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FL River City Rascals

Rascals Defeat CornBelters in Extra Innings to Begin Road Trip

June 15, 2016 - Frontier League (FL)
River City Rascals News Release


Griff Gordon homered with two outs to tie the game in the top of the ninth and Robbie Enslen came around to score on an error in extra innings to guide the Rascals to a 3-2 victory Tuesday night in Normal against the CornBelters.

The Rascals have now won nine of their past ten games on the road and while the offense came up clutch at the end of the game, the pitching staff delivered a solid pitching performance to keep the Rascals in striking distance throughout.

Jason Ziegler got the start and he had his best performance of the season. The southpaw began the game retiring the first six hitters and had a 1-0 lead after a solo home run from Kyle Gaedele in the first inning, his fourth in the past five days.

Ziegler would go on to allow just three hits through the next four frames but still had no breathing room as the Rascals wouldn't be able to scratch across a run the rest of the way off Cornbelters starter Michael Schweiss. Prior to this start, Ziegler had 21 runs of his support in 15 1/3 innings.

"It was a little different tonight knowing I can't give up any runs," Ziegler said. "They had a great pitcher so I knew I had to be spot on tonight to get our team a win."

In the bottom of the seventh, Ziegler retired Dillon Haupt and then gave up a single to put the tying run on base. Manager Steve Brook went to reliever Will Schierholz and after getting a pop out in the infield, left-handed slugger Nolan Meadows launched a two-run shot over the right field wall to give the Cornbelters a 2-1 lead.

One of the runs was given to Ziegler and he finished allowing just the one run on four hits in a season high 6 1/3 innings. The southpaw has now thrown two great outings on the road and has maintained a 2.41 ERA in 11 2/3 innings in the pair of starts away from CarShield Field.

"I was just trying to fill up the strike zone and let my defense work behind me," Ziegler said. "I had a good bullpen session with all my pitches and it carried over to the mound."

With the 2-1 lead, the 2015 Frontier League Manager of the Year Brooks Carey turned it over to his ace out of the bullpen, Francsico Carillo and he struck out two to keep the Rascals off the board in the eighth and set up a save situation for Race Parmenter.

Parmenter retired Colon and Jurgella and then with two outs Gordon tied the game up with his first home run of the season.

"I was just trying to get on base to put the tying run on," Gordon said. "I got an off speed pitch and caught it out in front and got enough of it to help get the win. It's a really good win for us to come from behind in late innings."

Lucas Laster, Nick Kennedy and Michael Gunn each recorded an out in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extras.

Clint Freeman flew out to the left and then Enslen represented the go-ahead run in scoring position as he ripped a ground rule double to left center. Two pitches later, Jason Merjano moved him to third base with a ground out and then an error by the third baseman on a ball hit by Johnny Morales allowed Enslen to score the winning run.

"It's always about the little things and moving up on the base paths. The ball was hit to the right side and when you are on third base you have a better chance of scoring so it was some good small ball and that's what can win you baseball games. It was a great win, got a good performance from our pitching staff, a big knock from Griff Gordon and it was fun to be a part of."

Closer Zac Treece came on for his sixth save opportunity and was successful retiring the side in order including a pair of strikeouts.

"I was in the bullpen ready to go and Brook told me if we get the lead then I'm going in," Treece said. "That's what I live for, having the team take the lead and getting to go out there and shut the door for them to solidify the win."

It was the first win at the Corn Crib since May 21st, 2014 and the Rascals look to win the series Wednesday night with Tim Koons on the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 with Tim Koons on the mound.

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