Sun. 7/5/2015
Games 14, 15
Rangers 6, Redlegs 2,
Game 1
The Rangers continued the Backyard Battle with the Camden Redlegs and left with a doubleheader split on Sunday, July 5 at MUM. The Rangers won 6-2 in the first game and lost 4-3 in walkoff fashion in game two.
The Redlegs jumped out to a 1-0 lead after Matt Morrison singled and scored later on a wild pitch in the top of the first inning. The Rangers got RBIs from Steve Marshall, Ben Schubert and Todd Peck in the bottom of the inning to take a 3-1 lead. Phil Dickerson had a two-out RBI single in the third, and Brandon Riley added a two-run double in the fourth for a 6-1 lead.
The only other run from the Redlegs came when Kyle Arend drilled a ball to the center field fence that barely eluded Marshall. However, as Marshall crashed into the fence, the bottom of the chain-link caught his ankle, and forced him to try and flip the ball to the right fielder. Meanwhile, Arend was able to beat the throw to home plate for an odd inside-the-park home run.
Joe Becker went the distance on the mound to earn the win, scattering five hits, walking none, and striking out a pair.
Redlegs 4, Rangers 3, Game 2
Brandon Riley continued his hit streak with a lead off home run in game 2. But Morrison singled and scored in the bottom of the first to tie the game for the Redlegs.
Jacob Robinson’s sac fly in the third gave the Camden club a 2-1 lead. Mike Hartman’s home run in the fourth increased the lead to 3-1.
In the top of the sixth, the Rangers tied the game on an RBI single from Matt Wargacki and a sac fly from Rob Armour.
The Rangers were held scoreless in the top of the seventh. Rangers reliever Ryan Meinert got the first two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Jack Millard and Robinson worked two-out walks before Brandon Howard laced an 0-2 pitch to left field to give the Redlegs a 4-3 win.
All 4 of the Rangers losses this year have been by 1 run, and all those games were decided in the final at-bat.
Offensive highlights: Brandon Riley 2-6, 3RBI, 2b, HR; Kody Barth 2-4, 2-2b; Jonmarc Lippincott 2-4, run; Matt Wargacki 1-3, 2 runs, RBI, 2BB, SB; Phil Dickerson 3-5 RBI.
Historical Notes: Rangers lead the Backyard Battle series 11-7. Brandon Riley’s hit streak extends to 33 games.