FL River City Rascals

Maddox Leads Rascals Past Kings 6-3

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


O'FALLON, MO - Chad Maddox cleared the bases with a bases loaded triple in the seventh inning to put the Rascals up for good as River City took the season series from Kalamazoo with a 6-3 victory Thursday night at T.R. Hughes Ballpark. The Rascals finished up the season 4-2 against the Kings, taking two of three at each location.

River City (45-35) was in danger of squandering a great opportunity with the bases loaded and nobody out in the seventh inning trailing 3-2. Danny Sawyer led off with a single and was safe at second on the throwing error by Joe DiPietro (7-6), who tried to catch Sawyer at second on a bunt off the bat of Jorge Gutierrez. Josh Banda also laid down a bunt and would reach on an Amos Ramon fielding error. In came Scott Reid, who struck out Scott Houin for the first out. JoJo Batten slapped a sharp groundball to Tim Brown at first, who went home for the force out. Then with two outs, Chad Maddox launched a three run triple off the wall in right centerfield to put the Rascals up 5-3. Ernie Banks followed with a single for the 6-3 final score.

Daniel Howard pitched 6.1 solid frames, allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits with six strikeouts. Howard picked up a no-decision when the Rascals got him off the hook in the seventh with four runs.

Kalamazoo (50-31) again jumped out with two runs in the first, both unearned against Howard. Kyle Higgins struck out swinging and reached a wild pitch and Joe Ramos walked to start the game. After a double steal, both runners would score on the same play as the Rascals committed two errors. Ryan Wehrle lost the ball in the sun and Maddox had the ball hop off his glove in left and over the side wall to allow the second run to score for a 2-0 Kings advantage.

The Rascals would tie it up in the fifth after Wehrle led off with a double and scored on a Chris Colton single up the middle. DiPietro would retire the next two before Ramon booted a Banda ball at third to plate an unearned run and tie the game at two.

DiPietro was tagged with the loss, surrendering six hits and five runs (two earned) in six plus innings. DiPietro struck out eight and walked one in the setback.

Tony Marsala (2-4) earned the win with an inning of work out of the bullpen, striking out one and allowing two hits.

Jason Lowey struck out the side in the ninth for his 19th save in 20 opportunities, one shy of tying Mike Benacka for the Rascals single season record.

Wehrle extended his hitting streak to ten games with a double and single, finishing 2-4. Ernie Banks knocked in a run on two hits, while Maddox went 1-3 with three runs batted in.

With the win, the Rascals again moved into a first place tie with Windy City atop the West Division and now welcome in the Beach Bums for a three game set. Brett Bostelman (7-5) will take the mound for Traverse City opposite Josh Lowey (6-2). Game time is set for 7:05 p.m.




Frontier League Stories from August 20, 2009


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