Rangers Squander Leads, Lose in 11

 The Dayton Rangers held the lead at three different points during Sunday’s game, including twice in extra innings, only to fall short 6-5 to the Kettering Royals in 11 innings of play.

      A pitching duel from the get-go, Rangers’ starter Brad Clark worked into the fifth inning before giving up his first hit. However, two costly throwing errors with two outs in both the fourth and fifth frames saw the Rangers down 2-1 after five innings.

With the Rangers down 3-1 going into the top of the 8^th inning, Joe Staten led off with a single to right. The next two batters struck out, which brought Jonmarc Lippincott to the plate. Lippincott proceeded to swing at a two-strike curveball pitch in the dirt (he says on purpose) which bounces away from the catcher, allowing Lippincott to reach base. Clint Wolf followed him up with a walk to load the bases. Rookie Reis Pearson then blooped a double over the infield to plate the tying runs.

The Rangers had the opportunity to put the game away in the 9^th after Jeremy Cunningham tripled with one out, but the next two batters failed to put the ball in play. Both teams left 12 runners on base.

Pearson came in the game to relieve Clark in the 7^th and kept the Royals batters off balance through regulation.

Both teams would score in each of the next two innings. Clint Wolf singled with two outs to drive in Joe Staten in the 10^th inning. The Royals’ Matt Haver singled with two-outs in the bottom of the inning to plate Kevin Reynolds and force another inning. Jeremy Cunningham tried to win the game by himself in the 11^th. Cunningham was hit-by-a-pitch with two outs, stole second, stole third, and scored on a throwing error by the catcher. However, the Royals got big hits from Mark Franklin and, ultimately, Ben Ailes to complete the comeback.

Royals ace Jason Griffith was just too tough on Rangers hitters all afternoon. Reminiscent of a recent Roy Halladay outing, Griffith went the distance, pitching 11 innings, striking out a total of 18 batters.

Offensive performances of note: Clint Wolf (2-out RBI single in 10th), Jacob Robinson (tripled and scored first run in 3rd), Reis Pearson (2-out 2-run double to tie game in 8th), Joe Staten (reached base in all 4 plate appearances, scored twice), Jeremy Cunningham (double, triple)