Smitty's Sports Blog

Monday, July 9, 2012

RiverHawks hit 3 homers in 11-7 win

07/06/2012 9:15 PM -

LOVES PARK, Ill. – Matt Greener, Javier Herrera, and Devin Shepherd each homered for Rockford Friday night, and the RiverHawks beat the Gateway Grizzlies 11-7 in the opener of a three-game series.

With the RiverHawks trailing the Grizzlies by 4 ½ games for fourth place in the Frontier League West, the RiverHawks returned to RiverHawks Stadium having won their past three series.

With the game-time temperature a sizzling 100 degrees, Rockford jumped on Gateway starter Chris Enourato early by scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning to go ahead 3-1. Jet Butler’s RBI single scored Evan Button, and Greener followed by launching a two-run blast to left field, his fourth of the season.

The RiverHawks put another big number on the board by scoring four runs in the third inning to extend the lead to 7-1. Herrera’s homer, a two-run shot to left field, was his seventh of the season. Herrera went 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs. Devin Shepherd hit a two-out solo shot, his second of the season, and went 2-for-4 in the game.

Gateway responded with three runs in the fourth, including a two-run single by Richie Jimenez, to close the gap to 7-4.

Rockford knocked out Enourato (3-3) in the fourth inning with no outs and the bases loaded and scored three runs to go ahead 10-4. Enouratio gave up 10 earned runs in three plus innings of work. Newly-signed Max Whieldon pitched five innings in relief, giving up one run for Gateway.

The Grizzlies got two runs in the fifth inning to close to 10-6, but they would get no closer than four runs for the most of the game.

Rockford starter Cody Hallahan (2-5) picked up the win, giving up five earned runs in five innings and striking out six.

All nine Rockford starters had at least one hit in the game.

The RiverHawks improved to 19-26 and have won seven of their last 10 games.

“We are playing some good ball,” manager Rich Austin said. “We don’t look a game ahead or look a game back. We have an edge to us right now.”

The series continues at 6:05 p.m. tomorrow. Gateway sends righty Tim Brown (4-2, 2.06 ERA) to the mound, while Rockford counters with righty Drew Rucinski (4-1, 2.58 ERA).

OSF St. Anthony sponsors the post game fireworks Saturday night that were cancelled this evening due to extreme heat.

The RiverHawks are members of the Frontier League, an independent professional baseball league in its 20th season. Games are broadcast on NTA-FM (100.5) Advertising and ticket information is available by calling (815) 885-2255. Fans can also visit www.rockfordriverhawks.com.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Rucinski shuts down Slammers to take series

07/02/2012 9:03 PM -

LOVES PARK, Ill. – Rockford starter Drew Rucinski threw six innings of shutout ball to lead the Rockford RiverHawks to a 5-2 win over the Joliet Slammers.

Rucinski (4-1) allowed four hits and two walks while striking out seven, throwing 58 of his 87 pitches for strikes.

Rockford scored twice in the first inning on a pair of RBI doubles by Evan Button and Javier Herrera. The RiverHawks added two more in the second, the first on an error by Slammers’ starter Steven Maxwell trying to pick Ted Obregon off first base with runners at first and third base. Button hit an RBI single to extend the lead to 4-0.

Maxwell (4-4) was handed the defeat, giving up three earned runs on six hits and striking out five in six innings pitched.

The Slammers trailed 4-0 into the eighth inning, but Chrietien Matz led off the inning with a pinch-hit home run off Andrew Armstrong to cut the Rockford lead to 4-1. The Slammers then loaded the bases with no one out. Erik Lis hit a sacrifice fly off Armstrong to make it a 4-2 game. Armstrong was pulled for Jordan Goldschmidt, and Goldschmidt got Kyle Maunus to bounce into an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play.

The RiverHawks added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning on a sacrifice fly by Michael Hur to make it 5-2.

Rockford’s Garrett Granitz pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn his first save of the season.

Button went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Javier Herrera was 2-for-4 with an RBI, his 45th of the season.

The RiverHawks head to Washington, Pennsylvania to open up a three-game series with the Washington Wild Things beginning Tuesday. Rockford sends Mike Lee (3-0, 2.41 ERA) to the mound in the opener, and Washington counters with Gary Lee (2-3, 2.78 ERA). First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. CDT.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Schult pitches Slammers past RiverHawks

07/01/2012 8:03 PM -

LOVES PARK, Ill. – Joliet’s Jim Schult tossed 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball, and Kyle Maunus hit a two-run homer Sunday night to power the Joliet Slammers to a 4-1 win over the Rockford RiverHawks.

After scoring 49 runs in the past four games, the Rockford bats went silent.

Schult (3-2) allowed only one run on five hits, striking out five. Rockford’s Cody Hallahan (1-5) got the loss, giving up four runs in 6 1/3 innings pitched.

Rockford grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a two-out RBI double by Matt Greener. With two outs in the top of the second inning, Joliet’s Erik Lis doubled. Kyle Maunus followed by launching a two-run home run to left, his third of the season, to give the Slammers a 2-1 advantage.

