FL Normal CornBelters

RiverHawks mount improbable comeback to beat CornBelters

Published on August 6, 2011 under Frontier League (FL)
Normal CornBelters News Release


Despite a 9-2 lead going into the bottom of the seventh, the Normal CornBelters, presented by Illinois Corn Farmers, gave up eight unanswered runs, including six in the ninth on three home runs, to allow the Rockford RiverHawks to walk off with a 10-9 win on Saturday night at Road Ranger Stadium in Loves Park, Illinois.

Rockford again tallied an unearned run for their first score in the second inning, as Matt Greener drew a leadoff walk, was sacrificed to second, went to third on a passed ball and scored on a misplayed fly ball to left.

The RiverHawks added a run in the fourth when Matt Greener again scored after leading off the inning with a double and came home on a two-out single to left.

The CornBelters battled back in the third, taking a 3-2 lead with a three-run homer from Daniel Cox to left field, scoring Mike Mobbs and Mark Samuelson, who had reached via single and walk with two outs.

The Belters got to the Hawks bullpen in the seventh, adding to the lead. Alvaro Ramirez led off with a bunt single and was sacrificed to second by Brandon Newton. Walks to Frank Martinez and Steve Alexander loaded the bases. Asif Shah singled in Ramirez, followed by a double to the left field corner by Mike Mobbs to plate Martinez and Alexander to increase the lead to 6-2. With two outs, Daniel Cox collected his fourth and fifth RBI of the game with a single to center, scoring Shah and Mobbs to complete the six-run frame and give the CornBelters a 9-2 lead.

Kevin Smith led off the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run to right to cut the Belters lead to 9-3. Rockford picked up one more run in the eighth when Luis Parache walked with two outs and scored after singles by Kevin Smith and Carlos Dominguez to cut the CornBelters lead to 9-4. The RiverHawks cut to within striking distance at 9-7 when Jake Eigsti hit a three-run homer to left off reliever Donald Furrow. Andy Mee came in and recorded an out with a deep fly ball to right center, but did not retire another hitter, as Matt Greener singled, followed by a two-run homer by Luis Parache to tie the game. The next hitter, Kevin Smith, hit a high fly on a 2-2 pitch over the right field wall to end the game and the improbable comeback.

Mee drops to 1-2 with the loss. Brett Durand (5-4) took the win.

Before the game, the CornBelters traded right-handed starting pitcher Brett Lester to the Lake County Fielders of the North American Baseball League for first baseman/designated hitter Mark Samuelson. Lester was 4-5 with a 5.31 ERA in 14 starts. Samuelson was hitting .304 in 17 games with the Fielders with three home runs and 10 RBI, after playing 33 games with the Florence Freedom earlier in the season with a .252 average, four homers and 11 RBI.

The series and road trip both conclude on Sunday afternoon at 4:05 at Road Ranger Stadium with Tyler Lavigne (4-7, 3.57) starting on the mound for the CornBelters and Matt Gibbs (1-1, 9.00) throwing for the RiverHawks in a matchup of right-handers. Pre-game on WEZC-FM 95.9 and WJBC.com begins at 3:50.

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Frontier League Stories from August 6, 2011


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