Crestwood, IL – The River City Rascals were leading, and then they weren’t. The Windy City Thunderbolts were leading, and then they weren’t. River City had the chance to win, but they didn’t, falling to the Thunderbolts 13-12 in 11 innings.

On a rainy night at Standard Bank Stadium that saw a one hour, twelve minute rain delay come through in the top of the third inning, both teams gave-a-way chances to win the game in regulation.

River City struck first off right-hander Brock Hunton in the opening inning. Phil Laurent connected for his first homerun of the season which was followed by two walks and Jeff Miller’s second homerun of the season to make it 4-0.

The lead held at 4-0 into the rain delay but then the Thunderbolts cut it in half soon thereafter in the bottom of the third.

Rascals starter Mike Castrignano faced the minimum six batters through two, but after sitting in the dugout for over an hour and a half, the left-hander was not as sharp, neither was the his defense. Castrignano hit the first batter he faced to begin the third. With one out, Amos Ramon hit what could have been an inning ending double play, but the ball was booted at short by Greg Stone and both runners were safe. The next batter, Gilberto Mejia, doubled in both to make it 4-2.

River City was sat down in order in their half of the fourth before Windy City put up a five spot in the bottom half of the frame. Back-to-back errors loaded the bases for Brett Amyx who would hit a sacrifice fly for the first out and run. The next batter Doug Coe went opposite field for a three run homer. Castrignano left following the homerun in favor of Gary Lee. Mike Coles provided the other run scoring single to put the Thunderbolts up 7-4.

Hunton kept the home team on top through six but ran into trouble in the seventh when Laurent doubled leading off. The Rascals Brad Hough brought the game to within a run with his fourth homerun of the season immediately after.

Trailing now 7-6, River City was not done, Bobby Mosby came around and scored the tying run after he was walked and eventually driven in by Luke Barganier’s sacrifice fly.

The game stayed tied at seven until the ninth, where things turned crazy.

With two outs, the Rascals started a rally. Issac Hess allowed Chris Raniere to single, then Barganier, then Stone, his good for the go-ahead run. Hess left for Anthony Rebyanski to match up against the right-hander Jacob DeBoer. DeBoer was then lifted for switch hitting Randy Rosa. Rosa, in search of his first hit of the season, plated two with a double to left-center.

River City added on. After a walk to Laurent, Hough connected on his fourth hit of the night, a two run double which put the Rascals up 12-7. Hough finished the night 4-4 with a homerun, double, four RBI, two runs and a stolen base.

All was secure, right?

Wrong, the previously dependable River City bullpen allowed five runs to tie the score in the bottom of the ninth inning, the last two coming off Mike Benacka when Coe singled to left, driving in his fourth and fifth RBIs of the game. Armando Carrasco started the inning on the mound for the Rascals and gave up four runs on two hits and two walks. Adam Tollefson gave up a run and a hit before the entrance of Benacka.

By this time the clock had struck midnight on a 7:05 p.m. start. Not too far past the twelve o’clock hour, Phil Hawke sent the few who remained home with a walk-off double to score Wes Long from first off Scott Fogelson to give Windy City the win.

After all was said and done Rebyanski (1-0) picked up the win going 2.1 innings. Fogelson (0-1) got the loss going 1.0 innings.

The win by the Thunderbolts snapped a six game winning streak for River City and it also snapped a three game losing streak for Windy City (2-7). The Rascals (6-4) are now 0-4 on the road this season going into tomorrow night’s 7:05 p.m. start in Crestwood. Chris Clem (1-1) gets the start and will be in search of his first road win as a Rascal.