Rascals Pitcher on a Hot Streak

O'FALLON, MO - River City righthander Gary Moran got engaged to his longtime girlfriend Kellye Clark in April.     

Maybe that explains why he's suddenly become one of the hottest pitchers in the Frontier League.     

Moran tossed a masterful seven-hitter Wednesday night to lead the Rascals to a 5-1 win over the Rockford RiverHawks in front of 829 fans at T.R. Hughes Ballpark.      River City improved to 6-5 in snapping a two-game losing streak.     

Moran, a former San Francisco Giants farmhand, allowed just one run over eight innings in improving to 2-0. He struck out nine and did not walk a batter. The 6-foot-9-inch Madera, CAs resident set the tone early by retiring 12 successive hitters from the first to fourth innings.     

"Once I got going it was somewhat smooth sailing," Moran said. "My cut fastball was a little off, but everything else was working."     

River City pushed across three unearned runs in the second inning to give Moran all the necessary support.     

Moran recorded a seven-inning compete game victory last Thursday against Gateway. He tossed eight strong innings in a season-opening extra-inning loss. His effort against the RiverHawks was his third successive quality start. He lowered his ERA to 1.17 and has now struck out 23 batters and walked just five in 23 innings.  

"He stayed ahead most of the night and kept the ball down," said River City manager Steve Brook. "He mixed it up pretty well. A very nice outing for him."    

Rascals radio play-by-play broadcaster Jason Troop, who has seen the best the league has to offer over the past few seasons, says Moran is one of the best pitchers in the 12-team loop.     

"He's too good to be in this league," said Troop, who believes Moran will be signed by a professional team before the season ends.     

Moran recorded five called strikeouts. He gave up a single and double with two outs in the first inning then was virtually unhittable the rest of the way. He closed out his night by inducing hot-hitting Jake Eigsti to ground into an inning-ending double play. Eigsti entered game hitting a league-leading .531.     

"When you are struggling a little bit you need your starting pitcher to go out and take care of business," said Brook. "Gary did that tonight."     

The Rascals capitalized on a pair of Rockford errors to push across three runs in the second inning. That is all the support Moran would need.      

Chad Maddox and Brandon Johnson began the uprising with back-to-back singles. Danny Sawyer drew a walk to load the bases. River City outfielder Aric Weinberg hit a one-hopper to pitcher Guido Fonseca, who threw home for the force out. But catcher Carlos Dominguez promptly gunned the ball into right field in an effort to get Weinberg at first. The miscue allowed two runners to score. On the return throw to the plate from right field, Dominguez quickly tossed the ball to third in an effort to get Weinberg, but that throw was also off the target allowing another run to score.     

The Rascals broke the game open with two runs in the fifth. Joash Brodin drove in Bobby Burk with a one-out double. Maddox then made it 5-1 with an RBI single. Burk had three of the Rascals' nine hits.     

The River City defense turned in several fine plays and did not commit an error for the first time since Opening Day.     

The Rascals are 1-1 on the current six-game homestand, which concludes with a 5 p.m. contest on Sunday against Traverse City. Sunday is Dog Day. Fans are encouraged to bring their canines to the game.