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July 3, 2009 - O’FALLON, Mo. – Jason James extended his hitting streak to 30 games and tied the Frontier League record on Friday. But it turned out that his protection in the batting order came up with the key hit as the Rockford RiverHawks rallied twice to beat River City, 7-4.
First baseman Todd Martin, the cleanup hitter, was 3-for-4 with four RBI and a walk. He doubled home three runs in the top of the ninth as the RiverHawks broke a 4-4 tie. James was 2-for-3 and walked twice, once intentionally, in his customary No. 3 spot in the lineup.
Rockford has won a season-high four in a row. The RiverHawks, who improved to 19-21, are within two games of .500 for the first time since May 28, when they were 2-4.
Rockford loaded the bases against reliever Josh Rose with one out in the ninth. Caleb Fields led off with a single. River City planned for a bunt from Matt Mazurek, but Mazurek instead singled to left field past the bunt defense to move Fields to third base. Mazurek reached second base on the throw to third. With first base open, Rose intentionally walked James. Martin drove a 2-2 pitch to the wall in left-center to clear the bases.
James extended his hitting streak with a RBI single to right field in the top of the fifth. The RiverHawks rallied for two runs in the inning to take a 3-2 lead. James drove in the tying run and Martin followed with a go-ahead RBI single to left.
James tied the league record for longest hitting streak in a single season, set by River City’s Michael Robertson in 2001 and matched by Florence’s Mike Galloway in 2005. James is hitting .517 (62-for-120) during the streak.
In the sixth inning, Brandon Cohen hit his second home run of the year, a towering fly over the Big Dog Wall in right off River City starter Dan Howard.
The Rascals rallied in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie the game at 4-4. Chris Colton and Scott Robinson began the inning with back-to-back singles off Rockford reliever Marcus McKenzie. Closer John Muller took over, and after a walk to Joe Billick and a strikeout of Danny Sawyer, uncorked a run-scoring wild pitch.
Muller (1-3) recorded the final six outs for the win. He retired Robinson on a fly to center with two runners in scoring position to end the game. All three of Muller’s losses had been in walkoffs.
South Beloit native Matt Enderle, in his first career start, gave up three runs, two earned, on six hits over 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision.
Rose (0-1) struck out five over three innings in a losing effort.
The series continues at 3:05 p.m. Saturday. The game is not scheduled for local broadcast. Fans can visit www.FrontierLeague.com to listen to the River City broadcast.
The RiverHawks come home at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday to play Traverse City. It’s a corporate buyout. The Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 23 has purchased all available seats in the ballpark and is inviting Stateline baseball fans to join them at the stadium. Fans must visit the stadium box office in person to claim their tickets.
The RiverHawks are members of the Frontier League, a 12-team independent professional baseball league in its 17th season. The RiverHawks host the 2009 Frontier League All-Star Game at 7:05 p.m. on July 15. Advertising and ticket information is available by calling (815) 885-2255. Fans can also visit the RiverHawks online at www.rockfordriverhawks.com. Most games are broadcast live on ESPN 1380, and on the team website.
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