O’FALLON, MO–The River City Rascals defeated the Joliets Slammers by a score of 6-4 on Saturday night at CarShield Field, taking the 2-0 series lead heading into the final game of the first half of the 2018 Frontier League season. JD Hearn finished with four hits and three RBIs on the night to lead the charge for the Rascals.
Hearn led-off the bottom of the first with a solo home run to left, and the Slammers tied the game in the fourth on a Rascals error with the bases loaded. The Slammers took a 2-1 lead on a Chaz Meadows RBI double in the top of the sixth.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Rascals offense ignited for five runs, on a sacrifice fly from Gage West, an RBI double from Trevor Achenbach, a two-run double from Hearn and an RBI single from Paul Kronenfeld. The Rascals sent 10 men to the plate in the inning. The Slammers got back-to-back home runs from Danny Zardon and Justin Garcia in the seventh to make it 6-4, but that was the closest they would get. Cody Mincey picked up his 15th save to slam the door shut, tying him with the Evansville Otters’ Mitchell Aker for the league lead in the category.
Rascals starter David Flattery took a no-decision in his professional debut, allowing one run in 3.1 innings. Reliever Ryan Orr (1-2) picked up his first professional win, going 2.2 innings out of the bullpen, allowing just one run and striking out three.
Slammers starter Scot Hoffman (4-2) took the loss, allowing three runs in 5.1 innings, striking out three and walking two.
The Rascals (28-22) look for the sweep over the Slammers (27-23) tomorrow night at CarShield Field, with first pitch scheduled for for 6:05pm CT. Hector Hernandez will make the start for the Rascals.
