Sun. 6/14/2015
Games 9, 10
Rangers 12, Slammers 7
Game 1
The Rangers knocked off the South Dayton Slammers 12-7 and 10-8 on Sunday, June 14 at Miami-Middletown’s field in Monroe. The Rangers grabbed early leads in both games, but needed to fight off the Slammers’ hitting attack to preserve both victories.
In game one, the Rangers jumped on Slammers’ starter Dan Comes for 7 runs in the top of the first inning. Leadoff hitter Brandon Riley kicked things off with a double, extending his hit streak to 27 games. Phil Dickerson followed with an RBI single. After a walk to Brennen Glass, Robert Riley doubled home Dickerson for a 2-0 lead. After retiring Ben Schubert on a flyout, Todd Peck singled home both runners for a 4-0 lead. After Nick Gilmore singled, Rob Armour homered to left field for a 7-0 advantage.
However, the Slammers battled back in the bottom half of their inning, scoring 4 times with two outs.
The Rangers got 3 runs back in the top of the second on a solo HR from Schubert, an RBI triple from Gilmore, and an RBI single from Jonmarc Lippincott. Slammers’ first baseman Todd Barhorst answered with a solo HR of his own to cut the Rangers lead to 10-5. Slammers catcher Rick Anderson singled home Aaron Fannin to make it a 4-run ballgame after three innings.
With two outs in the 4th inning, Lippincott singled and Armour followed with a walk, and Brandon Riley doubled them both home for a 12-6 lead. The final tally came on Barhorst’s second HR of the day in the 6th inning.
Joe Becker earned his third win of the year with six strong innings and Glass wrapped up a scoreless 7th with a pair of K’s.
Rangers 10, Slammers 8,
Game 2
The Rangers stayed on the offensive in the second game, scoring three times in the bottom of the first on RBI doubles from Schubert and Dickerson.
Glass added a 2-run HR in the third and followed up with his second grand slam of the year in the fourth inning. Brandon Riley singled home another run in the 4th to give the Rangers a 10-0 lead.
Meanwhile, Ryan Meinert was blanking the Slammers through four innings, scattering four hits and striking out four. However, the Slammers’ bats awoke in the fifth, tallying 5 runs highlighted by Deane Grandfield’s 2-run double and Anderson’s 3-run HR.
The Slammers battled back in the final inning to make the game close. Todd Barhorst started the inning with his 8th hit of the day, a double. Grandfield singled him over to third. Fannin hit a sac fly and Anderson followed with an RBI double to cut the lead to 10-7. After Meinert induced a groundout, Dan Barhorst doubled home Anderson to bring the tying run to the plate.
Coach Lippincott turned the ball over to Glass who induced a slow roller to no-man’s land on the right side of the diamond. Gilmore raced over from second with a sliding stop and shuffle to first where Lippincott bare-handed the ball to barely beat the runner to end the game.
Offensive highlights: Brandon Riley 6-9, 2 runs, 3RBI, 2-2b; Robert Riley 3-5, 2 runs, RBI, 2-2b, SB; Phil Dickerson 3-8, 2RBI, 2-2b; Brennen Glass 2-7, 4 runs, 6RBI, 2-HR; Ben Schubert 2-7, 2 runs, 3RBI, HR, 2b; Nick Gilmore 3-7, 3 runs, 3b, SB; Jonmarc Lippincott 3-6, 2 runs, RBI; Rob Armour 2-4, 3 runs, 3RBI, HR.
Historical Notes: Robert Riley scored his 200th career run in game 1. Brandon Riley’s hit streak extends to 28 games. Joe Becker earned his 20th MVABL victory.