The River City Rascals pounded out 23 hits and Chris Colton drove in six runs as the Rascals ripped the Windy City ThunderBolts 18-4.
After Windy City scored the first run of the game on a Pete Paris homerun in the top of the first inning, River City jumped on Dustin Pease for six runs in the bottom half of the frame, highlighted by a bases loaded double from Chris Colton and a two-run homerun from Danny Sawyer to put the Rascals up 6-1.
The ThunderBolts would try to climb back in the top of the second inning as Vinnie Scarduzio hit his 12th homer of the season, but the Rascals bounced right back with four more in the bottom of the frame, the majority on a Chris Colton three-run homer for a 10-2 lead.
Windy City would hit their third solo homer of the game in the fourth inning, this time off the bat of Bryan Cook, hit 12th of the season. Once again, though, the Rascals came back in their half of the inning, plating two runs for a 12-3 lead. The ThunderBolts went yard again off River City starter Pablo Lopez as Gilberto Mejia homered for the second straight night to make it 12-4. The homer was Mejia’s ninth on the year, setting a new career high.
The Rascals would tally a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh and three in the eighth on a three run homer by Colton to cement the 18-4 final. The runs came in support of Pablo Lopez (2-2) who allowed four solo homers over five innings. Dustin Pease (8-5) bore the brunt of the River City attack as he took the loss for Windy City.
Game two of the River City series comes up on Saturday with Ross Stout (9-2, 2.10) going for Windy City against Jake Laber (7-4, 4.37) for the Rascals. For information or tickets, call 708-489-BALL or visit the team’s website at
www.wcthunderbolts.com
