Ward shuts out RiverHawks, 5-0
July 9, 2010 - Northern League (NL)
Rockford RiverHawks News Release
ZION, Ill. - Lake County starter Zach Ward pitched a six-hit shutout and first baseman Jeff Dunbar backed him up with a pair of home runs on Friday as the Fielders beat the Rockford RiverHawks, 5-0.
Dunbar was 3-for-4 with three RBI. Rockford, which was shut out for the first time this year, matched a season worst with its fourth four-game losing streak. Travis Scott was 2-for-4 with two doubles for the RiverHawks.
Dunbar led off the Lake County second inning with a home run to left field off Rockford starter Brett Durand. Dunbar homered again in the fourth inning with a runner aboard.
Dunbar helped drive Durand from the mound with a leadoff double in the sixth inning. Singles by former RiverHawk Aaron Cone and Anthony Esquer brought him home and knocked out Durand (4-4). The right-hander allowed five runs on nine hits. Durand's allowed five or more earned runs in each of his last four starts - he has an 0-3 record and a 10.42 earned-run average in that span.
Ward (3-5) struck out a season-high 13 - he had five previous six-strikeout outings - without a walk, though he did hit four batters. Ward, who also earned a 7-3 win on July 3 at Loves Park, beat Durand and the RiverHawks for the second time in a week.
Rockford stranded eight runners, five of them in scoring position. The RiverHawks had two on with one out in both the first and third innings, but failed to score. Just three runners reached third base, two of them after the sixth inning.
The RiverHawks had not been shut out since a 10-0 loss to Southern Illinois in the nightcap of a doubleheader Aug. 29, 2009 at Loves Park.
The series continues at 4:45 p.m. Saturday. The series finale is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday. No games in the series are scheduled to be broadcast.
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Northern League Stories from July 9, 2010
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