Joliet added insurance runs in the fourth and fifth innings on an RBI double by Davis Fox and sacrifice fly by Abel Nieves to stretch the lead to 4-1.

Schult gave way to Chase Doremus with two outs and runners on second and third base in the seventh inning. Doremus struck out leadoff man Ted Obregon to get out of the inning.

Amalio Diaz pitched a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his ninth save of the season.

Evan Button went 2-for-4 with a double for Rockford. The RiverHawks fell to 15-25 on the season.

The series wraps up on Monday night at 7:05 p.m. The RiverHawks send righty Drew Rucinski (3-1, 3.06 ERA) to the mound, and the Slammers counter with righty Steven Maxwell (4-3, 3.76 ERA).

Tomorrow is Veterans Appreciation Night at RiverHawks Stadium. Players will be wearing camouflage jerseys, with a jersey auction being held. Additionally, a drum corps will be in attendance and a colorguard will be presenting the American Flag during the Star-Spangled Banner.

RiverHawks rally for 11-5 victory over Slammers

06/30/2012 9:02 PM -

LOVES PARK, Ill. – The Rockford RiverHawks scored nine runs in the seventh inning Saturday night to surge ahead and beat the Joliet Slammers 11-5 in the series opener at RiverHawks Stadium.

Trailing 5-2, the RiverHawks cut the deficit to 5-4 on a passed ball and wild pitch by Daniel Carela. Michael Hur followed with an RBI single to tie the game, and Carlos Luciano’s bloop single to right gave the RiverHawks the lead at 6-5.

Ted Obregon’s bases-loaded one-out walk made it 7-5. Jet Butler followed by launching a grand slam to right field off Brian Smith to put Rockford up 11-5. The grand slam was the RiverHawks’ first of the season.

Andrew Armstrong (1-0) earned the win with one inning of scoreless relief. Geoff Brown (0-2) was handed the defeat as he gave up four runs. Rockford’s Kyle Schepel pitched five innings of scoreless relief, striking out five.

The Slammers took a 5-0 lead as they loaded the bases in the first inning with one out and capitalized as Erik Lis hit an RBI single and David Fox followed with a three-run double to right-center field to give the Slammers a 4-0 lead. Fox advanced to third on an error, and he scored on a balk by Rockford starter Jack Crawford to give Joliet a 5-0 lead.

The RiverHawks loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the first, but Joliet’s Tommy Mendoza escaped the jam unscathed.

Making his Frontier League Debut, Crawford lasted only one inning, giving up five runs on five hits.

The RiverHawks cut the lead to 5-2 in the fifth inning on a two-run double by Javier Herrera, but Mendoza got out of another bases-loaded jam, striking out Mike Thomas and getting Evan Button to ground out to end the inning.

“I told the guys if they load the bases a third time, they’ll break through,” manager Rich Austin said.

The RiverHawks improved to 15-24 on the season, while the reigning Frontier League champion Slammers fell to 17-23 and are losers of four straight.

Rockford sends Cody Hallahan (1-4, 4.66 ERA) to the mound Sunday to take on Joliet’s Jim Schult (2-2, 5.13 ERA). First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m.

Tomorrow is YMCA Family Day. Kids age 3-12 get in for $2 and can use the YMCA’s various inflatables and participate in other activites. Also, they get to run the bases after the game is over.

Otters outslug RiverHawks 16-11

06/29/2012 10:24 PM -

LOVES PARK, Ill. – The Evansville Otters jumped on Rockford pitching to take an early 10-0 lead and beat the Rockford RiverHawks 16-11 Friday night in a game that was delayed 45 minutes by inclement weather.

Both teams had 16 hits, and the teams combined for 70 runs and 85 hits in the three-game series.

Rockford starter Ziggie VanderWall retired the side in order in the first inning, but Evansville scored twice in the second inning to go ahead 2-0. The Otters broke out for five runs in the third inning to take a commanding 7-0 lead. In that inning, DeAngelo Mack and Luis Uribe hit back-to-back home runs. Mack went 2-for-5 with four RBIs in the game, and Uribe was 4-for-6 with four runs scored and two RBIs.

VanderWall (3-2) gave up seven runs over three innings to take the loss. Evansville’s Matt Zielinski (4-3) got the win despite giving up ten hits and six runs in five innings.

The Otters scored three times in the fourth inning off Nelson Curry to take a 10-0 lead, but with storms closing in on the area, the Riverhawks scored once in the fourth and five times in the fifth, highlighted by Javier Herrera’s two-run blast to center field, his sixth of the season, to close the gap to 10-6.

Herrera went 3-for-5 with four RBIs and finished the series hitting 10-for-14 with two home runs and 13 RBIs.

Play was suspended with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning at RiverHawks Stadium. When play resumed, the Otters scored three times in top of the seventh extend their lead to 13-6. The RiverHawks bounced back in the bottom half with three runs, including Greg Van Horn’s two-run single to make it 13-9.

