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FL River City Rascals

Ninth Inning Home Run Spoils Rascals' Home Opener

May 20, 2016 - Frontier League (FL)
River City Rascals News Release


A three-run home run in the final frame spoiled the 2016 home opener for the River City Rascals (3-3) Friday night at CarShield Field as they fell to the Gateway Grizzlies (4-3), 6-3.

After Zeb Sneed tossed eight innings allowing three runs on seven hits, right-hander Jared Wilson came in with the game tied at three in the ninth inning. After retiring the first two hitters on a groundout and a fly out, a slow roller to second base by Tyler Tewell put him on to extend the inning. Wilson walked the following batter and then Sam Fischer launched the home run over the right-center wall giving the Grizzlies a three-run lead.

Rascal's first baseman Clint Freeman led off the bottom of the ninth with a single, but Grizzlies closer Nate Carter got a strikeout, groundout and then centerfielder Brandon Thomas made a diving catch to end the ballgame, snapping the Rascals three game winning streak.

Carter was the third pitcher of the night for the Grizzlies and earned the save. Adam Eggnatz, who threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings, earned his first win of the season and Wilson was tagged with the loss.

In the first official game in newly named CarShield Field, the Rascals gave the fans something to cheer about right away. After Sneed shut down the Grizzlies in order in the first, Dominique Taylor notched a double and Grizzlies starter Will Landsheft walked Kyle Gaedele and Josh Ludy to load the bases with one out.

Josh Silver then ripped one down the left field line for a two RBI double and Griff Gordon recorded a RBI ground out to give the Rascals a 3-0 lead after the opening frame.

However, that would be all the runs the Rascals would get and the two teams would be tied after the third inning. Brandon Thomas had a solo home run in the second and the Grizzlies tallied three consecutive hits to score a pair of runs in the third that tied the game at three.

Sneed kept the Grizzlies off the scoreboard the remaining five frames he threw and the Rascals best chance to give him the lead came in the sixth when the bases were loaded with two outs. A groundout ended the threat and the Rascals failed to get a runner in scoring position the rest of the game.

Sneed continued to keep the club in the ballgame though, setting down 10 in a row before his night was over.

"The first four innings I was kind of all over the place but then figured it out and settled down after the 5th inning," Sneed said after the game. "I figured out what I should have been doing the first four innings and my defense also made some great plays. It felt great to start again."

Offensively for the Rascals, Dominique Taylor and Josh Silver extended their hitting streaks to six games, and Silver leads the team with seven RBI.

Game two of the three game series continues tomorrow at CarShield Field against the Grizzlies. Rascals starting southpaw Jason Ziegler makes his debut and first pitch is scheduled for 6:35.

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