FL River City Rascals

Rascals Drop Series Opener against Southern Illinois

Published on July 9, 2016 under Frontier League (FL)
River City Rascals News Release


The River City Rascals brought the tying run to the plate with no outs in the ninth inning but were unable to capitalize in a 5-2 loss against the first place Southern Illinois Miners at Rent One Park Friday night. With the loss, River City (22-25) is unable to finish at or over the .500 mark before the all-star break and have now dropped six of seven games against Southern Illinois (33-16) this year.

The Miners lead the league in runs scored and they didn't waste any time offensively getting themselves on the scoreboard with back-to-back hits including a RBI double from Shane Kennedy to take a 1-0 lead off Rascals starter Tim Koons.

Koons and Miners starter Dan Ludwig exchanged a three up three down second inning and then River City helped Koons out in the third tying the game up. Willi Martin continued his stellar hitting against lefties this year and got the Rascals a leadoff baserunner with a single up the middle. Steve Pascual bunted him into scoring position and then with two outs, rookie Braxton Martinez singled and picked up his third RBI of his professional career.

"I have been sticking to my approach of not trying to do too much," Martinez said. "I have been able to learn a lot from the guys here and that has helped me as well."

However, the Miners answered in the home half and would lead the rest of the game. Koons began the frame walking the first two in the inning and then after retiring the second and third place hitters, Alex De Leon delivered a two RBI single and would end up on second after the throw to the plate.

Vin Guglietti followed that up with a RBI single of his own and the Miners took a 4-1 lead heading into the fourth.

Prior to tonight, the Rascals faced Dan Ludwig twice this year and in a combined 11 2/3 innings, he was tagged for six runs on 13 hits and earned a win on June 22nd.

The Rascals would tack on one more tonight with a RBI single from Danny Rosenbaum but that would be it the rest of the way against the southpaw.

Ludwig left in the seventh inning in line for the win. The rookie tossed 6 1/3 allowing two runs (1 earned) on eight hits, one walk and struck out three.

Edison Sanchez was responsible for the fifth run with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth that capped off the scoring and Koons tossed a solid fifth and sixth to finish out his outing.

In his third loss of the year, the righty allowed five runs on six hits and struck out four.

Joe Pavlovich finished out the game for the Rascals striking out four in two innings and Miners manager Mike Pinto went to Chris DeBoo in the eighth and closer Adam Lopez in the ninth.

Lopez struggled with his command early walking Robby Enslen and Willi Martin to bring Mike Jurgella up to the plate with no outs. The first year Rascal represented the tying run but he lined out to the second baseman Julius Gaines and Gaines fired to first but just missed a double play ball. Top of the order was due up next but Lopez got Jason Merjano and Braxton Martinez to fly out and earn his first save of the year.

The Rascals season continues Saturday afternoon with Jake Negrete on the mound as they look to even up the series.

First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. and can be heard on rascals.caster.fm.

Check out the River City Rascals Statistics

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Frontier League Stories from July 9, 2016


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