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Record: 27-14, 1st, 5 GA Cedar Rapids and Quad City
Pinch-hitter Dane Finch led off the top of the ninth inning with a home run to snap a 1-1 tie, and help give Cedar Rapids a 2-1 win over St. Louis at Busch Stadium (2006).
Finch's homer came on the first pitch he saw from River Walkers reliever Scott Rissler.
It traveled some 417 feet over the left-center field wall. It was Finch's second homer of the season.
The game was scoreless into the fifth inning when the Grapplers jumped out in front on a lead-off homer from Matt Thurston off St. Louis rookie starter Kevin Hrdlicka.
Hrdlicka was making his first start of the season, in place of Walkers ace Jesse McNaboe who has been lost to the season with an elbow injury.
St. Louis tied it in the bottom of the fifth.
Hrdlicka drove in the run by getting down a bases-loaded bunt which scored Nathaniel Dixon.
Facing Grapplers starting pitcher Edwin Rivera, Dixon had reached on an error by Thurston at first base to open the inning.
A single by Abdul-Nasser bin Amr had moved Dixon to second.
Alfredo Gomez got down a bunt to put runners on second and third.
Jeff Morales was given an intentional walk, bringing Hrdlicka to the plate.
Rivera went seven innings, allowing the one run on four hits. He struck out five and walked one.
Hector Miro (1-0) worked a scoreless eighth and would earn the win.
Keith Kirby earned his eighth save.