Rodriguez dominant in ThunderBolts victory
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CRESTWOOD, IL – Ramon Rodriguez allowed only three hits over seven innings as the Windy City ThunderBolts cruised to a 6-1 win over the Evansville Otters at Ozinga Field Saturday night.
After an hour-long rain delay, the ThunderBolts (34-36) wasted no more time in jumping out to a lead. Rodriguez set the side down on eight pitches in the top of the first and with two outs in the bottom of the inning, Justin Fogel began a rally with a single. Michael Sandle followed with an RBI double and he scored one pitch later on a Daryl Ruiz single.
The Bolts added three more runs to the lead in the third. Sandle walked and stole a bag before Victor Cerny singled him home. Carlos Peña came up next and crushed a home run into the wind in right field, extending the lead to 5-0.
They brought home one more in the fifth when Ruiz doubled and came in on a Peña groundout.
Rodriguez retired the first eight batters of the game and, after allowing a baserunner each in the third and fourth, set down another eight in a row. The only time he was challenged was the seventh inning, when Marcos Gonzalez doubled, Evansville’s only extra base hit. He scored on a Dennis Pierce single to make the final 6-1.
In seven innings, Rodriguez (1-1) gave up just four base runners and struck out a career-high six, earning his first professional win. Garret Simpson (6-2) allowed six runs over six innings to take the loss.
The ThunderBolts and Otters will conclude the series with a doubleheader Sunday afternoon. The Bolts will use starting pitchers Tyler Wehrle (3-2, 4.30) and AJ Campbell (5-4, 5.74) and the Otters will counter with Ryan Wiltse (5-4, 4.04) and Landon Willeman (2-4, 5.71). First pitch for game one from Ozinga Field is set for 1:05 on JULIE Family Sunday with game two to follow. Both games will be seven innings and broadcast information can be found at wcthunderbolts.com.
