Rascals Report: Red-Hot Rascals Move Into First Place

The River City Rascals are red hot.

For eight games teams across the Frontier League have taken a crack at the Rascals and all have failed to knock off the defended League champions. The Rascals have won every single game last week, stretching the win streak for the club to eight games. The recent run of wins has propelled the Rascals have taken a half game lead in the West Division.

Looking Back

The Rascals last lost on Friday, June 17. Since then, River City has reeled off eight straight wins.

• Sunday, June 19: Won 7-0 at Evansville Otters
• Sunday, June 19: Won 8-5 at Evansville Otters 
• Monday, June 20: Won 5-3 at Evansville Otters
• Tuesday, June 21: Won 14-5 at Evansville Otters
• Thursday, June 23: Won  9-6 against the Florence Freedom
• Friday, June 24: Won 10-5 against theFlorence Freedom
• Saturday, June 25: Won 5-1 against theGateway Grizzlies

Looking Ahead

The Rascals will finish off a home stand on Monday and then hit the road for a six-game trip. River City will return to T.R. Hughes on Tuesday, July 5. 

• Sunday, June 26: Gateway Grizzlies at River City (5:05 p.m. at T.R. Hughes)
• Monday, June 27: Gateway Grizzlies at River City (7:05 p.m. at T.R. Hughes)
• Tuesday, June 28: Off.
• Wednesday, June 29: Rascals at Washington Wild Things (6:35 p.m. at CONSOL Energy)
• Thursday, June 30: Rascals at Washington Wild Things (6:35 p.m. at CONSOL Energy)
• Friday, July 1: Rascals at Washington Wild Things (6:35 p.m. at CONSOL Energy)
• Saturday, July 2: Rascals at Lake Erie Crushers (7:05 p.m. at All Pro Freight)

Who’s Hot

The Rascals recent hot steak has had help from plenty of players. It isn't just one player carrying the team.

• First baseman Joash Brodin has crushed the ball in the last seven days. He's hitting 11-for-20 (.550) with a .900 slugging percentage. He's clubbed two homers and has nine RBIs in the last week. To top it all off, he's been two-for-two on stolen base attempts. 
• Outfielder Stephen Holdren has two home runs, eight RBIs and a .538 batting average (11-for-26) in the last seven days. Holdren is three-for-three swiping bags and has scored 11 runs. Holdren leads the Frontier League with his 10 homers on the year.
• The Rascals and the Normal CornBelters are tied for the league lead in home runs with 38. 
• Pitcher Zach Sterner is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in his last two starts. Spanning 14 innings, he has given up just two runs and has seven strikeouts against one walk.
• Reliever Brandon Cunniff has allowed just two baserunners in his last four innings of work. He has faced 13 batters and picked up five strikeouts.

Who’s Not

Very few Rascals are scuffling right now, but there are a few who are trying to get things going. 

• Infielder Bobby Burk is 3-for-26 (.115) in the last seven days. 
• Pitcher Josh Lowey had a rough start in his most recent trip to the mound. He gave up four runs in just four innings of work with four walks.
• Pitcher Don Lisi gave up five runs in 5.2 innings of work his last time out.

Standings

as of Sunday, June 26, at 12 p.m.