FL River City Rascals

Rascals Drop Series Despite Scoring Nine Times

Published on May 29, 2016 under Frontier League (FL)
River City Rascals News Release


The River City Rascals were down big early but fought their way back in the contest and brought the go-ahead run to the plate in the eighth inning with two outs. However, the Cornbelters reliever Kevin Jefferis was able to get of the jam and the Rascals (7-7) fell to the Normal Cornbelters (4-11), 12-9, Sunday afternoon at CarShield Field.

In the final game of the nine game Rascals home stand, the opponent notched five hits off starter Jack Duffey, including a three run home run putting the Cornbelters up 5-0 after their first at-bats.

River City would score in the bottom of the first inning with a Josh Silver solo home run and the Rascals went on to score in five more innings throughout the game. Silver's home run was his fourth of the year and it put his batting average over .500 with that hit.

The lefty Duffy wouldn't come back out for the second inning as manager Steve Brook called upon his newest pitcher, Reese Gregory who was activated Sunday morning. Gregory, who played his first professional baseball game allowed a leadoff triple to Ty Morris and then recorded his first Rascals out as he struck out Michael Skoller. The St. Cloud State University standout walked the next batter and Aaron Dudley followed that with the Cornbelters second three-run blast of the game giving them an 8-1 lead.

The Rascals made their second attempt at the comeback with two outs in the bottom half of the second. Kyle Gaedele singled and Mike Jurgella put the Rascals down by five with his second home run of the season, a two run shot to left.

The Cornbelters wouldn't get past first base in the next two innings and the Rascals kept climbing back and scored one in the fourth thanks to a RBI single from Jason Merjano, his sixth hit of the series.

"I got all my nerves out in that first inning and just got zoned in. It's a lot different than college that's for sure" Gregory said about his professional debut. "I started throwing like I know how and stopped trying too hard."

Gregory came out and continued to throw well and in the fifth was out away from getting through four complete. However, three consecutive hits and two runs followed and he was pulled for Michael Gunn. Aaron Dudley responded with his third hit of the game and the Rascals trailed 11-4 halfway through the game.

Silver would get the Rascals one of those runs back with his second solo shot of the game and got his average up to .510 (25-49).

"I am fortunate that I am getting some back spin on ball and the baseball is going over the fence," Silver said.

Cornbelters starter Eddie Cody would record the final two outs and would not come back out for the sixth inning.

Earning his first win of the year, Cody allowed five runs (4 earned) on six hits and struck out one.

Rascals reliever Michael Gunn didn't allow a hit in the next two innings and allowed the Rascals to keep chipping away at the lead. Merjano had a RBI double in the sixth and Josh Ludy and Clint Freeman combined to drive in three runs after the seventh inning stretch, getting the Rascals within two, 11-9.

"Especially in our ball park we always know there is a chance to come back. We aren't going to down easy and I think we showed a lot of fight scoring a lot of runs and unfortunately we came up short," Silver said.

That would be the closest they would get though as the Cornbelters added a run in the eighth and the Rascals were not able to convert with the bases loaded in the home half of the inning.

River City finished with eleven hits and three players had multiple. Gaedele had three, Merjano had two and Silver had two. After a 2-5 night, Silver is leading the league with a .490 batting average.

River City has an off-day Monday and then continue their season on the road against the Traverse City Beach Bums Tuesday night in Michigan. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 with Joe Scanio on the mound.

Check out the River City Rascals Statistics

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Frontier League Stories from May 29, 2016


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