Rangers Lose by 4 in Round 1

     After coming off a 40-run contest with the Astros to end the regular season, the Rangers locked horns with the Kettering Royals in another 40-run outburst. This time though, the outcome was a 22-18 loss for the Rangers.

      The Rangers outhit the Royals 19-18 and had fewer errors (2 to 5). However, the Rangers pitching gave up way to many free passes (14, including 3 HBP) and the Rangers hitters struck out a total of 14 times on the evening. If it wasn’t for these devastating numbers and a big error in the 4th that eventually plated 7 unearned runs, the Rangers would have had a much better chance of winning this ballgame.

      The Rangers started out well scoring twice in the top of the first on an RBI single off the bat of shortstop Jonmarc Lippincott. Clint Wolf scored the second run on a wild pitch. But the Royals answered with a pair of their own on back-to-back singles from Jason Griffith and Phil Beach. The Rangers scored two times again in the 2nd inning when Jacob and James Robinson each singled and scored on wild pitches. But the Royals took a short lead in the bottom half of the inning keyed by a 3-run HR to centerfield by Jason Griffith.

       The Rangers continued to score in the 3rd frame when Jacob Robinson’s double plated Lippincott and Dave Roemerman. James Robinson followed with a sacrifice fly to left to give the Rangers a 7-6 advantage.

       But the slipper fell off in the bottom of the 3rd. With two outs and 1 run in, Royals’ catcher Mark Franklin hit a deep flyball to center where CF Clint Wolf eventually lost his battle with the sunlight causing the ball drop in. The Royals tacked on 7 more runs that inning to take a 14-7 lead, which they never relinquished. The Royals added two more runs to their lead in the fourth with a 2-run double by Griffith.

      Jelani Arnold came in from the bullpen in the 5th inning in relief of starter Matt Hood and pitched effectively for 3 innings not allowing a run until the 8th inning. In the meantime, the Rangers battled back scoring 6 more runs to cut the deficit to 3 runs. Joe Staten contributed with a 2-run double. Brian Robinson had an RBI single and scored later on a passed ball. Jonmarc Lippincott plated 2 runs on a sacrifice fly to deep left center.

      With a 16-13 lead, the Royals added insurance runs in their final at-bat scoring 6 times on some well-placed hits. But the Rangers didn’t go down without a fight. The Rangers got to Jason Griffith in the 9th scoring 5 more runs before the Royals’ righthander closed the door with a strikeout. Final score: Royals 22, Rangers 18.

      Offensive contributions:    Jonmarc Lippincott 3-3, 2 RBI, 2 walks, sac fly, SB.
                                                Joe Staten 2-5, 2 doubles, 3 runs, 3 RBI.
                                                Brian Robinson 3-6, 2 runs, 2 SB
                                                Clint Wolf 2-5, double, 2 runs, 2 RBI
                                                Scott Sundermeyer 2-4, 2 runs, SB
                                                Jacob Robinson 2-5, 2 RBI, double, SB
                                                James Robinson 2-4 3 runs, 1 RBI, SB

RANGERS "MARKS"

OFFENSE
Jonmarc Lippincott – 3-3, 5 times on base

Joe Staten – 2 doubles, 3 RBI

Clint Wolf – 2-out 2 RBI double