REX defeats Paints for Eastern Conference Championship

The Basics
Score: REX Baseball 4, Chillicothe Paints 2
Records: REX Baseball (34-23, 2-0), Chillicothe Paints (37-21, 1-1)
Location: VA Memorial Stadium - Chillicothe, Ohio

CHILLICOTHE, OH  – 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 game one before traveling to the Illinois Valley for game two and if necessary game three.

REX struck first in the Eastern Conference Championship, putting up 2 runs in the top of the 1st 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 2nd before REX pushed across 2 more runs in the top of the 3rd. 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 3rd. Moss would not allow a run until the 8th, in total going 8 innings, 5 hits, 1 unearned run, no walks, and 4 strikeouts on 87 pitches.

On the other side of the mound, the Paints starter Scotty Adelman could not escape the 3rd. Adelman gave up all 4 runs, allowing 5 hits with 3 walks and 4 strikeouts. 

Jack Rollo entered for the Paints and went the rest of the way with 6 innings, 5 hits, no runs, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts.

The Paints began what looked like the comeback off Moss in the 8th as Ty Hatfield hit a sacrifice fly to score Felix Polanco. However, Clay Burdette was caught trying to steal second with 2 outs, and the Paints rally ended with REX leading 4-1 after the 8th.

The last shot for the Paints came in the 9th as Breyllin Suriel entered for REX. The Paints got to one of the best closers in the Prospect League putting 2 runners on and scoring a run on a Cameron Bowen 2-out double. But that was all as Suriel completed his 9th 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 5th of the season, lowering his season ERA to 1.51.

• Adelman took the loss, his 1st 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 2 hits and 2 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.

Up Next
REX advances to the Prospect League Championship Series and will face the Western Conference Champion Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp. REX will host game one on Monday, August 5th at 6:35 PM (ET) at Bob Warn Field at Sycamore Stadium in Terre Haute, Indiana.