Burk's Blast Leads Rascals to Thrilling 8-7 Win

It was a good thing River City infielder Bobby Burk struggled with his bunting skills on Saturday night.

Burk, after failing on two sacrifice attempts, slammed a two-run homer in the eighth inning to propel the Rascals to a thrilling 8-7 come-from-behind win over rival Southern Illinois before a season-high crowd of 3,512 at .

The win was the sixth in a row for the red-hot Rascals, who have won 10 of their last 11. They swept a three-game series from rival Southern for the first time in franchise history.

In addition, River City moved seven games ahead of the Miners in the Western Division of the Frontier League. That is the largest division lead in Rascals history.

The dramatic victory may have been the most exciting moment in a season loaded with numerous thrills.

Burk said he was upset at his initial failure to move Danny Sawyer from first base during his eighth-inning plate appearance. Sawyer led off the inning with a hit.

"I missed the bunt twice and I was in battle mode," Burk said. "I got a good pitch and put a good swing on it. Right when I hit it, I knew it was out." 

Burk's blow over the wall in left center gave the Rascals their first lead of the night. It also capped off a rally from a 7-1 deficit. Burk and Co. had been 0-13 when trailing after seven innings this season.

"This is the kind of game that championship teams win," said River City outfielder Stephen Holdren. "I just had a feeling we were going to do this."

Holdren, one of the team leaders, gave the squad proper momentum during a fifth-inning shouting session in the dugout. Holdren promised to pay for a night out on the town in Sauget, IL where the team begins a three-game series on Sunday.

Even with Burk's heroics, the Rascals didn't make it easy in the ninth. Right-handed closer Derrick Miramontes loaded the bases with one out before recording an infield pop up and a ground out.

"Wow, what a nice win," River City manager Steve Brook said. "We were dead. We didn't swing the bats very well at all. Finally, we got some holes and made the most of it. Great job by the guys."

The versatile Burk picked a perfect time for his tenth homer of the season and second in as many nights. He also ripped a three-run homer in a 7-3 win on Friday. Brook, a perfectionist as a manager, was still upset that Burk and the rest of the team continues to struggle getting bunts down. 

"We've been absolutely miserable with sacrifice bunts," Brook said. "But, I'm happy for Bobby."

Trailing 7-1, the River City bats came alive with three runs in the sixth and two in the seventh to climb to within 7-6. Eric Williams ripped a key single and Holdren followed with a bloop hit to center to cut the deficit to 7-3. Chad Maddox then added another run-producing bloop hit.

Landis Wilson started the seventh-inning rally with a single. Williams drew a walk and the runners moved over on a ground out by Joash Brodin. Doug Sanders brought in Wilson with a sacrifice fly to left and Jason Patton followed with a single to get his team to within 7-6.

Sawyer started the eighth with an infield single to deep short. Burk failed his first bunt attempt and then let strike two sail on by without offering. He stepped out of the batters box, drew a deep, and then ripped the biggest homer of the season for the Rascals.

"You don't win too many like this," said Holdren. "This was something special."

Dustin Umberger, the third of four River City pitchers, picked up the win by setting the side down in order in the eighth. Miramontes struggled slightly, but rallied to pick up his tenth save of the season.

River City had eight hits from eight different players.

Notes from the Dawg Pound

• Third baseman Chris McClendon suffered a pulled right hamstring on Friday and will be out between 10 days and two weeks. The All-Star pulled the muscle running from the first to third in the second inning.     
• Wayde Kitchens started for River City and became the 14th different pitcher to start a game this season, a league high. The Rascals magic number to clinch a playoff berth sits at 26.
• River City scored a total of 11 runs in the first inning of the three-game set with Southern.
• The Rascals are 6-3 against Southern this season with three more regular-season games remaining. The Miners still lead the all-time series 42-24.