07/23/2007

Rockford turns tables on Beach Bums, 6-3

RiverHawks score three runs in 10th to defeat TC

FROM STAFF REPORTS

TRAVERSE CITY — The stage was set for more late-inning heroics, only this time it was the opposition's turn to pull out a victory at Wuerfel Park.

Rockford scored three unearned runs in the top of the 10th inning and defeated the Traverse City Beach Bums 6-3 in front of 4,569 fans on Saturday night.

The Bums notched three consecutive walk-off victories earlier in the week and appeared ready to do it again after rallying from a two-run deficit to send the game to extra innings.

After Brett Bostelman retired the first two batters in the 10th inning and jumping out to a 0-2 count on the third hitter, the RiverHawks managed to break through for three runs — all unearned after Bostelman committed an error on a two-out ball that was hit back to the mound.

Joe Antonsen's RBI single put Rockford ahead 4-3, then Jason James ripped a double to plate two insurance runs.

Traverse City took a 1-0 lead on Zack Kalter's RBI double in the first inning.

After Rockford scored single runs in the third and fourth off starting pitchjer Robbie McClellan, the Bums tied the game with a pair of runs in the fifth on Jeff Brown's RBI single and Kalter's sacrifice fly.

Bryan Rembisz and Jared Locke combined to pitch 4&1/3 innings of scoreless relief before giving way to Bostelman with one out in the ninth.

Dave Dowling (3-4) picked up the win for Rockford, which improved its record to 27-27 and pulled to within a half game of a wildcard playoff spot. Traverse City fell to 22-33 and slipped six games behind in the wildcard race.

NOTES: The Bums are in second place in the Frontier League in average attendance (4,141 per game). Southern Illinois leads at 5,277.