Spain, bats bust loose

After struggling to score runs over the past two weeks, the Ramblers finally busted out with a scoring outburst in Tuesday night's 11-1, 10-run rule home victory over Monticello. Dan Spain reverted back to the form he showed early in the season, recording three hits and a pair of runs.

But Spain was far from the only contributor to the onslaught. Key West (25-7) exploded for six runs in the third, virtually putting the game away right there. Matt Knabel smacked a two-run single and Ben Cottrell (bases-loaded walk) and Kenny Capesius (RBI single) each posted an RBI in the frame. The Ramblers led 7-0 at the end of the inning.

A three-run fourth added even more cushion. After Tanner Denlinger walked and Spain singled to lead-off the fourth, Chris Briggs cracked a two-run triple. Two batters later, Briggs crossed home-plate after a Cody Leach groundout to short. Denlinger pushed the tally to 11-1 in the fifth with an RBI single.

Cottrell was brilliant on the mound again for the Ramblers. He tossed six innings, allowing just four hits and one run. He also struck out five and did not issue a single walk as he improved to 3-1. Cam Stewart made his first appearance on the mound as he relieved Cottrell in the seventh. Stewart recorded a 1-2-3 inning to put the wraps on the team's 25th win of the season.

Spain (3-for-4), Denlinger (2-for-3) and Leach (2-for-3) posted multiple hits for Key West. Eight of the Ramblers' nine starters collected at least one hit as part of the Ramblers' 12-hit attack.

The Ramblers get back to action Sunday when they play rival Dubuque in a 1:30 p.m. Prairie League game at Table Mound Field in Key West.