FL River City Rascals

Rascals Defeat Grizzlies

Published on June 27, 2007 under Frontier League (FL)
River City Rascals News Release


Sauget, IL -- The Gateway Grizzlies got a quality start and timely hitting on Tuesday to defeat the Rascals and take a 6-3 season series edge on River City. The Rascals were back in Sauget on Wednesday night as they entered 13 games back of Gateway in the Frontier League West.

The Grizzlies came into Wednesday night's game 16-3 at GCS Ballpark and 17-4 in the division.

The Rascals were only able to manage one run off Toro Trevino and staff last night, but wouldn't have to wait long to surpass that on Wednesday.

Brad Hough doubled off Grizzlie starter Chris Little with one out and advanced to third on an infield groundout from Trey Hendricks. Little then threw a wild pitch to the next batter Phil Laurent allowing Hough to score the game's first run. The Rascals didn't stop there. Laurent would later walk in the at-bat and was running on a 3-2 pitch to Andy Bettis. Bettis laced the pitch into the right center gap and the Rascals were on top 2-0 with the second double in the inning.

Albert Ayala got the start for the Rascals and he wouldn't allow a hit through the first four innings. Ayala would get some help from his defense when he finally did.

After a leadoff triple from second baseman Gregg Andrews, Chris Gibson hit a fly ball to center which Ryan Czyz settled under and then delivered a strike to home to throw out Andrews.

Even though Ayala wouldn't need the help from his offense, he would get it in the eighth and ninth.

The Rascals, leading 2-0, scored two runs in the top of the eighth coming off a two out RBI single from Andrew Sweet.

The Rascals added three more in the ninth as Ayala continued to put up goose eggs. Ken Lup and Czyz scored on a one out hit from Hendricks. The Hough would score on the RBI 37 from Laurent.

Ayala carried with him a shutout into the ninth and with two outs and two strikes, gave up a solo homerun to Mike Breyman to end the shutout bid. Ayala would get the next batter to strike out for the complete game win.

"I was able to get ahead of hitters tonight using my fastball," Ayala said after the game. "I mixed in a slider and some off-speed every once in a while, but the key was just attacking the hitters with my power stuff."

Ayala improved to 1-1 with the win and Little dropped to 3-2. The win pulls the Rascals to within 12 games of division leading Gateway.

The Rascals and Grizzlies split the brief two game series and now River City will travel to Southern Illinois for the first time to take on the Miners Thursday night at 7:05 pm. Steve Brook will get the start for the Rascals. River City was 1-3 against the Miners at T.R. Hughes earlier this season.

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Frontier League Stories from June 27, 2007


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