Smitty's Sports Blog

Friday, August 31, 2012

RiverHawks outslug Road Warriors 17-9, earn sweep

08/30/2012 9:41 PM -

LOVES PARK, Ill. – The Rockford RiverHawks set season highs in runs and hits Thursday and beat the Road Warriors 17-9 to earn the series sweep in their home finale at RiverHawks Stadium.

Rockford tallied a season-high 21 hits, with seven batters recording mult-hit games.

“They’ve been hitting the ball hard and having good at-bats all season,” manager Rich Austin said.

The RiverHawks led 8-4 after two innings behind Evan Button and Trevor Whyte home runs, but the Road Warriors scored once in the third and three times in the fourth to chase starter Ziggie VanderWall and tie the game at 8-8.

The offense answered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring the go-ahead run as Evan Button stole third base and scored on an errant throw by catcher David Roney.

Tyree Hayes (1-0) allowed a run in 1 1/3 innings and got the win. Mickey Cassidy pitched three innings of scoreless relief for Rockford.

Scott Foster (0-1) was the loser as he allowed two earned runs in 2 2/3 innings.

The RiverHawks scored six more runs in the eighth inning off Chris Kaminski to put the game out of reach.

Michael Hur and Matt Greener each had four hits in the Rockford win. Trevor Whyte went 2-for-4 with four RBIs and extended his hitting streak to 15 games. Jet Butler was 3-for-5 with three RBIs.

Aaron Glaum hit his first homer of the year to lead off the game for the Road Warriors. Ben Magsig also slugged his first homer of the year in the first inning.

With the win, the RiverHawks improved to 40-53 and have won four straight. The Road Warriors fell to 8-25.

The RiverHawks close the season with a three-game series at the Gateway Grizzlies starting Friday. The pitching matchup for the opener is Rockford’s Nick Anderson (1-3, 6.51 ERA) against Gateway’s Brett Zawacki (1-2, 5.40 ERA).

“We are playing good ball right now. I’m just telling the guys to relax and play. The pressure’s on Gateway,” Austin said.

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.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Rucinski goes distance in 9-2 win

LOVES PARK, Ill. – Drew Rucinski pitched a complete game for the Rockford RiverHawks Wednesday, and they used a six-run seventh inning to beat the visiting Road Warriors 9-2.

Rucinski (7-4) threw 91 of his 135 pitches for strikes and allowed two runs on five hits while striking out eight batters. Rucinski’s effort was the first Rockford complete-game win of the year and first since Brett Scarpetta went the distance against the Lake Erie Crushers on August 28, 2011.

“Drew did a great job for us tonight,” manager Rich Austin. “He battled out there, and I’m happy for him. It was well-deserved.”

Matt Greener’s RBI groundout in the fifth inning gave Rockford a 3-2 lead. In the seventh inning, the RiverHawks sent 10 men to the plate and put up six runs off of relievers Kevin McGovern and Jon Jones. Greener’s two-run single made it 5-2, and after Justino Cuevas was intentionally walked to loaded the bases, Mike Thomas broke the game open with a bases-clearing double that pushed the Rockford lead to 8-2. Thomas later scored on a Jon Jones wild pitch.

Road Warriors’ starter Tyler Vaske (1-2) took the loss, giving up three runs in 5 1/3 innings.

RiverHawks’ shortstop Ted Obregon led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run, the second time he has hit a leadoff homer this season. The last time came on July 21 at home against the Traverse City Beach Bums.

Greener went 2-for-4 with three RBIs for Rockford, his third straight three-RBI game. Thomas also had a sacrifice fly and finished the night 2-for-3 with four RBIs. Trevor Whyte went 2-for-4 and extended his hitting streak to 14 games, raising his batting average to .372.

The RiverHawks improved to 39-53, while the Road Warriors fell to 8-24.

The RiverHawks play their last home game of the year Thursday with the series finale against the Road Warriors. The probables on the mound are Warriors’ Matt Schimpf (4-8, 5.59 ERA) and RiverHawks’ Ziggie VanderWall (7-6, 5.40 ERA).

