wcthunderbolts.com

FLORENCE, KY – Despite 12 hits and a complete game from Jake Fisher, the ThunderBolts fell by a run to the Florence Freedom 3-2 in a Wednesday afternoon game at UC Health Stadium.

Fisher, who had won his previous four starts, ran into early trouble as the Freedom got singles from Daniel Fraga and Taylor Oldham in the first inning before Jose Brizuela doubled them both home to make it 2-0.

Coco Johnson answered with a solo home run in the third inning, cutting the lead in half. The homer was one of four hits in the game for Johnson.

Florence scored their third run in the fourth as Andrew Mercurio bunted his way on, stole second and crossed the plate just ahead of the throw on a Keivan Berges single.

Windy City got another run to once again whittle the deficit to one when Riley Krane singled and Ransom LaLonde doubled him in the fifth.

The story of the game for the Bolts, though, was missed opportunities. In the third, they loaded the bases with no outs and didn’t score. Johnson was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a two-out Keenyn Walker single in the sixth and LaLonde was cut down the same way when Johnson singled with two outs in the eighth. In all, they stranded 11 men on base, including six in scoring position.

Braulio Torres-Perez (2-0) picked up the win, allowing two runs on nine hits over 6.2 innings. Fisher (6-5) struck out six, walked none and allowed nine hits to take the loss. Pete Perez threw a perfect ninth for his fourth save.

The ThunderBolts and Freedom will battle in the rubber match of their three-game set on Thursday night. Clay Chapman (3-4, 4.32) will get the start against Florence’s Cody Gray (7-2, 3.32). First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 and the broadcast can be heard through wcthunderbolts.com.

Box Score