Sun. 6/24/2018
Game 12
Rangers 11,
Wild Boars 6
The Dayton Rangers rallied out of a 5-1 hole to stun the Wild Boars 11-6 on Sunday, June 24 at Howell Field.
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The Rangers started things off well in the top of the first as Stephen Hoendorf drove in Eric Becker for an early 1-0 lead. Joe Becker made his 7th start of the season for the Rangers and allowed an RBI double to Dylan Pletsch in the bottom of the inning. Boars catcher James Herold had RBIs in the third and fifth to give the Boars a 3-1 advantage. The Boars tacked on two more runs in the fifth after a misplayed flyball.
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Staring at 5-1 deficit in the top of the sixth, the Rangers started their rally off Boars starter Brandon Lucas. Brandon Marshall, Hoendorf, Jonmarc Lippincott, and Joe Becker singled in succession to produce a pair of runs. Shawn Schmitt added an RBI single later as the Rangers then only trailed 5-4.
The Rangers turned to some bullpen relief, bringing in Schmitt for the first time this season. Schmitt allowed one run over two innings and struck out two in his return to the mound.
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Then came the crucial 8th inning. Lippincott worked a leadoff walk, followed by a walk to Becker and a HBP to Cody Pelfrey. A wild pitch plated Lippincott to make it a 6-5 ballgame. Schmitt then hit a comebacker to the pitcher who caught Becker in a rundown to the plate. Becker executed a perfect pickle play, staying active long enough to force an errant throw to score the tying run and allow the go ahead run to follow behind him. One out later, Nick Gilmore added some insurance with an RBI single as the Rangers took a 8-6 lead.
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Luke Trubee was handed the ball in the bottom of the 8th. He allowed a double, but otherwise got out of the inning unscathed. The Rangers added on in the top of the 9th as Hoendorf led off with a double. Lippincott's single put runners on the corners. With one out, Pelfrey smoked a triple to left-center, scoring both runs. Schmitt added a sac fly to make it 11-6. Trubee finished with two strikeouts in the ninth to earn his second save of the season, tying a single-season Rangers record held by 5 other players. Schmitt picked up his first win and is now 4-0 lifetime against the Boars. It was also his 80th career victory as a member of the Rangers.
Offensive highlights: Nick Gilmore 2-for-5, RBI, SB; Brandon Marshall 2-for-5, run; Stephen Hoendorf 3-for-5, double, 2 runs, RBI; Jonmarc Lippincott 2-for-2, 3 runs, 3 walks; Joe Becker 1-for-2, 2RBI, SB; Cody Pelfrey 1-for-3, triple, 2 RBIs; Shawn Schmitt 1-for-4, 2RBI, Sac, SB.
Historical Notes: Joe Becker recorded his 100th career hit with a 2-run single in the 6th inning. Becker needs 1 more game pitched to reach 100 career appearances on the mound. Becker is 5 strikeouts away from moving into 2nd place all-time in Rangers history. Eric Becker scored his 100th career run and is 4 runs shy of reaching the same mark in MVABL league play.