Two-Run Homer Pushes Rascals to Victory

O'FALLON, MO - Admittedly, River City infielder Bobby Burk is not the most gifted athlete on the Rascals squad.     

"I don't have a great amount of talent," Burk said. "I just try and work as hard as I can in everything I do."     

That hard work and determination paid big dividends on Sunday night.     

Burk drilled a game-winning, two-run homer in the sixth inning to lead the Rascals to a 9-8 victory over Traverse City in a Frontier League contest before 1,213 fans at T.R. Hughes Ballpark.     

The drive capped off a near perfect weekend for the versatile Burk, who also hit a game-winning three-run homer in a 5-2 victory on Friday.     

River City (9-6) won its third in a row by sweeping the defending Eastern Division champions.     

The Rascals, who have also won four of their last five, beat Traverse City three-games-to-one in the league championship series last September.     

Burk is one of the hottest hitters in the 12-team league. He went 4-for-12 with two home runs, seven RBI and five runs scored in the three-game set. He was 2-for-5 Sunday with three RBI. He is hitting a sizzling 10-for-23 (.435) over his last six games.     

"He's a high-energy guy," said River City manager Steve Brook. "He's vocal, he comes to the park with a great attitude and no one works any harder than he does.   He's just fun to watch."     

Burk, a journeyman, played for three different teams last summer and joined the Rascals late in the campaign. So far this season, he has embraced the starting role. Burk has started at three different positions (2B, SS, 3B) and has batted in three different spots in the batting order.     

"Lately, I've been seeing the ball real well," Burk said. "It feels good."     

The Riverside, CA resident has essentially played his way into the lineup. Thanks to his old-school work ethic, he has developed into a solid two-way player. Burk has just four errors on the season despite the numerous position switches.     

Burk put the Rascals ahead to stay with his second big blow of the weekend. He then turned the game over to the bullpen. Kirkland Rivers, Martin Dewald and Zach Robertson combined to retire the last 11 batters in order. All told, River City hurlers set down the final 15 hitters.    

"Bullpen did a great job," said Brook. "Everybody that came in started off by throwing strikes."     

Burk's blast helped the Rascals rally from their first and only deficit of the game. Traverse City (6-9) bounced out of early 6-2 and 7-4 holes to take an 8-7 lead on a fifth-inning grand slam by J.T. Hall.     

The Rascals bounced right back after surrendering the advantage. Brian Harris, the No. 9 batter in the order, was hit by a pitch to begin the sixth.     

Burk then came through again.     

"I got a 2-0 fastball middle and I took care of it," he said.     

River City scored four times in the second to take a 5-1 lead. Burk broke a 1-1 tie with an RBI single. Chris McClendon followed with a two-run double and Joash Brodin added a sacrifice fly to push the lead to four.     

After Traverse City closed to within 6-4, Brodin slammed a long solo home run over the Big Dog wall in right.     

The Beach Bums then erupted in the top of the fifth to go up 8-7.     

"Whenever we give up a lead like that and come back and win, it's a great night for us," said Brook. "We'll take it."       

DAWG NOTES - River City begins a six-game road trip on Tuesday in Rockford. The Rascals have played 12 of their first 15 games at home.     

The Rascals have scored the first run of the game only four times this season but have won all four contests.     

River City reserve catcher Landis Wilson, after an 0-for-8 start, got his first career hit with a run-scoring bloop single in the third.     

Traverse City designated hitter Evan Sharpley, who hit a two-run home run in the fourth, was a quarterback and first baseman at Notre Dame.