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FL River City Rascals

Rascals Fall Short Thursday Night against the CornBelters

June 17, 2016 - Frontier League (FL)
River City Rascals News Release


River City came back from two deficits midway through the contest but Normal scored eight runs in the final four innings to get a 13-8 win and avoid the series sweep Thursday night in Normal, Illinois.

Normal held various leads in the game, and got after the Rascals right away with three runs in the opening frame. Santiago Chirino picked up his fourth hit in the last two games with a single to lead things off against Rascals right-hander Josh Wright and then with two outs, Aaron Dudley drew a walk to put a pair of runners on. Two pitches later, the CornBelters took their first lead via a three run home run from Elijah Trail, his fourth of the year.

The Rascals had a chance to cut into the deficit in their next opportunity astwo singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out. However, Belters starter Matthew Chavarria got a ground ball right back to him and was able get out of the jam by turning a double play.

Wright kept the Rascals in the game the next two frames as he faced the minimum despite allowing a single and then the Rascals tied the game up in the top of the fourth with a RBI single from Mike Jurgella and a two RBI single from Clint Freeman.

The game wouldn't remain tied long as Normal chased Wright out of the game in the bottom half with two hits, including a RBI triple from Nolan Meadows. Manager Steve Brook went to Reese Gregory and the CornBelters took a 5-3 lead with R.J Perucki's double.

In his fifth start of the year, Wright lasted a season low 3 1/3 innings and allowed five runs on five hits.

For the fourth time on the series, the Rascals either tied the game up or retook the lead and they did it in the top of the fifth with a two run home run from Alexi Colon, his first of the game.

"It's great that we are able to keep fighting ourselves back into games. Especially with a team like this, it doesn't matter who gets it done we all have that fighting mentality," Colon said. "It doesn't matter if we are up 13 or down 13 we are going to go down swinging and that's what this team is about."

CornBelters manager Brooks Carey went to his bullpen and the Rascals took the lead for the first time off reliever Quin Pippen. Robbie Enslen reached on a walk and got to third on a single and a sacrifice bunt. Former CornBelter Jason Merjano continued the execution and recorded a sacrifice fly to put his team up 6-5.

However, that would be the closest the Rascals would get to completing the three game sweep as Reese Gregory, Lucas Laster and Will Schierholz combined to give up eight runs on eleven hits in the next three innings. Five of the eight runs came from three home runs: Nolan Meadows (2 run), Dillon Haupt (2 runs) and Elijah Trail (solo).

Francisco Carillo threw a shutout seventh and eighth with two strikeouts to lower his ERA to 0.43 and then the Rascals would round out their eight run, twelve hit night with another two run home run from Alexi Colon.

"This team has really helped with my success. The fact that we celebrate together and that we all have each other's back allows me to play loose and have a lot of fun," Colon said.

Despite the loss, the Rascals have still won ten of their past 12 road games and look to continue their success away from CarShield Field Friday night in Evansville against the Otters. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 with Joe Scanio on the mound and can be heard on rascals.caster.fm.

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