REX defeats Paints for Eastern Conference Championship
The REX are headed to the Prospect League Championship Series with a 4-2 victory over the Chillicothe Paints Saturday in Chillicothe.
The Eastern Conference Champion REX will host the Western Conference Champion Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp in the championship.
REX struck first in the Eastern Conference Championship, putting up two runs in the top of the first inning as Wally Diaz singled with the bases loaded to score Gabriel Arroyo and Eli Riley. REX led 2-0 after one.
The teams went scoreless in the second before REX pushed across two more runs in the top of the third. Nomar Garcia singled and Gabe Wright was hit by the pitch to get the inning started, then both came around to score on a Miguel Cantu single to give REX a 4-0 lead.
Pitching was excellent across the board in the contest, but REX starter Aaron Moss was dominant. Moss sent the first seven Paints down in order before finally surrendering a base runner in the third. Moss did not allow a run until the eight, in total going eight innings, five hits, one unearned run, no walks and four strikeouts on 87 pitches.
On the other side of the mound, the Paints starter Scotty Adelman could not escape the third. Adelman gave up all four runs, allowing five hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
Jack Rollo entered for the Paints and went the rest of the way with six innings, five hits, no runs, three walks and four strikeouts.
The Paints began what looked like the comeback off Moss in the eighth as Ty Hatfield hit a sacrifice fly to score Felix Polanco. However, Clay Burdette was caught trying to steal second with two outs, and the Paints rally ended with REX leading 4-1 after the eighth.
The last shot for the Paints came in the ninth as Breyllin Suriel entered for REX. The Paints got to one of the best closers in the Prospect League putting two runners on and scoring a run on a Cameron Bowen two-out double. But that was all as Suriel completed his ninth save of the season on the next batter and REX defeated the Paints 4-2.
Turning Point
It was a one-two punch for REX to begin the game, taking a 4-0 lead after 3 innings allowing just one Paints baserunner.
Inside The Box Score
• Moss picked up the victory, his fifth of the season, lowering his season ERA to 1.51.
• Adelman took the loss, his first of the season. It was only the 3rd game of the season in which Adelman appeared that the Paints lost.
• The Prospect League leading Paints offense only had one multihit player as Bowen went 2-4.
• The six and seven hitters led REX, Diaz and Cantu each grabbing two hits and two RBIs.
Notes
• This is the third Championship appearance for REX, winning titles in both previous appearances in 2015 and 2018.
• REX in now six playoff appearances has made the Championship Series half the time.
• The 2022 and 2023 Prospect League Champion Paints will not be the first Prospect League team to win three straight titles.
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