Big innings down CornBelters

Posted on June 13, 2015

By WJBC Staff

O’FALLON, Mo. – The Normal CornBelters gave up a pair of big innings and lost 10-3 to the River City Rascals on Friday night at T.R. Hughes Ballpark.

The CornBelters struck first with an RBI double by Pat McKenna to score Mark Micowski in the opening inning, but the Rascals answered in the bottom half with a run-scoring single by Brian Hansen tied the contest followed by sacrifice flies by Danny Canela and Hector Crespo to give the hosts a 3-1 lead after one inning.

The Rascals added a run in the second inning when Saxon Butler reached via infield single, stole second, was singled to third and scored on fielder’s choice ground out by Curran Redal for a 4-1 lead. A two-run homer to right center in the third by Saxon Butler extended the Rascals’ advantage to 6-1.

A pair of calls questioned by the CornBelters led to the ejections of McKenna and Normal manager Brooks Carey in the fifth inning, followed by four additional runs by the Rascals on a two-run single by Josh Ludy, an RBI single by Johnny Morales and a wild pitch on a strikeout to push the lead to 10-1.

Richard Lucas powered a two-run homer into the left field bleachers in the sixth to cut the deficit to 10-3.

Joe Scanio (4-2) earned the win with seven innings of work, giving up three runs on nine hits with five strikeouts and no walks. Chris Carmain (3-2) suffered the loss, surrendering nine runs on 12 hits with no walks and two strikeouts.

The CornBelters and Rascals rematch on Saturday at 6:35 p.m. at T.R. Hughes Ballpark with right-hander Kevin Johnson (2-1, 4.37 ERA) taking the ball for Normal against River City righty Beau Kerns in his professional debut. Broadcast on WJBC.com begins at 6:20.

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