FL River City Rascals

Rascals Fight Back Again; Edge Grizzlies 10-9 In Sauget

Published on June 27, 2009 under Frontier League (FL)
River City Rascals News Release


SAUGET, IL - River City fought back again from an early deficit to top the Grizzlies 10-9 at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Illinois. The Rascals completed the two game sweep and guaranteed a winning record against the Grizzlies this season.

The Rascals (22-10) needed all ten runs, taking a 10-6 lead into the ninth. Charlie Lisk blasted his tenth home run off Jason Lowey to lead off the frame. Joseph Scaperotta followed with a single in front of Chad Rothford's two run shot as the Grizzlies made it a 10-9 game with nobody out. Lowey settled down and retired the next two hitters before a Breck Draper walk with two outs. Brandon Johnson hit a soft liner off Lowey's glove, who picked up the ball retired Johnson to end the game.

Gateway (11-21) again jumped out early with four home runs in the first four innings. Brandon Peters and Stephen Holdren went back to back in the first and Jareck West led off the second with a solo shot. Draper launched a three run bomb in the fourth for a 6-3 Gateway lead.

River City responded in the middle frames scoring seven unanswered runs, courtesy of some shaky Gateway defense. The Rascals used two fifth inning errors to tie the game at six. Chad Maddox singled home Chris Colton, who reached on a two base error by West in center field. Kevin Reynolds chopped a ball to starter, Joel Boeschen, who threw the ball into center field to score two more to know things up at six.

The Rascals took the lead for good in the seventh on a JoJo Batten double, scoring Jorge Gutierrez from first base for a 7-6 advantage. Gutierrez reached on a throwing error by Johnson at shortstop.

The offensive took Pablo Lopez off the hook, who allowed six runs on eight hits in his four innings of work.

Boeschen (1-3) suffered his third loss, all to the Rascals. The southpaw surrendered seven runs (three earned) on nine hits in six innings.

River City touched up the Gateway bullpen along the way, adding two more in the seventh and a very important run in the ninth. Danny Sawyer lifted a two run home run in the seventh off Scott Kelly for a 9-6 lead. The Rascals catcher made his first appearance since June 7th, having just been activated yesterday from the injured list.

The Rascals got what proved to be the game winning run in the ninth, scoring a run off John Maschino. Sawyer doubled with two outs and was lifted for a pinch runner, Joe Chavarria. Gutierrez followed with a single to right field to score Chavarria and give the Rascals a 10-6 lead.

Mike Hart (1-1) earned his first victory, working two scoreless innings of relief. Josh Rose added two more scoreless innings in his second professional outing.

Sawyer led the offensive with three hits and three knocked in. Maddox finished with three hits and two RBI, his second straight three hit effort. Batten, Robinson, and Josh Blackstock each had two hits as well.

The Rascals will put their season high six game winning streak on the line tomorrow night at T.R. Hughes Ballpark when the Southern Illinois Miners come in for a three game series. Jake Laber (4-1) and Ryan Bird (5-0) are the probable starting pitchers. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. in O'Fallon.

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Frontier League Stories from June 27, 2009


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