Fogel’s big day guides ThunderBolts to win
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POMONA, NY – Justin Fogel had five hits and four RBIs to lead the ThunderBolts to an 8-4 win over the New York Boulders at Clover Stadium Wednesday afternoon.
It took the Bolts (36-38) only six pitches to take the lead as Michael Sandle hit a first-inning double and Justin Fogel singled him in.
They added solo runs in both the second and third innings, getting a sacrifice fly from Tony Livermore and an RBI double from Fogel, as they extended their lead to 3-0.
New York (40-35) loaded the bases in the third inning and scored their first two runs with Jason Agresti and Norris McClure picking up RBI hits, but Tyler Biddinger got out of further trouble by striking out Jon LeGrande, the only Windy City strikeout of the day.
Fogel hit his second double of the game in the fifth inning and Jared Beebe hit a sacrifice fly that extended the lead to 4-2.
ThunderBolt pitchers issued 13 walks in the game and New York again put them in trouble in the sixth. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases before another base on balls forced in a run. The bases remained full with no outs but Zach Cameron got a double play grounder to slow down the threat. It was one of three bases-loaded double plays the Boulders hit into in the game.
The ThunderBolts pulled away as Fogel hit a solo home run in the seventh. A Carlos Pena RBI double made it 6-3. After a New York run in the bottom of the seventh, the Bolts put the first two runners in the eighth inning on with a walk and a hit by pitch. They capped the scoring with a Sandle sacrifice fly and Fogel RBI double.
Tyler Biddinger (3-2) allowed three runs in five innings for the win. Emmett Bice (2-3) took the loss, giving up four runs on 11 hits over six innings.
The rubber match is scheduled for Thursday night. Ramon Rodriguez (1-1, 4.58) makes the start for the Bolts against New York’s Gabriel Barrett (0-2, 11.05). First pitch from Clover Stadium is set for 6:00 CDT and broadcast details can be found at wcthunderbolts.com.
