FL River City Rascals

Rascals Close out Road Trip with Tough Loss

Published on June 5, 2016 under Frontier League (FL)
River City Rascals News Release


The Boomers scored two runs in the eighth inning and the Rascals were defeated in the final game of the six game road trip Sunday afternoon in Schaumburg. Despite the loss, the Rascals won five out of the six and have a day off before opening up a seven game home stand.

It was Joe Scanio on the mound for River City and he was solid notching his 2nd quality start of the year and lasting six and 2/3 innings. The Rascals opening day starter remained at 2-1 as he took a no decision.

The Schaumburg Boomers took their first lead of the series in the first opportunity as four consecutive baserunners reached base despite only two hits. Scanio allowed a leadoff single up the middle to Josh Gardiner and then Jordan Dean bounced one to the third baseman and the Rascals got the lead runner out, but the speedy Dean reached on a fielders choice. Dean stole second, advanced to third on a Mark Nelson single and then came home to score a few pitches later on an error from the shortstop Johnny Morales giving the Boomers a 1-0 lead. Following that run, Scanio didn't allow a run the following five innings.

"I felt good overall, I've been working on the sinker a lot more," Scanio said. "I gave up a couple hits early with a blooper and then some ground balls that found a hole," Scanio said. "I stuck with throwing the sinker low and if they were going to beat me then it was going to be with that."

On the mound for the Boomers was Seth Webster and he kept the Rascals out of scoring position for the first four innings. That trend would end in the fifth as Clint Freeman launched a solo home run over the right center wall to tie the game at one. The homer was his second of the year and is now tied with Mike Jurgella for second on the team in that category.

"I always try to go up to the plate loose and just not think too much. Today I was able to hit whatever he threw to me. He made a mistake with a two strike count and I was able to put it over the wall. I'm happy to see some progression," Freeman said.

Scanio held the game at a 1-1 tie in bottom of the fifth and the Rascals brought up the top of the order in the next half inning.

Josh Silver would give the Rascals the lead with his fifth home run of the year, a solo shot to left and the Rascals had a 2-1 lead. In the following inning, Clint Freeman tallied his third consecutive hit, a single to lead off the seventh and then got to second after a Kyle Gaedele single.

Manager Steve Brook asked Mike Jurgella to lay down a sacrifice bunt and he was successful moving both runners into scoring position with one out. However, Webster settled down and got a pair of ground outs to keep the Rascals lead at one heading into the stretch.

With two outs and a runner on first, cleanup hitter Dusty Robinson came to the plate and hit a double to the left center gap and Jordan Dean with good speed was able to score from first. That would be the last batter Scanio faced as Brook went to his situational lefty Michael Gunn to record the final out.

In his fifth start of the year, Scanio finished scattering two runs on eight hits and struck out four. With the good outing, the righty capped off the road trip with the starters allowing just nine runs in 39.2 innings.

Nick Kennedy came on to pitch the bottom of the eighth and a lead off infield hit put the go ahead run on first with no outs. The leadoff runner, Chris Robinson, was retired as Ino Patron reached on fielders choice and then got to second on a throwing error. With the winning run in scoring position, Kennedy got a strikeout but then a RBI triple from Mikal Hill and a RBI single from Josh Gardiner gave the Boomers their biggest lead of the series and they would go on to win 4-2.

The Rascals didn't go down easy in the ninth against Seth Webster, who threw a complete game. Robby Enslen and Kyle Gaedele singled and both got into scoring position with two outs but a ground out ended it dropping the Rascals record to 12-8.

Winning his second game of the year, Webster allowed 10 runs on two hits and struck out three.

"He has good stuff and he was able to command all of his pitches, he made a few mistakes but he is a competitor and he kept his cool when guys reached base on him," Freeman said.

The Rascals have a day off on Monday before opening up a seven game home stand against the Florence Freedom and the rival Southern Illinois Minors. First pitch on Tuesday is scheduled for 6:35 p.m..

"Great road trip overall, team looks good and it's always good to go back home," Scanio said. "We get a day off tomorrow and then I am looking forward to playing again at CarShield Field."

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