Rangers’ Bullpen Stops Outlaws

 The Dayton Rangers used solid pitching and good defense to hold off a very strong Outlaws squad Sunday night, winning 7-4.

The Rangers struck first in the top of the first inning as Jonmarc Lippincott singled up the middle to drive in Clint Wolf. The Outlaws countered with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning. The Rangers got the lead back in the fourth, when Lippincott reached on an infield error and scored on James Robinson’s two-out liner to left. Brad Clark’s team-high fifth hit of the day plated Clint Wolf in the 6^th inning to give the Rangers a 3-1 lead. The Outlaws chipped away again in the bottom of the sixth as Kevin Ashworth reached on a throwing error and scored on a groundout by Rick Anderson.

 The game broke open in the seventh off of Outlaws reliever Kevin Ashworth. The Rangers loaded the bases on hits by Jeremy Cunningham and Joe Staten and a fielder’s choice when Steve Marshall stepped up to the plate with our Frisch’s Big Boy big play of the game. Marshall worked a full count with two outs, and with the runners on the move, laced a base hit past the third baseman that scored two runs and ultimately three runs after a throwing error allowed the bases to clear. Marshall then scored on Reis Pearson infield single.

Brad Clark started for the Rangers and pitched into the seventh inning despite leg cramps caused by all the hits he had at the plate on Sunday. Staked to a 7-2 lead, Brad walked the leadoff batter in the seventh and gave up a single to the next batter. After a pinch-hit double by Dan Wayman, the Outlaws cut the lead to 7-4. After a wild-pitch, Chad Jaynes was then hit-by-a-pitch to put runners on the corner with no outs.

Coach Lippincott decided to go the bullpen and bring on lefty Matt Hood to stop the bleeding. Hood struck out pinch-hitter Justin Turton and got Freddy White to line out to third baseman James Robinson, who in turn stepped on the bag to complete the double play and end the Outlaws threat. Rookie Reis Pearson pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning shutting down the heart of the Outlaws in order before giving way to Jacob Robinson in the ninth. Robinson put a pair of runners on in the ninth with a hit and a walk, but struck out two including the final batter to notch his first career save.

Offensive performances of note: Brad Clark 3-for-4 (raising avg. to .700); Clint Wolf scored three runs, putting him near the top of the league lead; Jonmarc Lippincott 2-for-4 RBI; Steve Marshall 2-for-4 2RBI (5 on the day); Rangers hitters struck out only 6 times in 2 games which could be a Rangers record for a DH (Elias is still researching that one).

Defensive performances of note: Catcher Shane Fallen did not allow a single stolen base on the day; Cunningham and Jared Bradley turned a big double play in the fifth inning; Rangers’ relievers (3 IP, 0 R, 3Ks).