
Rascals clinch second playoff birth in franchise history
September 4, 2009 - Frontier League (FL)
River City Rascals News Release
MARION, IL - The Rascals earned their second playoff berth in franchise history with a 7-4 victory Friday night over the Miners in front of 5,611 at Rent One Park. The Rascals win, coupled with Windy City's 3-2 loss to Rockford, sent River City back to the playoffs for the first time since 2000.
River City (55-37) scored in six of the nine frames and took an early 2-0 lead on a sacrifice fly by Ernie Banks and a double by Ryan Wehrle. The Rascals would touch up Joe Augustine (7-5) for four more runs before his exit in the sixth.
Scott Houin put the Rascals up for good at 4-3 with a two out double in the fourth. Joe Chavarria reached on his second single with two outs and scored all the way from first. Jorge Gutierrez and Danny Sawyer added solo home runs late to preserve the win.
Southern Illinois (55-39) took a brief 3-2 lead after the first inning, responding with three runs after the Rascals put up two in the top half. Tony Roth launched a solo shot to left against Daniel Howard (6-5) and Landon Camp knocked in two on a single up the middle.
Howard settled down and didn't allow another run in his six innings of work. The right-hander surrendered seven hits and three runs with five strikeouts and four walks for his sixth victory.
Augustine was tagged with the loss after entering the game with a 2-0 record against the Rascals. The seven game winner allowed six runs (five earned) on nine hits in 5.2 innings with three strikeouts.
Jason Lowey followed two frames from Tony Marsala with a perfect ninth inning for his Frontier League leading 23rd save.
Houin, Chavarria and JoJo Batten each had two hits while five different Rascals each knocked in one run.
Roth, Joey Metrolpoulos and Brad Miller each finished with two hits in a losing effort for the Miners.
The Rascals can lock up the division crown with one win in the final two games in Southern Illinois. Stephen Flake (5-4) will take the bump opposite Ryan Kussmaul (4-0) tomorrow night. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
Frontier League Stories from September 4, 2009
- Unlucky Otters Lose 13th in a Row - Evansville Otters
- Shaffer and Company Wins Fourth Straight - Midwest Sliders of Ypsilanti
- Rascals clinch second playoff birth in franchise history - River City Rascals
- Paul Fagan receives Brian Tollberg Most Valuable Pitcher Award - Lake Erie Crushers
- Peters lead Grizzlies to win over Otters - Gateway Grizzlies
- Bolts fall in first game - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Calderwood Selected as Broadcaster of the Year - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Beach Bums dropped by Kalamazoo - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Homers carry Freedom to victory - Florence Y'alls
- Florence Freedom Get by Wild Things 7-4 - Washington Wild Things
- Miners Players, Front Office Earn League Honors - Southern Illinois Miners
- Parker, Three Rascals Earn Postseason Honors - River City Rascals
- ThunderBolts win Frontier League Awards - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Windy City blows away Miners - Southern Illinois Miners
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