6/27/2023
Game 12
The 55th running of the Backyard Battle took place at Carlisle high school on Tuesday night. With the top two RBI threats out of the Rangers lineup, the Rangers would have to claw their way to a 12-0 record.
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Similar to last game, the Rangers poured on the scoring after the fourth inning. This time they turned a 3-2 lead into a 12-2 final score as the game ended after 6 innings due to darkness.
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Brandon Saylor was given the ball as he attempted to reach a couple of personal pitching milestones. The Redlegs countered with Tyler Schrock, another former Rangers player.
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The Rangers got to Schrock early in the first inning as Eric Becker started things off with a walk. Jesse Jones doubled with one out to score Becker. Liam Musgrove's flyball was misplayed allowing Jones to score the second run. But the Redlegs answered as Ben Schooler plated a run with an RBI single, and Mike Hartman added a sac fly to tie the game.
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The Rangers took advantage of another Redlegs' miscue in the 4th. Mike Seebock reached on an error with two outs and put himself in scoring position. That advancement paid off as Eric Becker singled to left to score Seebock to give the Rangers back the lead at 3-2.
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Max Ramsey relieved Schrock in the top of the 5th. Jones, Nick Gilmore, and Musgrove each walked. Brandon Ward then singled home Jones and Gilmore, but Musgrove was cut down at third base. Grant Kincaid and Saylor would then reach to re-load the bases. Seebock grounded into a fielder's choice to score Ward to increase the Rangers' advantage to 6-2.
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Jones took over for Saylor in the 5th and held his former team without a run in the frame. Meanwhile, the Rangers continued to add on as Pederson, Jones, and Gilmore all singled to kick off the 6th inning. Gilmore's knock plated a pair to make it 8-2. Later in the frame, a bases loaded walk to Kincaid made it 9-2. Saylor added an RBI single one batter later. Seebock contributed his 2nd RBI fielder's choice groundout of the game to make it 11-2, and the final run of the game came on Becker's sac fly.
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Rangers 12,
Redlegs 2,
6 innings
darkness
Offensive highlights: Eric Becker 1-for-3, 2RBI; Rob Pederson 2-for-5, R; Jesse Jones 2-for-3, 3R, RBI, double; Nick Gilmore 1-for-3, 2R, 2 RBI; Brandon Ward 1-for-4, 2R, 2RBI; Mike Seebock 1-for-4, 2RBI.
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Historical Notes: Brandon Saylor becomes the 24th player in league history to reach 200 strikeouts. The Rangers lead the Backyard Battle series 31-24. The next Rangers victory will be the 400th regular season win in the MVABL. Gilmore's 2 RBIs give him 19 on the season, already tying his personal regular season record set in his first season with the Rangers in 2015. It was the 10th time in the Backyard Battle in which the Rangers won by double digits.