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FL River City Rascals

Rascals Drop Opening Game against Miners

June 11, 2016 - Frontier League (FL)
River City Rascals News Release


River City Rascals vs. the Southern Illinois Miners
River City Rascals vs. the Southern Illinois Miners
(River City Rascals, Credit: Ricky Rick Photography)

A run late in the contest for Southern Illinois gave the Miners a 5-4 win over the Rascals in game one of the four game series Friday night at CarShield Field. Both teams came in sweeping their previous opponent and the Miners carried a season long five game winning streak into these rivals first of 12 matchups this season.

The opponent jumped out to an early 3-0 lead off Rascals starter Tim Koons who was making his 2016 debut at CarShield Field. Aaron Gates led off with a double and then got to third on a ground out to the right side of the infield. Third place hitter Craig Massey followed that up with a three run home run and then the Miners hit their 18th home run of the season a few pitches later via Alex De Leon

Having scored 44 runs in their previous series against the Freedom, it was only fitting that the Rascals got a run in the first inning and they did with a RBI from cleanup hitter Jason Merjano to score Johnny Morales. It was the fourth year shortstops 19th run of the season and he leads the team in that category.

Southern Illinois responded and retook a three run lead their next opportunity for their starter Dan Ludwig. Shane Kennedy drew a walk to begin the frame and then went first to third on a single from Francisco Rosario. Koons went on to record three consecutive outs, however one of them was a groundout that scored Kennedy from third giving the Miners the 4-1 lead.

That would be all they would get off Koons as he would go on to throw five 2/3 innings allowing the four runs on seven hits and got five strikeouts. He took a no decision and Laster replaced him in the sixth with the bases loaded and kept the Miners of the scoreboard.

The second run for the Rascals came in the third as Jason Merjano picked up his second RBI of the night. It was his first game this year in the four hole and he was able to get runs in, this time a sacrifice fly that scored Willi Martin who led off the inning with a single.

"When the situations came up in tonight's game I just thought about hitting the ball hard and doing anything to help my team out," Merjano said.

The 4-2 deficit wouldn't remain long as the game became tied in the fourth inning with a two run home run from Kyle Gaedele, his first of the year. The outfielder has increased his average 70 points and is now third on the team in RBI with 13.

"I have just been sticking a routine and have been working out early before the game with hitting coach Josh Ludy," Gaedele said. "The main thing has been staying on the ball and I bring in that same approach when it comes time to play."

Koons and Ludwig exchanged zeros in the fifth and then the Rascals saw a new arm with two outs in the sixth. Tenth year Miners manager Mike Pinto went to Carson Goldsmith and in his Miners debut he picked up the final out of the inning and would go on to get the win with his offense taking the lead in the top of the seventh.

The Rascals used three relievers in the inning and the Miners were successful off of two of them. Nick Kennedy began the inning allowing hits to Julius Gaines and Alex De Leon and then with one out and a lefty up, Michael Gunn came in and Nolan Early ripped a single to drive in the go-ahead run.

After the stretch, Josh Ludy walked with two outs and then was thrown out at the plate on a double from Jason Merjano. That was the closest the Rascals came to scoring a run the remainder of the contest and Kennedy was tagged with the loss, his third of the year.

"Overall we are playing great baseball, we were down early and we were able to come back and tie it up. It was a great fight and we are still going to get after it tomorrow night," Merjano said.

The only four game series of the year continues Saturday night and it will be opening day starter Joe Scanio on the mound for the Rascals. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 as the Rascals look to snap the Miners six game winning streak.

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Images from this story

River City Rascals vs. the Southern Illinois Miners
River City Rascals vs. the Southern Illinois Miners
(Ricky Rick Photography)		   



Frontier League Stories from June 11, 2016


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