REX Baseball was back in action again tonight for the second game of their season opening road trip. Wabash Valley’s Own took on one of the latest expansion teams in the Prospect League, the Alton River Dragons. This was the first game of the season for the River Dragons as their original home opener was postponed due to rain.
The REX started quickly as center fielder Alec Atkinson scored on an error by the River Dragon's catcher. This was followed by shortstop Kody Putnam crossing home plate later in the first inning. The River Dragons got a run back, but Terre Haute native and starting pitcher Brayton Reed was able to limit the damage. The REX led the River Dragons 2-1 after the first inning. Alton tied it up in the bottom of the second on a run by right fielder Mike Hampton.
While the fourth inning was trouble for the REX the night before in O’Fallon, MO, tonight’s trouble inning would come in the third. The River Dragons had three base runners cross home plate to take a 5-2 lead heading into the fourth. Alton’s center fielder, Blake Burris, thought he had a home run in the bottom of the fourth, but after an appeal from REX head coach A.J. Reed it was determined that Burris had not touched home plate and was ruled out. Fast forward to the bottom of the fifth inning and Alton’s Hampton scored again on an RBI by the designated hitter Adam Stilts.
Neither team could score over the next three innings due to some spectacular pitching from both sides. The REX were down to their last three outs and needed to rally much like the night before against the O’Fallon Hoots. The ninth started off with a bang as third baseman Clay Wisner led off with a two-bagger and then catcher Sean Becker walked. Relief pitcher Alex Reinoehl hit for himself and struck out. With two on base and one out, the Terre Haute Native and second baseman Will Hayes hit an RBI double into left field to trim the lead to 6-3. Becker moved to third on the double as well. Becker then scored on a ground out by Atkinson which made the score 6-4. Putnam came into the batter’s box next and reached second on an error that also scored Hayes. Rowan came up to the plate as the go ahead run, but unfortunately flew out to center field for the final out. The River Dragons walked away with their first ever franchise victory by a score of 6-5.
The REX are back in action tomorrow night, 5/29/2021, against the Danville Dans in Danville, IL at Danville Stadium at 7:30 PM EST.
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