Thursday night is the final RiverHawks’ home game of the year, Perry Rock $1 beer night, and American’s Bring it Home Thursday. One lucky fan will walk away with a 40” 1080p LCD TV, courtesy of American.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

RiverHawks top Road Warriors 7-5

08/28/2012 9:25 PM -

LOVES PARK, Ill. – Matt Greener’s three-run homer in the third inning Tuesday propelled the Rockford RiverHawks to a 7-5 victory over the Road Warriors in the series opener at RiverHawks Stadium.

Greener’s blast, his fifth of the season, came with two outs off starter Sheng-An Kuo and gave Rockford a 3-1 lead. It was Greener’s second straight three-RBI game.

Kyle Schepel (4-6) picked up the win as he allowed two earned runs on three hits and six walks in 6 1/3 innings.

Kuo (0-10) yielded three earned runs in 5 1/3 innings in a losing effort.

The Road Warriors closed the gap to 4-3 with a run in the sixth inning and loaded the bases in the seventh, but Mickey Cassidy came in to get Doug Thennis to bounce into an inning-ending fielder’s choice on a play where shortstop Ted Obregon ranged to his left, fielded the ball, and made a flip to Justino Cuevas to get the out.

The visitors loaded the bases with one out in the eighth inning, but Jacob Daniel popped to second base and Ted Obregon made another ranging play on a Matt Wright grounder up the middle, again flipping to Cuevas to end the inning.

The RiverHawks added three insurance runs in the eighth inning to go ahead 7-3. The Road Warriors scored twice in the ninth inning on a two-run single by David Roney, but Garrett Granitz shut the door by striking out Wesley Jones to end the game and pick up his 12^th save.

Trevor Whyte went 2-for-3 for Rockford and extended his hitting streak to 13 games.

The series resumes tomorrow as righty Tyler Vaske (1-1, 5.14 ERA) toes the rubber for the Road Warriors, and the RiverHawks counter with righty Drew Rucinski (6-4, 3.27 ERA).

Thanks to WIFR Channel 23, all tickets will be just 23 cents for the remaining two home games.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

RiverHawks avoid sweep, edge Boomers 5-4

08/27/2012 8:19 PM -

LOVES PARK, Ill. – Michael Hur’s record-tying home run Monday helped the Rockford RiverHawks avoid a series sweep in a 5-4 win over the Schaumburg Boomers.

Hur’s blast, a 3-1 pitch he took off the scoreboard in left-center field off Cameron Roth with the game tied at 3-3 in the fifth inning, gave the RiverHawks a 4-3 lead. Hur’s home run was his 15^th of the season and tied manager Rich Austin’s single season RiverHawks’ record set in 2004.

Rockford led 5-4 entering the ninth inning and brought closer Garrett Granitz in seeking his 11^th save. Chase Fontaine led off the frame with a double to the left-center gap, and Jereme Milons sacrificed Fontaine over to third base.

With one out, pinch hitter Sean Mahley hit a tapper back to Granitz, whose throw pulled Trevor Whyte off the bag at first base. With runners on the corners, Brandon Gregorich hit a slow roller to Jet Butler at second base, who tagged pinch runner Drew Heithoff and threw to first base to complete the double play and help Rockford snap a five-game losing streak and give Granitz his 11^th save of the season.

“We were able to work out of it,” Rockford manager Rich Austin said. “I’m really happy for Garrett.”

Cody Hallahan (6-8) yielded four runs in 5 2/3 innings of work to snap a three-start losing streak. Cameron Roth (8-9) allowed five runs over 4 1/3 innings and lost his fifth straight start.

Matt Greener gave Rockford an early 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the first inning, and with the game tied at 1-1 in the third inning, Greener hit a two-run double down the left field line to give the RiverHawks a 3-1 lead. He finished the night 2-for-3 with three RBIs.

Schaumburg’s Karexon Sanchez launched a 3-0 pitch in the fifth inning for a two-run homer to tie the game. Chase Fontaine homered for a second straight game for the Boomers.

Rockford’s Trevor Whyte went 2-for-4 and extended his hitting streak to 12 games. For Schaumburg, Steve McQuail singled in the fourth inning to extend his hitting streak to 13 games.

