Back-to-Back Nail-Biters go REX's Way as They Come From Behind to Beat Normal

The CornBelters opened the scoring in the bottom of the first. Caleb Royer singled in Tyler Thompson, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. Nolan McCrossin followed with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Smith to make it 2-0.

In the third, Jackson Stanek doubled to drive in Royer and Jackson Smith, while McCrossin advanced to third, extending the lead to 4-0.

REX responded in the top of the fifth. Nomar Garcia launched a two-run home run to left, scoring Jeremi Lara and cutting the lead to 4-2.

Normal answered in the bottom half. Stanek grounded out to second, bringing home Royer to make it 5-2.

The CornBelters kept rolling in the sixth. Thompson singled to right to drive in Cole Freeman, and Jack Novak moved up to third. Smith then hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Novak and stretching the lead to 7-2.

REX mounted a big rally in the seventh. Emil Estrella doubled to second, scoring Garcia. A wild pitch moved Felix Polanco to third and Wally Diaz to second, and Estrella scored. Gabe Wright then singled to short, bringing in Polanco, though Diaz was thrown out trying to take third. REX trimmed the deficit to 7-6.

Helped by a strong bullpen performance from Matt Cuzco and Nick Heitman in the 7th and 8th to hold the Cornbelter scoreless, and allowed REX offences to continue fighting back

In the eighth, REX tied it up and took the lead. Delvis Claudio reached on an error by the second baseman, allowing Ander Carter to score. Estrella followed with a single to left, bringing in Claudio. Polanco capped the inning with an RBI single to left, scoring Estrella and putting REX ahead 9-7.

Estrella and Garcia led the comeback charge with 2 hits and 2 RBIs apiece

Micah Vessely continued his dominance and rolled up a double play to close it out. REX sneak out of Normal with a huge come-from-behind win 8-7.

REX move up to 6-7

Normal fall to 5-8

REX will be back in action on June 12th for a double header against the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes