Dragons thwart ‘Shoes comeback in 6-4 win
After falling to a late Springfield rally Friday night in Alton, the Alton River Dragons held off a Lucky Horseshoes comeback attempt Saturday night and held on for a 6-4 Prospect League victory at Robin Roberts Field.
Springfield, which trailed 6-3 heading to the bottom of the ninth inning, managed to score a run, but got no closer.
The victory lifted Alton to 11-6 on the season. The River Dragons remain two games ahead of rival O’Fallon on the loss side.
The River Dragons are scheduled to play a 2 p.m. against the Clinton LumberKings in Clinton, Iowa on Sunday.
Leading off the bottom of the ninth, Springfield’s Jayden Myren drew a walk from River Dragons relief pitcher Noah Bush.
But Bush then struck out Springfield batters Jacob Compton and Dylan Nevar.
With two out, Myren stole second, then advanced to third base on a wild pitch and scored Drew Ezard reached on an error to pull Springfield within two runs. But the rally was snuffed out when Bush struck out Horseshoes pinch hitter Cooper Combs to end the game.
The River Dragons scored two runs in the forth, sixth and seventh innings, but the Horseshoes scored three times in the bottom of the seventh inning to get within three.
Ben Gallaher doubled and had three RBIs for the Dragons. Teammate Eddie King was 2 for 4 at the plate with an RBI. Bush and Daniel Contreras each had an RBI as well.Bush struck out three in the ninth and picked up his fifth save of the season in relief of starter Adam Stilts, who went seven innings, struck out five, walked one and scattered six hits. Hunter Callahan struck out two in one hitless inning of relief.