Despite allowing only three hits on the night, the River City Rascals dropped the middle game of their series 5-3 to the Joliet Slammers on Wednesday night at DuPage Medical Group Field. Peyton Isaacson’s two-out, two-run, go-ahead home run in the bottom of the eighth proved to be the game winner. The series is now tied 1-1.
The Slammers took advantage of five first inning walks from Rascals starter Alex Winkelman, who only recorded one out on the night. The Slammers scored three runs in the frame on just a single hit, Harrison Bragg’s RBI single. They got back-to-back bases-loaded walks from Isaacson and Jimmy Roche.
After the Rascals got on the board with an RBI single from Andrew Penner in the fifth, they tied the game 3-3 with two runs in the seventh. Trevor Achenbach brought it a run on an RBI groundout, and then tied the game by scoring from third on a wild pitch with two outs. Slammers reliever Mario Samuel (1-1) was able to strand a runner at third to end the threat.
After Isaacson hit his blast off of Rascals reliever Yeison Medina (2-2), Slammers closer Ryan Koziol retired the side in order in the top of the ninth to seal the win and pick-up his tenth save of the season.
Andrew Vernon gave the Rascals 5 2/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, yielding just a single hit and one walk with a season-high seven strikeouts. Slammers starter Matt Quintana allowed just one run in seven innings with one walk and ten strikeouts.
The Rascals (25-21) look for the series victory over the Slammers (17-30) in the rubbermatch tomorrow night, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. CDT. Rascals right-hander Taylor Ahearn will take the hill in the finale.
