FL River City Rascals

Rout Commences as River City Wins

Published on July 23, 2014 under Frontier League (FL)
River City Rascals News Release


A relatively new Rascals squad was able to take advantage of four Rockford errors and win game three by a score of 9-1. A great bullpen effort- including the arms of Lambert, Shafer, Crider, Kennedy, and Shaw- helped keep the Aviators lineup to only one run in the game. Newcomer Brian McConkey would also help the cause, as he went three for five at the plate, belting a two-run home run in the ninth.

After splitting the double-header on day one of the series against Rockford, manager Steve Brook sent rookie right-hander, Trey Lambert to the hill for his fourth professional start out of Liberty University. On the other side, manager James Frisbie, sent second-year Aviator Kyle Brueggemann to the bump. With a depleted roster, due to injuries- including the likes of Kometani, Jagodzinski, Redal, Aanderud, Carter, and Goodman- River City has its work cut out for it in the second half!

Looking for another early spark, in the top of the first Eric Williams led off the game with an infield-single, and then moved over to third with only one out, thereby allowing Saxon Butler to drive him in on a sacrifice-fly to center- putting the Rascals up 1-0. After falling behind early, the Aviators sparked a run of their own in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice-fly of their own courtesy of Michael Hur- tying the game at one apiece after the first.

River City promptly answered the tie ballgame in the top of the second, as an error by the Rockford shortstop Brian Bistagne allowed Hector Crespo to score from second base- putting River City up 2-1 heading into the bottom of the second. Lambert would follow the offensive gift by stranding two aboard in the bottom of the inning to keep the Rascals up 2-1 after two.

Lambert's night would then come to a conclusion after two innings- as Trey was merely making a spot start for scheduled starter Ben Bracewell, who was signed by the Athletics earlier in the morning. Over two innings, Trey allowed one unearned run on one hit while walking two and striking out none.

Right-hander Bryce Shafer then came into the ballgame to pitch 3.2 shutout innings- allowing no hits and retiring all eleven to come to the plate against him, while striking out three. The score would remain the same until the top of the seventh, when the Rascals drove in an insurance run thanks to a ball through the wickets of first-baseman Kenny Bryant- making it a three-run River City lead. Following the error, River City would add yet another on a two-out RBI double by shortstop Johnny Morales to make it 4-1 Rascals.

Rockford starter Kyle Brueggemann exited partway through the seventh after pitching 6.2, allowing four runs- only one of which was earned- on six hits while striking out four and walking two. Former Rascals reliever Eric Cendejas made his Aviators debut in the game as well- pitching 1.1 scoreless innings out of the pen against his former teammates. Shaw then came in in the bottom of the eighth to record the final out- and the first out of a four-out save opportunity.

The Rascals would once again take advantage of another defensive miscue to score five more, including a two-run single by rookie Tyler Zupcic- his first professional hit- and a two-run shot by Brian McConkey- his first as a Rascal. Closer Gabriel Shaw then finally came back out to the mound to complete the four-out save- his 16th of the season- giving River City a 9-1 victory in game three of the series. Left-hander Tommy Organ summed up the night well: "Hey man, it was a great win for us and I think it'll give us some momentum going forward. Getting an eight-run victory after losing three players in one night, well that's a big lift for us." The win in the game went to reliever Bryce Shafer with the loss going to starter Kyle Brueggemann.

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Frontier League Stories from July 23, 2014


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