The game Monday was played as a makeup game from Sunday night’s rainout.

The RiverHawks open their final home series of the season Tuesday against the Road Warriors. The pitching probables for the game are Sheng-An Kuo (0-9, 4.50 ERA) and Kyle Schepel (3-6, 3.03 ERA).

Thanks to WIFR Channel 23, all tickets will be just 23 cents for the remaining three home games.

Monday, August 27, 2012

RiverHawks drop five straight on final homestand

08/27/2012 10:31 AM -

LOVES PARK, Ill. – The Rockford RiverHawks dropped their first five games of their final homestand of the season, a stretch of nine games in 10 days.

In the series opener Tuesday, August 21 at RiverHawks Stadium against the Washington Wild Things, Rockford committed three errors and fell 3-1.

Casey Barnes (5-7) pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up one run to earn the win. Cody Hallahan (5-8) took the loss despite giving up just one earned run on five hits in six innings of work. In eight of Hallahan’s 17 starts this season, the RiverHawks’ offense has scored two or fewer runs.

The RiverHawks loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Brandon Anderson popped up to shallow center for the first out and Jimmy Parque bounced into an inning-ending double play.

Orlando Santos pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his ninth save of the season.

In the middle game of the series, Washington took the lead in the third inning Wednesday and went on to blow out Rockford by the score of 9-1.

Washington starter Gary Lee (6-4) pitched eight innings of one-run ball to get the win. In two starts against Rockford this year, Lee went 2-0 with a 0.59 ERA and nine strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings.

Rockford starter Kyle Schepel (3-6) lost his fifth straight decision, giving up three earned runs and striking out seven in 6 1/3 innings.

Shain Stoner hit a solo home run, his fifth of the season, in the eighth inning for Washington.

Rockford committed five errors, four by shortstop Carlos Luciano, leading to five of Washington’s nine runs being unearned.

In the series finale Thursday, August 23, Stoner’s first-inning grand slam Thursday lifted the Wild Things to an 11-5 victory and series sweep of the RiverHawks.

Stoner’s slam off Rockford’s Drew Rucinski was his second home run in as many nights, and he finished the game 2-for-4 with five RBIs.

Rucinski (6-4) pitched into the eighth inning but lost his third straight decision as he gave up seven runs on 11 hits.

Washington’s Shawn Smith (2-4) yielded three runs over five frames and got the win.

Washington’s A.J. Nunziato homered in the fifth inning and finished the night 3-for-5 with three RBIs. Rockford’s Evan Button homered, becoming the first RiverHawk batter to do so at home since he accomplished the feat against the Normal CornBelters on July 25.

Wild Things’ Darian Sandford stole five bases in the series to give him 64 on the season, one short of the Frontier League record. However, he was also caught trying to steal five times by catchers Mike Thomas and Greg Van Horn.

On Friday, August 24, the RiverHawks opened a series with the Schaumburg Boomers and fell 9-6 after nearly erasing an early 9-0 deficit.

Rockford sent the tying run to the plate with two outs in the eighth inning, but Evan Button grounded out to end the threat.

Cody Griebling (5-2) surrendered two runs over 6 2/3 innings and got the win. Ziggie VanderWall (7-6) did not make it out of the fifth inning and allowed eight runs on eight hits and a season-high seven walks.

The following night, the Boomers launched five home runs Saturday in a 15-1 win over the RiverHawks in front of a sellout crowd of 4,167 at RiverHawks Stadium.

Nate Baumann hit a two-run shot in the first inning and Jereme Milons hit the first grand slam in Boomers’ franchise history.

Matt Kuna (3-4) pitched five effective innings to earn the win.

Nick Anderson (1-3) was chased by the Boomers in the third inning and allowed nine earned runs in the loss.

Brandon Gregorich and Chase Fontaine each hit three-run home runs, both their first of the season. Steve McQuail hit his 20^th home run of the season in the eighth inning.

The final game of the series on Sunday, August 26, was postponed due to rain. The make-up game will be played tonight, Monday, August 27.

