Three Rivers' Chad Wynn (11) is congratulated by teammates after he ties the game at 5-5 gainst Forest Park with a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning Saturday at Raider Field. (Alex Abate/DAR) [Click to enlarge]

By ALEX ABATE ~ DAR Sports Writer

The Raiders needed some late-inning heroics Saturday at Raider Field.

Three Rivers scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to win over Forest Park in the first game, 6-5, and left two runners stranded in the final frame in second game to hold on for a 1-0 win.

The Raiders went into the seventh of the first game down 5-3. After Nate Booker singled, Scott Hudgins and Mitch Thomson both flew out which left the game the game on the shoulders of Chad Wynn. Wynn came through with a home run to left center to tie the game at 5-5.

"He was leaving fastballs up since he came in so I was just sitting dead red," Wynn said. "I kind of figured it was (gone), I got all of it."

After the Wynn home run, Nick D'Amico reached on an error and Anthony Gower walked. Jared Hughes singled up the middle as D'Amico scored the sixth run for the win.

The Raiders (16-10, 12-6 XVI) have now won seven straight.

"It has gotten to the point where it has really gotten contagious for us where we are expecting good things to happen," Raiders coach Stacey Burkey said.

"It is somebody different stepping up each game and that is what a good team is all about."

The Raiders jumped in front before having to come back. In the first, Thomson singled with one out and scored on a Wynn triple to make it 1-0. D'Amico got an RBI as Wynn scored on his ground out to make it 2-0.

Forest Park got three runs in the second inning as the Raiders helped out with four errors. The Highlanders extended their lead in the third inning to 5-2 on an RBI double from Zac Helton.

Jason Hammer got the win for the Raiders as he threw a complete game and had six strikeouts.

In the second game, Ryne Millsap came in for Matt Malone with one out and a runner on second in the seventh. After a wild pitch and a walk, he struck out Cameron Dyer and catcher Shane Crossen threw out Tim Beck stealing to end the game.

"Millsap located the 0-2 fastball exactly where we wanted in that situation, up," Burkey said. "He was able to get the high fastball by the hitter and Shane was able to put the throw on the money. What a way to end a game, a double play in that fashion."

Malone pitched 6 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball for the Raiders as he made their lone run in the fourth inning hold up.

"He did a heck of a job and I think he was around 70 pitches," Burkey said. "He was ahead in the count a lot and he really got in good rhythm. He has been throwing some great bullpens for us and it is just a great example of a kid being ready when called upon."

Using only three pitchers over the course of the two games was key for the Raiders, who have two games today against Florissant Valley starting at 1 p.m.

"Hammer and Malone, we had to have some quality innings out of them because we are looking at a doubleheader tomorrow and one on Tuesday and we are getting stacked up with a lot of games here," Burkey said. "We were in a situation where we had to have those guys go some big innings for us and they certainly did step up."