Rangers Sweep Panthers in DH

  Sunday’s double header between the Rangers and Panthers provided witnesses with a few oddities, including a 14-year hitless drought ending, a non-roster invitee homering, a save recorded after holding a 10-run lead in the 7^th, and something that hasn’t happened since August 2006.

Game one featured an excellent pitching performance from Rangers righty Brad Clark. Brad held the Panthers hitless into the sixth inning until leadoff batter Jeff Cherry looped a single to centerfield. Clark was relieved in the seventh by newcomer Jim Brown. Jim abruptly struck out the first batter he faced and was able to induce a groundball to short. However, around these two outs, the Panthers patiently recorded 5 walks and 4 hits. Rangers’ manager Jonmarc Lippincott summoned Jelani Arnold from the pen to stop the bleeding. After forcing in a seventh run of the inning with a bases-loaded walk, Arnold recorded a groundball out to record the save, the second of his career.

On the offensive side of the plate, Jacob Robinson and Lippincott led of the games with singles. Brad Clark doubled both teammates home to give the Rangers an early 2-0 lead. Jelani walked and scored on a wild pitch in the second inning and Jacob Robinson doubled in Jack Millard and Shane Fallen to make it 5-0 in the second inning. Aaron Armstrong grounded out to drive in Jelani in the fourth for a 6-0 advantage. Lippincott scored on a wild pitch in the fifth and James Robinson singled in Clint Wolf for an 8-0 score. The final two runs came in the top of the sixth as Jelani and Jack led off with singles and Aaron was hit by a pitch. ‘Rookie’ Jim Brown was then called upon to pinch hit with the bases loaded. J.B., who hasn’t seen a pitch in 14 years, tattooed the first pitch he saw for a two-run single to center.

Game two started off bleak for the Rangers as four fielding errors and four singles in the top of the first produced three runs for the Panthers. However, the Rangers answered back with four runs in the bottom of the inning. Brad Clark’s two-run double and James Robinson’s RBI single led the way during the first. In the second, Jonmarc Lippincott doubled in Shane Fallen and Clint Wolf followed suit with a two-run double to give the Rangers a 7-3 lead. In the fourth inning, the Panthers clawed their way back in the game when ‘fill-in’ Brandon Howard launched a two-run homer off of former high school teammate Jacob Robinson. (The Panthers would like to thank Jacob and Jared for calling up Brandon right before game time to come play for the Panthers!)

James drove in his second run of the game with a groundout to second in the fifth inning, plating Lippincott. Randy Haines doubled in the final run for the Panthers in the sixth. Jacob Robinson pitched a complete game for the Rangers, improving his record to 5-1 and 4-0 lifetime against the Panthers.

Offensive highlights: Jacob 3-for-6, 3runs 2RBI, double; Jonmarc 3-for-6, 4runs, 1RBI, double; Clint 2-for-7, 2runs, 2RBI, double, SB; Brad 4-for-7, 4RBI, 2-doubles; James 2-for-6 2RBI; Jelani 2-for-3, 3runs.

Historical note: Jake is 3 strikeouts away from 5^th place on the all-time MVABL leaderboard. Jake was 4-0 in the month of June, tying him for the most wins by a Rangers pitcher in a single month. Jake’s 3 hits at the plate pushed him over the 100 career hit mark. Jonmarc is 2 RBI short for 300 career RBIs. Clint’s double in game two gave him 50 career doubles.