By: Larry Larson
LOVES PARK, IL — The Rockford Rivets used a 10-run 6th inning to end their four game losing streak in grand fashion, beating the Kokomo Jackrabbits 16-2 on Saturday night at Rivets Stadium. The win moves the Rivets to 2-4 and ends Kokomo’s three game win streak.
Rockford found themselves in an early hole once again, as Rivets’ starter Payton Hutchings (Fr, Illinois) surrendered an RBI single by Ben Livorsi in the 2nd. The knock would be Hutchings’ only blemish in his first appearance as a Rivet, as the lefty pitched 3.2 innings of one run ball, striking out 6 while walking just 1.
Rockford responded in the bottom of the 4th, pushing across four runs – 3 of which were unearned. Kokomo bounced back with a solo home run by Raymond Hilbrich in the top of the 5th.
From there on out, Rockford would score 12 unanswered runs, starting with an RBI single by Dylan Robertson (Fr, Iowa Western Community College) in the bottom of the 5th.
The floodgates opened in the bottom of the 6th, when the Rivets pushed across 10 runs on just 3 hits, thanks in part to 7 walks. The inning was highlighted by a 2-RBI triple by Tyeler Hawkins (R-Fr, Louisville) and a 2-RBI single by Brody Harding (So, Illinois).
Rivets pitchers shut things down the rest of the way. Reliever Forrest Barnes (So, Missouri State) tossed 4.1 innings, surrendered just the solo homer in the fifth, walking 4 and striking out 8 on his way to earning the victory.
Rockford added an insurance run in the 8th inning on a double by Max Malley (So, Evansville) before Cade Turner (Fr, Illinois-Springfield) tossed a scoreless 9th.
JT Scara’s squad will hit the road for five of the next six games, including each of the next four. The Screws start the trip tomorrow with a 12:35 matinee against Battle Creek.
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The Rockford Rivets are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 27th season, the Northwoods 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 250 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and MLB Gold Glove finalist and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. 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.
