Sports stats

FL River City Rascals

Rascals Come up One Run Short against Joliet Wednesday Night

June 30, 2016 - Frontier League (FL)
River City Rascals News Release


The River City Rascals had the tying run in scoring position with no outs in the ninth but were unable to capitalize off closer Brent Choban and fell by one run, 9-8, Wednesday night at CarShield Field.

It was an offensive show throughout as Joliet (24-17) and River City (20-19) combined for 29 hits and the hits starting piling up right away as each team exchanged a pair of runs in the opening frame highlighted by a solo home run from Alexi Colon, his sixth of the year. Robby Enslen provided the second RBI with a single that scored Josh Ludy to make it 2-2.

On the mound for the Rascals Wednesday night was Francis Ramirez and he kept the first place Slammers off the scoreboard in the second and got to pitch with the lead for the first time after a RBI single from Jason Merjano in the second inning off Slammers starter Liam O'Sullivan.

O'Sullivan's offense tied the game for him in their next opportunity and then he was unable to hold it as the Rascals scored for the third consecutive inning via a Griff Gordon RBI single to take a 4-3 lead.

O'Sullivan was 4-0 with a 2.23 ERA prior to the start and he would show good command in the next two innings by retiring six of the seven hitters and gave his team a chance to pile up some quality at-bats trailing 4-3.

The first place Slammers did just that and Phil Bates tied the game with home run off Ramirez to lead off the fifth inning. Charlie White singled but was caught stealing and then Ramirez would be chased out of the game after a double from Alfredo Rodriguez. Manager Steve Brook went to the first off his seven relievers and the Slammers found success off the first, Lucas Laster. After recording a ground out and issuing to walk to put two runners on, Flores went deep off Laster notching a three run home run and gave the Slammers the lead for the rest of the night.

Joe Staley kept the inning alive with a single and then the Slammers took a 9-4 lead one batter later with their third home run of the inning, a two run shot from Jake Gronsky.

Shane Street replaced Laster to begin the sixth and combined with five other relievers to keep the Slammers out of the run column for the remainder of the contest. River City began to rally in the bottom of the sixth and after back-to-back singles, Jason Merjano made O'Sullivan pay with a three run home run and brought the Rascals within two. Slammers manager Jeff Isom went to his bullpen with a 9-7 lead and brought in one of the top relievers in the league, Tyler Levine.

"I took a step back after having a rough game last night and went up there no trying to do too much," Merjano said. "I am trying to get back to my normal self instead of trying to kill the ball."

Levine, who has allowed just three runs in 27 2/3 innings came in and did not allow a hit for the duration of his relief appearance. He would be pulled after recording the first out of the eighth inning and Isom went to his closer Tyler Choban to record a five out save.

Choban retired the first two hitters in the eighth inning and then after a quick inning from Rascals reliever Jared Wilson in the ninth, the Rascals had an opportunity to record their first walk-off win since August 28th, 2015 against the Lake Erie Crushers.

Alexi Colon led things off with a walk and then moved over to third after a single from Mike Jurgella and an error from the Slammers third baseman, which also put Jurgella in scoring position.

However, Choban settled down and recorded his third save of the year by recording a pair of ground outs, including a RBI ground out from Willi Martin and then with the go-ahead run at the plate and two outs, Choban struck out Enslen to even up the series.

"We are in every game and it just took one more hit to shift the outcome of that game," Merjano said. "We will continue to fight and I know it's all going to come together soon."

The win forces the rubber match Thursday night and the Rascals are trying to avoid dropping a home series to the Slammers for the first time since 2012. Zeb Sneed will take the mound for the Rascals and first pitch is scheduled for 6:35 at CarShield Field.

Check out the River City Rascals Statistics



Frontier League Stories from June 30, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent River City Rascals Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central