Published: August 21, 2009 11:07 pm      

Rascals sneak by Bums 6-2

O’FALLON, Mo. — Ryan Wehrle belted a three-run homer in the first inning Friday night to spark the River City Rascals to a 6-2 Frontier League win over the Traverse City Beach Bums.

Josh Lowey allowed two runs on nine hits in eight innings of work to earn the win for the Rascals (46-35). Traverse City’s Brett Bostelman allowed five runs on just four hits in seven innings in suffering the loss.

The Rascals hit three home runs in the game, which took just 1 hour and 59 minutes to complete.

Jorge Gutierrez and Scott Houin connected on solo blasts.

Walks proved costly for Bostelman. After retiring the first two batters in the game, he walked the next two and Wehrle made him pay.

Gutierrez made it 4-0 with his homer in the fifth.

In the seventh, with the score 4-1, Bostelman walked Chris Colton, who stole second, advanced to third on an error and scored on a sacrifice fly by Gutierrez.

Traverse City (37-45) scored in the sixth on Brandon McArthur’s second homer of the season. The Beach Bums added another run in the eighth when McArthur singled, Mike Epping doubled and Michael Campbell singled to drive in McArthur. Epping also tried to score on Campbell’s hit but was thrown out in a close play at the plate.

Campbell finished with three hits as Traverse City outhit the Rascals 10-6. McArthur and Mike Victor contributed two hits.

David Hurst relieved Bostelman and surrendered the homer to Houin in the eighth.

The series continues tonight with David Nathanson (5-9, 4.20) pitching for Traverse City and Quinn Monsma for River City.