Matt Sheely’s two-run single in the eighth inning made it a 15-9 game, but the RiverHawks would close to 15-11 in the eighth inning. Nick Schwaner hit his sixth homer of the season in the top of the ninth to put Evansville ahead 16-11.

Rockford’s Matt Greener went 3-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI, and Jet Butler went 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs.

The RiverHawks return to action 6:05 p.m. Saturday as they send lefty Jack Crawford to the mound to make his Frontier League Debut. Joliet counters with right-hander Tommy Mendoza (3-3, 4.89 ERA).

Tomorrow is Cancer Survivors’ Night at the ballpark and Fireworks Night, sponsored by the Rockford Register Star.

Herrera’s record night lifts RiverHawks to victory

06/28/2012 10:00 PM -

LOVES PARK, Ill. – Javier Herrera became the first player in team history to hit for the cycle, going 5-for-5 with a homer and seven RBIs Thursday night to lead the Rockford RiverHawks to a 13-8 over the Evansville Otters.

Herrera singled in the bottom of the first inning, and his two-out, three-run triple in the bottom of the second inning gave the RiverHawks a 5-3 lead.

Herrera also singled in the fourth inning, and with Rockford holding an 8-5 lead in the fifth inning, Herrera connected on a three-run double down the left field line to extend the lead to 11-5.

He finished in off the cycle in dramatic fashion, taking a 2-2 pitch from reliever Tyree Hayes out to left field for a solo home run, his fifth of the season, to extend the Rockford lead to 13-7.

Herrera’s five hits tied a RiverHawks’ single game record last accomplished by Jason James against Evansville on June 22, 2009. His seven RBI also matched a Rockford single game record, last accomplished by Brandon Cohen against Evansville on August 5, 2009.

“He was locked in every at-bat,” manager Rich Austin said. “He came in in key situations and got clutch hits and put good swings on the ball.”

Herrera’s night boosted his average 22 points from .358 to .380. He has five home runs and 38 RBI in 37 games.

The Otters set a season-high with 16 hits, and the RiverHawks had 14 of their own. Rockford’s Rudy Wilson went 3-for-5 with a double and three RBIs. The two teams combined for seven errors in the game.

Rockford ace Mike Lee (3-0) picked up the win, giving up two earned runs in five innings and striking out nine batters, the third straight start he has fanned nine.

Bryce Morrow (2-4) picked up the loss for Evansville. Runey Davis and Taylor Black each homered in the loss for the Otters.

The RiverHawks improved to 14-23 on the season and have won two in a row.

Rockford sends southpaw Ziggie VanderWall (3-1, 3.74 ERA) to the mound Friday, and Evansville looks to avoid the sweep, countering with southpaw Matt Zielinski (3-3, 4.27 ERA).

Tomorrow night is the NIU Fleece Blanket Giveaway, Home Window Giveaway by EuroTech, and Girl Scout Campout.

RiverHawks' bats come alive in 14-8 win

06/27/2012 10:42 PM -

LOVES PARK, Ill. – Seven Rockford hitters had multiple-hit games Wednesday, and the Rockford RiverHawks beat the Evansville Otters 14-8 in the series opener at RiverHawks Stadium.

The RiverHawks matched a season-high with 17 hits, last achieved in a 16-5 win over Southern Illinois on June 10.

The RiverHawks got on the board in the third inning on RBI hits by Javier Herrera and Michael Hur, and Matt Greener hit a two-run single to put Rockford up 4-0. In the following inning, Carlos Luciano belted a three-run home run, his second homer of the season, to give the RiverHawks a 7-0 advantage. Luciano was 3-for-5 to raise his average to .390.

Matt Crim (0-5) was credited with the loss, giving up six earned runs on nine hits in four innings pitched.

Rockford starter Drew Rucinski was perfect through four innings, but Evansville closed the gap to 7-4 with a four-run fifth inning, highlighted by Andrew Kuhn’s two-run homer.

Rucinski (3-1) earned the win for Rockford, giving up four runs in five innings of work.

The RiverHawks scored twice in the bottom of the sixth, but the Otters scored four times in the seventh inning to close the gap to 9-8, highlighted by Taylor Black’s three-run double off Garrett Granitz after Andrew Armstrong walked the bases loaded.

Rockford bounced back in the bottom half of the inning with two runs on a two-out error by shortstop Luis Parache, his third of the game. Rockford added three more runs in the eighth inning to extend the lead to 14-8.

Greener went 3-for-5 with three RBIs for Rockford, and Javier Herrera was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Rockford will send righty Mike Lee (2-0, 2.20 ERA) to the mound Thursday night to face Evansville southpaw Garrett Bullock (1-4, 3.51 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

Thursday night is Perry Rock $1 beer night at the ballpark, and it also American’s Bring it Home Thursday, where one fan will walk away with a 40” 1080p LCD TV.