Sun. 7/30/2017
Games 20, 21
Rangers 5, Knights 2,
gm 1
Knights 11, Rangers 6,
gm 2
The Rangers split a doubleheader with the Wright Knights on Sunday, July 30 at Howell Field, winning 5-2 in game one and losing 11-6 in the nightcap.
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The Rangers kicked off game 1, scoring twice in the top of the second inning. Brandon Marshall singled and Stephen Hoendorf doubled to start the frame. Eric Becker singled home Marshall, while Hoendorf scampered home on a double play. Ryan Kemp's RBI double in the third made it 3-0. Hoendorf singled and scored later on a wild pitch in the fourth to increase the lead to 4-0.
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The Knights got a run in the fifth on a bases-load HBP. But the Rangers got that run back in the top of the 7th on an RBI single from Marshall. The Knights rounded out the scoring on an Austin McCabe run-scoring single in the bottom of the seventh.
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Ryan Kemp got the win for the Rangers, improving to 2-2, allowing 1 hit and striking out 6 over 5 innings of work. Joe Becker tossed the final two innings for the save.
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Shawn Schmitt got the start in game two, looking to keep up his hot start to the season. The Rangers held a 2-1 lead going into the third before the Knights were able to hit 'em where they ain't. After the dust settled, the Rangers were staring at a 7-2 deficit going into the bottom of the fourth.
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Nick Gilmore hit a sac fly to score Brody Dunlevy in the fourth to get a run back and make it 7-3. Brandon Marshall launched a solo home run off the scoreboard post in left in the fifth. And Eric Becker singled and later scored on a passed ball to cut the deficit to 7-5.
Schmitt tossed a scoreless fifth inning before giving way to rookie Andrew Holland. Holland looked sharp in the sixth, setting down the side in order, striking out a pair looking. However, a couple of walks and a couple of errors in the seventh made way for 4 Knights runs. Joe Becker had an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh, but that's all she wrote in that one.
Offensive highlights: Nick Gilmore 3-or-7, R, RBI, Sac; Brandon Marshall 3-for-8, 2R, 2RBI, HR; Eric Becker 4-for-7, 2R, RBI; Stephen Hoendorf 3-for-8, 2R, RBI, 2B; Rob Armour 2-for-6, R, 2B.
Historical Notes: Shawn Schmitt recorded his 900th career innings pitched with a strikeout in the second inning of game 2. The Rangers need 39 more hits to reach 7000 franchise base-knocks.