O’Fallon, MO – After going into the seventh inning a run behind, the River City Rascals were able to come back and defeat the Midwest Sliders thanks to a two-run shot to left field by Brad Hough.

The homerun was Hough’s fifth of the season.

“I saw the pitch early,” said Hough. “In the past I’ve had trouble hitting side arm pitchers but I saw it and I barreled it.”

The Rascals had to play from behind once again. After the leadoff batter Zach Pace walked to start the first, he then stole two consecutive bases. Pace was plated when Lester Contreras hit a base hit to left field.

The Sliders added a run in each of the next two innings against Rascals starter Mike Castrignano.

In the second, after being hit by a pitch, Sam Deluca scored on a base hit making it 2-0 Sliders.

River City fought back in the bottom of the inning when Andy Bettis connected for his first hit of the season, a single to right field, and scored when Andrew Sweet hit a single to right field.

The Sliders increased their lead in the third when Miguel Magrass hit a solo homerun, his first of his professional career to make it 3-1.

Trailing by two in the fifth, Greg Phelps drove a base hit to right field. The next two batters walked, and Bobby Mosby stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded. With one out, Mosby hit a fly ball to center field and Phelps was able to score on the tag up making the score 3-2 Sliders. River City stranded the other two on base and left a total of ten men on base throughout the night.

Luke Barganier entered the game in the seventh for defensive purposes and started the Rascals offense with a base hit to right field in the bottom of the inning. After a sacrifice bunt from Greg Stone advanced the runner, Brad Hough stepped up to the plate for his heroics.

Mike Benacka closed things out for the Rascals when he entered in the eighth and finished the game striking out three batters without allowing a hit. This was Benacka’s third save of the season as he now sits one back of Pat Evers on the Rascals all-time career saves list with 23.

This is the first game the Rascals have won when they had been trailing after six innings.

Armando Carrasco (1-0) ended up as the winning pitcher for River City with his two innings of relief without allowing a run. Dale Phillips (0-1) served up the Hough homerun and suffered the loss.

The Rascals (8-6) will play against the Midwest Sliders (3-11) Thursday night to decide the series. Game time is 7:05 p.m. with the gates opening at 6:05 p.m. Thursday nights are ‘Thirsty Thursdays,’ draft beers are just $1 in Rascals Island. Be one of the first 1,000 through the gates 21 and older and receive a complimentary Budweiser coozie. Tickets can be purchased by calling (636) 240-BATS or online at www.rivercityrascals.com.