Sebald and Offense Tame Rascals in 7-2 Win
June 7, 2018 - Frontier League (FL)
Normal CornBelters News Release
O'FALLON, Mo - The southpaw Scott Sebald proved why on Wednesday night he is the ace of the staff, in the (10-12) Normal CornBelters 7-2 win over the division-leading (14-8) River City Rascals.
"Tonight was huge, we talked last night about how it's always big to win the first game of the series, but when you can the win first two especially on the road and take a series, the only you thing we can hope to do is come out and win another ball game tomorrow," said Billy Horn
Scott Sebald (3-2) was on the bump for his 20th career start for Normal. His last start against the Rascals was on August 26th of last year; where he picked up his ninth win of the season. Sebald also appeared in two relief outings (May 12 and 14) against River City. It only took 3.2 innings of work for the lefty to tie his season high of strikeouts (6). The Belter ace went six innings and didn't allow any walks. Sebald struck out 8 Rascals, which is the most in a start this season for him.
"Sebald pitched a great game for us again tonight, six solid innings with no walks, and that's the thing we talk to our guys about, just keep the walks down."
Entering game two of the three-game series at River City the Normal bats made it a challenge for the division leaders with leading the league in hits (189) and average (.274).
Chris Iriart continued to climb the list of home run leaders in the league. On the first pitch, he smacked one that nearly left the stadium out in left, but went foul. Then two pitches later Iriart went to the other way and hit his 7th home run to right center to leadoff the third and put Normal up 1-0.
In the fourth, Santiago Chirino singled up the middle for hit number 620 overall. After a strikeout, Tanner Lubach hit a ground rule double for his team-leading of seven. In the past couple of games, Normal has come up big with two-out hitting. Andrew Godbold beat out an infield single to bring in Chirino for the second run of the game.
Chi-Chi again chased down the all-time hit record; he started off the sixth with a base hit up the middle for hit number 621 and now is only 15 from tying the all-time record. Tony Holton got his first hit with a single into left field that the River City fielder lost in the sun and Chirino took advantage and reached third. Holton continued his first with Normal and swiped second two pitches later. With his league-leading (21) consecutive on-base streak on the line, Derrick Loveless kept it alive in fashion. The lefty hit a missile over the right-center wall in the same spot of the Iriart homer to increase the CornBelter advantage to 5.
The new Belters again got the offense going. Sam Vega who was the designated hitter in his debut last night, flipped with Justin Fletcher and started at second. Vega walked then took second on a passed ball. Fletcher singled for his third-straight multi-hit game and his second hit of the game. Chirino helped increase the Normal advantage with a sac fly to center.
Jonathan de Marte was the first arm out of the bullpen and he mirrored starter Sebald. He gave up a walk and hit, but fanned three batters.
After homering to right center in his last at-bat, Loveless then decided to go the other way and smashed his fourth home run to left. Nicknamed Pop's, his dinger tied for the most by the CornBelters in one game this season with 3 and put Normal up 7-0.
"Offensively, Chirino, of course, had another couple hits, Holton drove 15 hours and he is a good, professional hitter and he a couple knocks tonight. Then Lovey (Derrick Loveless) had two home runs tonight another one of our guys that should be in an organization somewhere, but our guys aren't worried about that."
The Lone Ranger, Trevor Simms came in to complete the eighth. The former Tulane baseball and football player gave up two runs, but also struck out one batter.
Horn turned to Jose Savinion to secure the series. The hard-throwing righty walked one and picked up two strikeouts to set the new team-high of 14 in one game.
"We are coming out every single day, we are happy to be here and happy to be apart of the CornBelter family and just play hard every single game."
Normal looks to sweep their first series of the season tomorrow with Matt Portland on the mound; first pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.
Frontier League Stories from June 7, 2018
- Offensive Explosion Pushes Otters Past Grizzlies, 11-5 - Evansville Otters
- Slammers Grind out Victory against Lake Erie - Joliet Slammers
- Beach Bums Blitzed in Washington - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Wild Things Plate 23 Runs in Win - Washington Wild Things
- Boomers Slowed in Series Finale - Schaumburg Boomers
- ThunderBolts Take Finale in Schaumburg - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Jose Brizuela Signs with the New York Mets - Florence Y'alls
- Richards to Start for Marlins against Cardinals - Gateway Grizzlies
- Offensive Explosion Leads to Crushers Win - Lake Erie Crushers
- Sebald and Offense Tame Rascals in 7-2 Win - Normal CornBelters
- Late Grand Slam Propels Otters Past Grizzlies - Evansville Otters
- Slammers Fall to Crushers 9-6 on Thursday Night - Joliet Slammers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
