River City Rascals - Independent Professional Baseball

BENACKA STRIKES OUT FIVE, RASCALS HOLD ON TO WIN 6-5

O’Fallon, MO—Eleven walks helped, but a star performance at the end by River City Rascals closer Mike Benacka clinched a series opening win 6-5 over the Kalamazoo Kings Friday night at T.R. Hughes Ballpark.

“What can you say about this guy. He comes in and he has all strikeouts,” said pitching coach Steve Brook. “He definitely deserves to go to the All-Star game and play at the next level.”

Benacka fanned five over 1.2 innings, allowing one hit, to notch his eleventh save. River City capitalized the Kalamazoo sloppiness to score six runs in the second and third innings. Kings starter Dave Pellegrine lasted only 1.1 innings and took his first loss of the season by allowing two runs and walking five.

The Rascals put up two runs in the bottom of the second inning to take an early lead. Phil Laurent scored on a Luke Barganier single to left field. The second run for River City was scored by Ryan Wehrle after A.J. Van Slyke walked with the bases loaded.

In the bottom of the third, the Rascals led the Kings 2-1, before adding four insurance runs by the end of the inning. After the first three batters loaded the bases with two consecutive walks and a knock to center, Laurent singled to left to score Jeff Miller. In the next at bat, Wehrle walked with the bases loaded to score Andrew Sweet. With two outs, Barganier provided what proved to be the game winning hit with a single to center field scoring two more runs, increasing the River City lead to 6-1.

Kalamazoo added three more runs off twelve hits in the ballgame, including an eighth inning run to make things interesting. But that is when Benacka was called on to shut the door. Gary Lee (2-0) earned his second win of the season, relieving Rascals starter Dustin Corbett after 4.2 innings. Lee 2.1 innings and allowed just one hit and no runs to keep the Rascals ahead.

The River City Rascals (23-26) will face the Kalamazoo Kings (30-19) for game two of the series on Saturday night at T.R. Hughes Ballpark. Immediately following the 7:05 p.m. game, Jimmy Buffet cover band ‘The Phins’ will be performing in Rascal Island. Gates open at 6:05 p.m. and tickets are available by calling (636) 240-BATS or www.rivercityrascals.com.

7/11/08
Kalamazoo 5, River City 6

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Kalamazoo	0	0	1	1	2	0	0	1	0	5	13	1
River City	0	2	4	0	0	0	0	0	X	6	6	0

Kalamazoo	POS	AB	R	H	RBI	AVG
B. Anderson	RF	4	0	1	0	.325
J. Grose	CF	4	1	2	2	.253
J. Ramos	2B	5	0	2	0	.250
M. Russell	1B	5	1	2	2	.289
K. Kmiecik	SS	4	1	1	0	.276
B. Murphy	DH	5	0	1	0	.316
R. Moley	PR	0	0	0	0	.300
J. Frazee	LF	3	0	0	1	.111
S. Williams	PH	1	0	0	0	.304
M. Hudgins	CAT	4	1	2	0	.246
J. Araiza	3B	4	1	2	0	.259
D. Pellegrine	PIT	0	0	0	0	.000
M. Mongiardini	PIT	0	0	0	0	.000
R. Babb	PIT	0	0	0	0	.000
J. Catanese	PIT	0	0	0	0	.000
TOTALS		39	5	13	5

River City	POS	AB	R	H	RBI	AVG
L. Barganier	CF	5	0	2	3	.308
A. Van Slyke	LF	3	0	0	1	.292
B. Hough	2B	5	0	0	0	.269
J. Miller	1B	2	1	0	0	.302
A. Sweet	CAT	3	1	1	0	.282
W. Basom	DH	4	0	1	0	.304
P. Laurent	RF	3	2	2	1	.228
R. Wehrle	3B	0	2	0	1	.256
G. Stone	SS	3	0	0	0	.204
D. Corbett	PIT	0	0	0	0	.000
G. Lee	PIT	0	0	0	0	.000
L. Estrella	PIT	0	0	0	0	.000
M. Benacka	PIT	0	0	0	0	.000
M. Benacka	PIT	0	0	0	0	.000
M. Benacka	PIT	0	0	0	0	.000
TOTALS		28	6	6	6

E--D.Pellegrine. DP--KALAMAZOO 2, RIVER CITY 0. LOB--KALAMAZOO 12, RIVER CITY 9. 2B--K.Kmiecik (13), J. Araiza (6), A.Sweet (11). HR--M.Russell (13). SB--J.Grose (5), P.Laurent (2). HBP--B.Anderson. SF--J.Frazee.

Kalamazoo	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
D. Pellegrine (L, 1-1)	1.1	1	2	2	5	1	0	5.40
M. Mongiardini	0.2	2	4	4	4	0	0	7.36
R. Babb	4.2	3	0	0	2	3	0	0.90
J. Catanese	1.1	0	0	0	0	1	0	2.35

River City	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
D. Corbett	4.2	9	4	4	3	3	1	6.04
G. Lee (W,2-0)	2.1	1	0	0	0	3	0	4.36
L. Estrella	0.1	2	1	1	0	0	0	6.35
M. Benacka (S,11)	1.2	1	0	0	0	5	0	0.38

WP--D.Pellegrine, M.Benacka. HB--G.Lee. SO--J.Ramos, M.Russell 3, K.Kmiecik, B.Murphy, J.Frazee, S.Williams, M.Hudgins 2, J. Araiza, A.Van Slyke, B.Hough, W.Basom 2, P.Laurent. BB--J.Grose, K.Kmiecik, M.Hudgins, A.Van Slyke 2, J.Miller 2, A.Sweet, P.Laurent, R.Wehrle 4, G.Stone.

Time: 3:13, Attendance: 2,201