JOLIET, Ill. — The River City Rascals ultimately ended up on the wrong end of a 6-5 thriller on Friday night at DuPage Medical Group Field, dropping the series opener to the Joliet Slammers in a game reminiscent of the teams' epic FLDS match-up last fall. Slammers catcher Brian Parreira had three hits on the night, including the go-ahead RBI single, in the victory.
Trevor Achenbach gave the Rascals the early 1-0 lead with his RBI double in the first, which was countered by Parreira's solo shot in the second. The game remained tied until the fifth, when the Slammers struck for four runs, highlighted by RBI doubles from Tyler Coolbaugh and Riley Krane.
The Rascals rallied to tie the game 5-5 in the seventh, sending ten men to the plate in the frame. They scored on RBI singles from Cody Livesay and Andrew Penner, a bases-loaded walk from Braxton Martinez, and a sacrifice fly from Kameron Esthay. Parreira put the Slammers ahead for good with his go-ahead hit in the bottom of the eighth, before closer Ryan Koziol came on in the ninth to record his seventh save of the season.
Rascals starter Michael McCraith went 4 1/3 innings, allowing five runs with one walk and four strikeouts in a no-decision. Reliever Anthony Herrera (0-2) took the loss, allowing the game-winning run. Slammers starter Tyler Jandron also took a no-decision, allowing just one unearned run on two hits with two walks and 13 strikeouts over six innings. Drew Peden (1-3) earned the win with two scoreless innings out of the Slammers bullpen.
The Rascals (18-18) look to even the series against the Slammers (13-24) tomorrow night, with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CDT.
