Sun. 4/17/2016
Game 2
Rangers 17, Knights 6
The Dayton Rangers trailed 6-4 before plating 13 runs in the top of the 9th to come-from-behind to beat the Wright Knights 17-6 on Sunday, April 18 at Monroe.
A tightly contested battle for the majority of the game, the Rangers jumped out to an early lead behind Robert Riley's 2nd home run of the season, moving him into the MVABL's Top Ten career leaders in home runs (26).
The Knights' top draft pick Jared Rex led off the bottom half of the first with a single and moved to third on a couple of wild pitches. Jerel Bristol then reached on an error allowing Rex to score, to cut into the Rangers' lead at 2-1.
Nick Gilmore, who reached on an error in the second, scampered around to score after a couple of wild pitches to increase the lead to 3-1.
The Knights mounted a two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth as Anthony Turner plated a pair of runs with a single to tie the game at 3-3.
In the bottom of the fifth, Michael Rivera and Jeremy Bristol doubled to put the go-ahead and insurance runs on second and third with one out. Quentin Walker, who finished 3-for-3, singled home the go-ahead run. Garrett Yawger, who was pitching a great game at that point, helped his own cause with an RBI single. With two outs, Turner smacked an RBI single, but Yawger was gunned down at the plate on a relay throw from shorstop Kody Barth.
Staring at a 6-3 deficit, the Rangers waited until the 8th to start their comeback. In the top of that inning, Brandon Riley reached on an error. Barth then dropped a single into shallow center, but Jerel Bristol nailed Riley attempting to reach third base. Robert Riley drilled an RBI double, becoming the 19th player to record 50 doubles in his MVABL career.
Now trailing by two runs, the Rangers did the unimaginable and rallied with 13 runs in the top of the ninth. Brandon Marshall started the ball rolling with a bloop single to right. After a strikeout, Eric Becker singled. Jonmarc Lippincott followed with an RBI single to right-center. Brandon Riley singled home Becker to tie the game at 6-all. Kody Barth then deposited his third home run of the season, a three-run shot, over the left field fence to give the Rangers a 9-6 lead. Robert continued the inning with a single, before an infield popup made it two outs. But that didn't deter the Rangers from reaching base. Todd Peck singled to left. Nick Gilmore added a run-scoring double. A walk loaded the bases. Ryan Meinert then coerced a walk to plate another run. After an infield error and another walk, Brandon Riley and Barth had back-to-back 2-run doubles to give the Rangers a 17-6 advantage.
Joe Becker pitched the final four scoreless frames, allowing two hits and striking out two to pick up his second win of the season.
Offensive highlights: Brandon Riley 2-6, double, 2R, 3RBI; Kody Barth 4-5, double, HR, 3R, 5RBI; Robert Riley 3-6, double, HR 2R, 3RBI; Ben Schubert 1-4, double; Nick Gilmore 2-5, double, 2R; Brandon Marshall 3-4; Jonmarc Lippincott 2-3, RBI.
Historical Notes: Robert Riley hit his 50th MVABL double. Jonmarc is 2 RBIs away from 400 MVABL RBIs. Joe Becker is 1 win away from moving into sole possesion of 2nd place on the Rangers' all-time wins list.