FL River City Rascals

River City Gets Narrow Win over the Beach Bums

Published on July 24, 2016 under Frontier League (FL)
River City Rascals News Release


The River City Rascals won their second series of the year against the Traverse City Beach Bums with a 6-5 victory Saturday night at CarShield Field and pulled within one game of .500 for the first time since July 1ST. Each team had strong offense early and there were a combined 10 runs on 16 hits after three innings of play and both teams were already into their bullpen.

After a scoreless first inning from Rascals starter Zeb Sneed, the Rascals opened up the home half with two consecutive singles putting runners at the corners with no outs for Josh Silver.

However, during Silver's at-bat Alexi Colon was thrown out at the plate trying to execute a double steal and Silver popped out in the infield giving Beach Bums starter Austin Bembnowski a chance to escape the jam without allowing a run.

The first year Beach Bum worked Kyle Gaedele to a full count but then left one over the plate and Gaedele made him pay with a two-run home run to put the Rascals on top 2-0.

"I'm just trying to keep it simple at the plate and make sure I am not pulling off of the baseball, " Gaedele said.

Josh Ludy followed that up with a double and then Clint Freeman capped off the inning with a RBI single to give Sneed a 3-0 lead heading into the second.

Tonight's start was Sneed's 12th of the year and in the hunt to become the Rascals first five game winner of the year, he failed to hold the lead in second and allowed three runs to score on three hits and a wild pitch.

Traverse City added two more in the top of the third off Sneed and chased him out of the game for his shortest outing of the year.

Ryan Bottker got the inning going with a leadoff double and then with two outs, Elijah Trail and Steven Patterson both doubled putting the 2015 Frontier League Champion on top 5-3 and Manager Steve Brook went to his newest arm, Jason Zgardowski.

The right-hander got an inning ending strikeout on Giancarlo Brugnoni and Sneed left in line for the loss.

In 2 2/3 innings, Sneed allowed five runs on eight hits and struck out two.

Sneed wasn't the only starter to go less than three innings as the Rascals loaded the bases against Beach Bums starter Austin Bembnowski and he was tagged for two more runs, a RBI single from Willi Martin and a bases loaded walk issued by his reliever Rob Blanc that tied the game at 5 heading into the fourth inning.

Blanc and Rascals reliever Zgardowski were great for the next two innings and only one runner reached scoring position until the sixth inning.

"I was able to get ahead early, especially with my fastball and then used my off-speed pitches later in the count," Zgardowski said. "The defense behind me was great and I knew if I went out there throwing strikes the play was going to be made behind me."

Zgardowski finished going two and 1/3 allowing no runs on one hit and struck out four. Will Schierholz replaced him to begin the sixth and then with no on and two outs, Brook went to a situational lefty matchup bringing in Michael Gunn and he got an inning ending ground out to keep the game tied.

The next time Gunn took the mound in the top of the seventh he was in line for the win as Josh Silver got a one out double and then came around to score in the bottom of the sixth after an error from Beach Bums shortstop and former Rascal Casey Rodrigue to give the hometown team a 6-5 lead.

That lead would hold the rest of the way as Gunn combined with Nick Kennedy and Shane Street to hold the Beach Bums scoreless and gave closer Zac Treece a save opportunity for the second game in a row.

The right-hander retired the side in order, including one strikeout and is now 12-12 in save opportunities.

Michael Gunn got the win and Beach Bums lefty Joeanthony Rivera took the loss allowing the unearned run in the sixth.

With the win, the Rascals have the chance to sweep the opponent for the second time this season and get to .500 for the first time since June 30th.

First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 at CarShield Field.

Check out the River City Rascals Statistics

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Frontier League Stories from July 24, 2016


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