FL River City Rascals

Rascals Finish Road Trip with 9-6 Win

Published on July 24, 2014 under Frontier League (FL)
River City Rascals News Release


River City defeats the Aviators for a third game in a row, winning by a score of 9-6 thanks to a great effort by starting pitcher Tommy Mendoza. All hands were on deck in the win as the Rascals received RBI in the game courtesy of Johnny Morales, Saxon Butler, Evan Crawford, Brian McConkey, Blaise Fernandez, and Brian Hansen.

In the final game of the seven game road trip, following a huge 9-1 win on Tuesday evening, the Rascals sent veteran Tommy Mendoza to the hill for his first start against Rockford this season. On the opposite side, manager James Frisbie sent a righty of his own, Josh Slaats, to the mound in an effort to split the four game series in Rockford.

In the top of the first, a lead off error by third-baseman Brian Bistagne allowed a runner to get into scoring position. Clean-up hitter and rightfielder Evan Crawford seized the opportunity by scoring Williams from third on an RBI infield single- putting the Rascals up by a run early on. Tommy Mendoza then took the mound in the bottom of the first to retire three of four batters- maintaining the 1-0 Rascal lead after one.

After a semi-eventful first inning, neither team would push a run across in the second, as Mendoza was able to strand two aboard in the bottom of the inning with a crucial called third strike on Rockford catcher Ryan Breen.

River City added two more to the board in the top of the third on a wild pitch and an RBI single by Saxon Butler- making it 3-0 River City heading into the bottom of the inning. The Aviators then made an effort of their own as second-baseman Tanner Witt lead off the bottom of the third with a solo-shot home run to leftfield.

The Raskies would then add another on a run scoring double-play groundout in the top of the fourth to make it 4-1 River City going into the bottom of inning number four. Starter Josh Slaats' night on the mound would subsequently come to an end in the top of the sixth inning after allowing an RBI double to the Rascals designated hitter Blaze Fernandez. Slaats pitched 5.1 innings, allowing six runs- four earned- on eight hits while striking out one and walking three.

After the departure of Slaats, lefty Josh Smoker would enter the game and promptly allow River City to add three more on RBI by Brian Hansen, Johnny Morales, and Brian McConkey to give the Rascals a 9-1 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.

Heading into the bottom of the ninth with River City up 9-1, Mendoza retook the hill to try and finish what he started, which he unfortunately would not be able to do as he allowed five more runs on back-to-back-to-back-to-back RBI knocks by Aviators hitters followed by an error by shortstop Johnny Morales. Then, with the tying run coming to the plate- Rascals still up 9-6- with two outs, manager Steve Brook brought in his All-Star closer Gabriel Shaw who would get a pop-out to end the game and earn his 17th save of the year.

The win therefore, went to Rascals starter Tommy Mendoza with the loss going to the opposing starter Josh Slaats. River City brings the seven-game road trip to a close after winning one of three in Washington and three of four in Rockford. The Rascals will now return home for a nine-game home stand. Tickets for all home Rascals games can be purchased by visiting www.rivercityrascals.com or by calling (636)-240-BATS.

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Frontier League Stories from July 24, 2014


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