By Larry Larson
The Rivets simply didn’t have an answer for Kalmazoo’s productive lineup or their starting pitcher, Spencer Juergens, as they fell 8-3 at Rivets Stadium on Monday night.
The loss is Rockford’s 4th straight, and drops the Rivets to 1-5 to start the second half. With the victory, the Growlers extend their longest win-streak of the season to six games.
After a scoreless first inning, Rockford starter Nathan Schneiderman surrendered a two-out RBI double to Kalamazoo second baseman Jake Topolski in the second that gave the ‘Zoo a lead they would never surrender.
Following a scoreless third, the Growlers scored in three consecutive innings, pushing across two runs in the fourth, one in the fifth, and three in the sixth.
Schneiderman was chased from the game in the fifth after allowing four earned runs on six hits in his first start this season. His ERA increased from 1.05 to 2.05 in the loss. The lefthander from Dubuque didn’t allow a walk, but hit three batters.
The Rivets had just three hits through the first six innings before finally pushing across two runs in the 7th on a Josh Dudden triple, his 12th and 13th RBIs of the season.
The three bagger was Rockford’s 14th of the season, good for the league lead.
Rockford pushed across another run in the 9th on an Easton Murrell single, but it was too little too late, and Kalamazoo releiver Kaden Helsel slammed the door on the loss.
Juergens (1-1) picked up his first victory of the season after 7 innings of six-hit, two-run ball, in his best start to date this season.
The Growlers offense was nothing short of impressive in the two game series sweep, totalling 14 hits in each game.
The Rivets will look to turn things around as they hit the road on a four game swing through Wisconsin; first to Madison for two games with the Mallards on Tuesday and Wednesday, and then further north to Wisconsin Rapids to take on the Rafters Thursday and Friday.
The Rockford Rivets are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 25-year old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, over 200 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (MIA). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.rockfordrivets.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Rivets as your favorite team.
