FL River City Rascals

Rascals Drop Series Finale against Florence

Published on August 12, 2016 under Frontier League (FL)
River City Rascals News Release


The River City Rascals (35-39) scored six runs in the ninth inning but came up short in the series finale against the Florence Freedom (33-42), 15-10, Thursday night at CarShield Field. Coming into the series, the Freedom had not won a series at CarShield Field prior to the 2010 season and after splitting the double-header Wednesday night, the Freedom had the chance to accomplish a series win and jumped on Rascals starter Tim Koons early.

With one out, Josh Henderson and Andrew Godbold delivered back-to-back singles before the first run came across to score on an error from Rascals second baseman Jason Merjano.

Collins Cuthrell followed that up with a RBI ground out and Jordan Brower picked up his sixth RBI of the series with a two RBI double that gave his team a 4-0 advantage.

The runs continued to come in bunches for the Freedom in the next two innings and the Rascals went into the bottom of the third inning trailing 11-0.

The Freedom scored three runs in the second via a two run home run from Andrew Godbold and a RBI single from Shaun Cooper which would be the final batter of the night for Tim Koons.

Manager Steve Brook went with Reese Gregory and the four runs in the top of the third inning came from an error on Rascals shortstop Johnny Morales and a three run home run courtesy of Josh Henderson to make the score 11-0.

Gregory would go on to score one more in the top of the fourth and then they capped off their 15 run, 17 hit game with their third multi-home run of the game, this time a three run shot off the bat of catcher Issac Wenrich that made it 15-4 in the eighth inning.

Offensively for the Rascals, four of their ten runs came from home runs including an Alexi Colon solo shot in the bottom of the third against Freedom's ace Cody Gray.

Prior to the series finale, Gray had allowed just four runs in his last 39 1/3 innings and he would go on to allow four runs total in Thursday night's start.

Aside from Colon's home run, the Rascals got three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning with RBI's from Robby Enslen and Josh Silver.

Leaving in line for the win, his seventh of the year, Gray allowed four runs on five hits and struck out four.

Pete Levitt replaced him and then the Rascals took a rally to the Freedom's righty Daniel Adkins in the ninth inning batting around and scoring six runs.

Braxton Martinez walked to get the offense going and then came into score on a RBI double from Josh Ludy. Kyle Gaedele, who reached on a single, made it 15-6 scoring on a RBI ground out from Clint Freeman.

Jason Merjano followed the hit parade with a RBI double and then the highlight of the inning was a three run home run from Robby Enslen that brought the Rascals within five, 15-10 with two outs.

Martinez popped out to end the game and with the loss, the Rascals now sit four games out of the final wild card spot held by the Normal CornBelters.

The Rascals have a chance this weekend to cut into that deficit as they travel to Normal for a three game series beginning Friday night at 6:35.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 with southpaw Austin Warner on the mound.

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Frontier League Stories from August 12, 2016


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