Rangers Fall to Redlegs 12-11

What started out as a pitcher’s duel between two of the top pitchers in the league, ended anything but that. After battling through 2 rain delays, the Rangers finally succumbed to the Redlegs 12-11 on Sunday, July 18 at Preble Shawnee high school.

Six game winner Jonathan Silverman started for the Rangers, and Taylor Guntle (5-0) got the nod for the Redlegs, but neither would factor in the decision. The Rangers touched up Guntle for 2 runs in the bottom of the first as Clint Wolf singled, stole second, and scored on Robert Riley’s hit. After Riley stole second, Joe Staten singled him home to make it a 2-0 ballgame. The Redlegs tied the game in the third. With two outs, Jacob Robinson doubled and scored on a Matt Mattice single. After a walk, Derek Graham singled to right to plate Mattice. Silverman worked five innings allowing five hits and struck out 7. But before exiting, the Rangers tried to keep his winning streak alive. In the bottom of the fifth, James Robinson led off with a single and scored on a single to left by Tim Sullivan.

Shawn Schmitt relieved Silverman in the sixth and after retiring the first two men he faced, served up a home run to Brian Kuhbander to tie the game. After a walk, John Long doubled in the gap to give the Redlegs their first lead of the game. The Rangers answered in the bottom of the sixth as Guntle was touched for three straight home runs off the bat of Clint Wolf, Robert Riley, and Joe Staten. In the top of the 7^th, the Redlegs got the lead back as Mattice, Guntle, and Howard each drove in a run to make it a 7-6 Redlegs advantage. The Rangers took the lead back in the bottom of the inning as Silverman and Steve Marshall singled. Silverman would score on an errant stolen base throw and Marshall would score on a wild pitch to give the Rangers an 8-7 lead.

But the Redlegs did their ultimate damage in the 8^th as the team sent 9 guys to the plate, scoring 5 runs, capped by a two-run home run by Jacob Robinson. With the Rangers down 12-8, Robert Riley started off the bottom of the eighth with a single. Joe Staten then deposited his second home run of the game to cut the lead to two. After a flyout, Jonmarc Lippincott just missed a home run and settled for a double. A flyout moved Lippincott to third. Jelani Arnold then roped a single to right center to cut the lead to one. Tim Sullivan then launched a double over the right fielder’s head to put runners at second and third. But Silverman took a questionable called third strike to end the threat.

With a threat of a monsoon on its way, the Rangers defense worked a quick top of the ninth to give the team a chance to win it in their final at-bat. But all was for naught, as Brandon Howard relieved Brad Clark to pitch a 1-2-3 inning for the Redlegs victory. Brad Clark picked up his first win as a Redleg, and Shawn Schmitt falls to 2-2.

This loss was tough to swallow as the Rangers outhit the Redlegs 19 to 16 and had fewer strike outs (6 to 13), but had a couple of costly baserunning mistakes. And what the Redlegs did best was work more walks (6 to 2) and score more runs with two outs (6 to 3).

Offensive highlights: Joe Staten 3-for-4, 2 home runs, 4RBI; Robert Riley 3-for-3, HR, 3 runs, 2RBI, SB; Clint Wolf 3-for-5, HR, 2 runs, RBI, SB; Steve Marshall 3-for-5, SB; Tim Sullivan 2-for-4, double, RBI; James 2-for-4, run; Jonmarc Lippincott 1-for-3, double, run, BB.

Defensive highlights: A perfect relay from Jake Kingsolver to Robert Riley to James Robinson cut off a run at the plate in the first inning.

Historical Notes: Clint increased his hitting streak to 22 games (2nd best in team history). Jonmarc is 2 RBI shy of 300 RBIs in the league. Jelani is 1 run shy of 100 runs scored in the league. Shawn is 1 win away from passing Rob Hoover for the most wins in Rangers history.