and striking out four Rascals. Mark Hendricks came in next and gave Normal three innings of work and only gave up just one run. In his 12th appearance, he struck out four and walked one.
Jonathan de Marte bounced back after his rough appearance of the season at Gateway and picked up his first win on the year. He pitched a perfect seventh and eighth with three strikeouts. Anthony Herrera followed and struck out two to earn his third save.
"Him (de Marte) and I spoke after the game at Gateway and I told him that hey, it's going to happen. You have pitched in 17 games and pitched really well in 16 of them. Don't try to be a perfectionist, don't get yourself down. I told him if we didn't have an off day tomorrow and had a game tomorrow, in a close game, you're in the game and luckily that happened tonight. He came in and did his thing, and gave us a chance to win."
Each team started the game with bringing in a run across in the first. An inning later, River City took advantage of a Perez error and scored two runs to take a 3-1 lead.
The CornBelters tied for the third time in the fourth. Joel Davis and Tony Holton hit back-to-back singles to start. Iriart drove in his first of three RBIs. The newly acquired Nick Garland then did his job and bunted the runners over. Sam Vega then hit a sac fly to left on a 3-2 count to tie the game at three.
Normal sends Illinois State product Jack Landwehr tomorrow in game two of the series with first pitch at 7:05 p.m.
Frontier League Stories from June 27, 2018
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- Thrilling Comeback Earns Bums Split in Doubleheader - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Otters Split Afternoon Doubleheader against Gateway - Evansville Otters
- Grizzlies Split Doubleheader in Evansville - Gateway Grizzlies
- Matt Portland Signs with White Sox - Normal CornBelters
- Joliet Swings Past Boomers in Middle Game - Schaumburg Boomers
- Wild Things Drop Middle Game of Series to Windy City - Washington Wild Things
- ThunderBolts Hold off Washington for 6-4 Win - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Iriart's Two Home Runs Lift Normal in Series Opener - Normal CornBelters
- Boomers Beat Weather and Slammers - Schaumburg Boomers
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