The River City Rascals saw a 4-0 lead evaporate late, as the Evansville Otters came back for the 6-4 victory on Saturday night at Bosse Field to tie the series at a game apiece. The Otters scored five runs in the seventh inning to take a lead they would never relinquish. The Rascals did not record a hit after the sixth inning.
The Rascals got off to a good start, drawing three straight walks to begin the game before scoring on a double play ball to take the early 1-0 lead. Braxton Martinez made it 2-0 with his two-out homer in the third, the team’s first hit of the night. They made it 4-0 on back-to-back RBI singles from Andrew Penner and Trevor Achenbach in the fourth.
The Otters took advantage of three Rascals errors in the bottom of the fourth, scoring their first run on an errant throw into third from shortstop Tanner Wetrich. They sent all nine men to the plate in the seventh, getting two-run singles from both David Cronin and Ryan Long, as well as a run-scoring single from Carlos Castro to pad the lead.
Otters starter Jacob Hill lasted just two innings. He did not allow a hit but issued five walks. Reliever Ashton Raines allowed three runs over four innings, while Anthony Arias (1-0), Drew Beyer and Taylor Wright combined for three scoreless innings to close out the game. Arias earned the win and Wright picked up his five save in the process.
Rascals starter Travis McQueen allowed three runs, two earned, on eight hits over six innings. He issued one walk and struck out three, exiting the game in the seventh after allowing back-to-back hits to lead-off the frame. Chad Gendron (0-1) took the loss in his season debut, allowing three runs while only recording one out.
The Rascals (23-20) will look to take the rubbermatch over the Otters (26-17) in the series finale tomorrow night, with first pitch scheduled for 5:05 p.m. CDT. Tanner Cable will take the mound for the Rascals in his first professional start, facing his former team.
