O’FALLON, MO–The River City Rascals saw an early 3-0 lead shrink throughout the night on Sunday at CarShield Field, and ultimately lost the series finale against the Evansville Otters 5-4 in 11 innings. The Otters won the series two games to one.
Paul Kronenfeld got the Rascals out to an early 2-0 lead in the second inning with his first home run of the year, a two-run shot high over the 36-foot high right field wall at CarShield Field. After a leadoff double in the third inning from Connor Oliver, Stephen Kerr brought home Oliver on a fielder’s choice to bring the Rascals lead to 3-0.
Ryan Long got the Otters on the board with a leadoff homer in the sixth. Otters right fielder Jeff Gardner delivered an RBI single in the seventh and another one in the ninth to tie the game at three.
Neither team scored in the 10th, and the Otters scored two runs in the 11th, on RBI singles from Long and Gardner. The Rascals were able to score a run in the bottom of the 11th, with Kerr scoring on a wild pitch. River City had runners at first and second with no outs later in the 11th, but Otters closer Mitchell Aker retired the next three hitters in order to seal the win and earn his league-leading 10th save.
Rascals starter Josh Kimborowicz went 5.2 innings and allowed just one earned run in yet another no-decision, his fifth out of six starts. Rascals reliever Logan Fanning (1-1) took the loss.
Otters starter Randy Wynne allowed three earned runs in six innings. Reliever Tyler Beardsley (1-1) earned the win, allowing just one hit in three scoreless innings.
The Rascals (15-11) are off until Wednesday, when they take on the Traverse City Beach Bums in a double header at Wuerfel Park in Traverse City, MI. First pitch for Game 1 is scheduled for 4:05 pm CT.
