A second straight weekend of split DHs transpired as the Rangers battled the Redlegs and Dodgers at Brookville high school.  The Rangers swept the regular season series from the Redlegs in game 1 by a score of 7-3. However, the bats fell silent in the afternoon heat, falling to the Dodgers 6-2.

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Game 1 was the 56th showing of the Backyard Battle, and the first time at this new locale. Markus Neff got his first ever start on the mound in this long-standing rivalry. The jitters may have got to Neff in the top of the first as he hit leadoff batter Jacob Robinson and walked Tyler Eaton.  With two outs, Evan Koogler singled home Robinson to give the Redlegs a 1-0 lead. Neff retired the side in the second as the Rangers mounted their comeback. 

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In the bottom of the second, Jaret Quinn doubled home Brandon Ward to tie the game. The Rangers added a 5-spot in the third to take a 6-1 lead. Mike Seebock started off with a walk and was followed up by back-to-back singles from Eric Becker and Jesse Jones. Redlegs starter Evan Koogler walked Rob Pederson with the bases loaded to force in the go-ahead run. One out later, Cooper Nolte drove in two with a double. Nick Gilmore followed with an RBI single, and Ward plated another after reaching on a fielder's choice.

 

Becker's sac fly off Redlegs reliever Tyler Eaton in the fourth increased the Rangers advantage to 7-1.

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The Redlegs worked Neff's pitch count toward the century mark and chipped away for a couple more runs in the top of the 5th. Mike Hartman and Koogler had RBI singles in the inning to cut into the lead at 7-3.

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Joe Becker relieved Neff in the 6th for his league-leading 17th appearance this season, 4 shy of tying the franchise mark held by Jeremy Lippincott. Becker allowed a walk to Jacob Robinson, but catcher Mike Seebock erased him with a caught-stealing effort.

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The Rangers tried to add on in the bottom of the sixth as Jones doubled for his 3rd hit against his former squad, moving Brandon Saylor to third. But Eaton induced a flyout to Pederson to end the threat. 

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Joe Becker wrapped up the victory with another scoreless inning, lowering his ERA to 0.91.

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The Rangers got on the board first in game 2 on a sac fly from Jaret Quinn, but the Dodgers rattled off 5 runs in the bottom of the third off Rangers starter Brandon Saylor. Tim James homered, Iverson Ventura had an RBI single and Matt Dies cleared the bases on a single. 

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The Dodgers stretched the lead to 6-1 in the fifth on a sac fly. The Rangers could only muster one more run, in the 6th, on a steal of home by Cooper Nolte.

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Nick Gilmore, Mike Seebock, and Rob Pederson had 2 hits each for the Rangers in game 2.

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