O’FALLON, MO–The River City Rascals saw their six-game winning streak snapped at the hands of the Lake Erie Crushers on Saturday night at CarShield Field, dropping the middle game of the series to the Crushers 3-2. It was their first home loss in 2018. Crushers starter Sean Renzi (2-1) was excellent, allowing just one run in six innings and striking out six Rascals hitters. Scott Grist (2-1) took the loss for the Rascals, allowing two runs in five innings while striking out four.
Dalton Wheat gave the Crushers an early lead with a solo shot to right center in the second inning, and Bryan De La Rosa added another run on a fielder’s choice in the fourth. The Rascals got on the board after Mike Jurgella led off the bottom of the fourth with a double, took third on a balk, and scored on a fielder’s choice from Zach Lavy.
The Crushers added to their lead with a Kevin LaChance RBI single in the seventh, and the Rascals again cut the lead to one with a Stephen Kerr sacrifice fly in the eighth. However, Crushers closer Justin Sinibaldi earned his third save of the season by retiring the Rascals in order in the bottom of the ninth.
The Rascals (9-4) and Crushers (9-5) play for the series win tomorrow night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 pm CT. Left-hander Lucas Laster is expected to make his second start of the season for the Rascals.