The RiverHawks currently stand at 36-53, fifth place in the Frontier League West.

They finish up the season with a three-game series Aug. 28-30 against the Road Warriors, the team that replaced the London Rippers.

Thanks to WIFR, all tickets will be just 23 cents. The game on Thursday, August 30 will also feature another Perry Rock $1 Beer Night and American's Bring it Home Thursday, where a fan will win a 40" 1080p LCD HDTV from American.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Boomers hit five homers to rout RiverHawks

08/25/2012 8:26 PM -

LOVES PARK, Ill. – The Schaumburg Boomers launched five home runs Saturday in a 15-1 win over the Rockford RiverHawks in front of a sellout crowd of 4,167 at RiverHawks Stadium.

The Schaumburg offense tagged Rockford starter Nick Anderson for six runs in the first inning. Nate Baumann launched his ninth homer of the season, a two-run shot, to give the Boomers an early lead.

Later in the inning, Jereme Milons launched a grand slam home run to dead center to give Schaumburg an early 6-0 lead. The grand slam was the first in Schaumburg Boomers’ franchise history.

The Boomers scored five more runs in the third inning to go up 11-0. In that frame, Brandon Gregorich hit his first blast of the season, a three-run homer.

Rockford starter Nick Anderson (1-3) did not make it out of the third inning and allowed nine earned runs on six hits and five walks in a losing effort.

Matt Kuna (3-4) allowed one run on six hits and struck out four in five innings to get the win.

Evan Button’s RBI hit in the fifth inning was the only run scored by Rockford in the game.

The Boomers continued the onslaught in the sixth inning as Chase Fontaine hit his first home run of the season, a three-run shot to right field. Steve McQuail hit a solo blast, his 20^th of the year, in the eighth inning.

The five homers allowed by Rockford pitching was a season-high. Trevor Whyte went 2-for-4 and extended his hitting streak to a RiverHawks’ season-high 11 games.

With the win, the Boomers improved to 51-38, and the RiverHawks fell to 36-53 and losers of five straight. Sunday is YMCA Family Day at RiverHawks Stadium. Kids ages 3-12 get in for $2 and have access to the YMCA’s extra inflatables and activities. Additionally, kids can run the bases after the game and get player autographs.

Boomers hang on to beat RiverHawks 9-6 in opener

08/24/2012 9:40 PM -

LOVES PARK, Ill. – The Rockford RiverHawks fought back from a 9-0 deficit, but the Schaumburg Boomers held on to win 9-6 in the series opener at RiverHawks Stadium.

The RiverHawks brought the tying run to the plate in the eighth inning, but Kirk Clark got Evan Button to ground out to second to end the threat.

Schaumburg hitters feasted on Rockford pitching Friday with 16 hits. They scored twice in the first inning on a pair of two-out hits by Chad Mozingo and Steve McQuail. Mozingo went 4-for-6 with three doubles.

The Boomers added two runs in the third inning. In the fifth inning, five Schaumburg batters reached base to start the frame, chasing Rockford starter Ziggie VanderWall from the game, and the Boomers tallied four runs in the inning to seize an 8-0 advantage.

VanderWall (7-6) gave up eight runs on eight hits and a season-high seven walks in four-plus innings.

Cody Griebling (5-2) picked up the win, taking a shutout into the seventh inning before Greg Van Horn’s bases-loaded double play ball forced a run home. Brandon Anderson’s RBI single made it 9-2.

Rockford rallied to score four runs in the eighth inning, including a two-run single by Greg Van Horn, but could not get any closer.

Patrick Mincey pitched a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his 14^th save of the season.

Jet Butler went 3-for-5 with two runs scored for Rockford. The RiverHawks fell to 36-52 and have lost 22 of their last 32 games.

The series resumes tomorrow at RiverHawks Stadium as Schaumburg’s Matt Kuna (2-4, 4.21 ERA) opposes Rockford’s Nick Anderson (1-2, 3.91 ERA) on the mound.

Saturday night is the final fireworks show of the season and takes place as the finale to Fan Appreciation Night, where numerous prizes will be given away throughout the game.