CRESTWOOD, IL – Tyson Corley threw a complete game but the Grizzlies defeated the ThunderBolts 1-0 at Standard Bank Stadium Thursday night. It was a three-game sweep for the Grizzlies, the first time the Bolts have been swept this year.
Corley and Gateway starter Alex Kaminsky were locked in a pitchers’ duel early. The teams combined for just three hits through five innings.
The Grizzlies finally broke the scoreless tie in the sixth inning. Richie Jimenez was hit by a pitch to lead off and Jonathan Johnson bunted his way aboard. A passed ball moved the runners to second and third and Chris McClendon’s sacrifice fly gave the Grizzlies a 1-0 lead.
The ThunderBolts loaded the bases on a single and two walks in the bottom of the inning. With one out, though, Kaminsky got Chris Wade and Chad Cregar to pop out and the score remained 1-0.
The following inning, the Bolts put two men on with one out again when C.J. Gillman reached on an error and Ryan Cuneo doubled. This time it was reliever Jordan Cudney who induced two pop outs to retire the side.
The Bolts did not have another baserunner the rest of the way as Richard Barrett got the final three outs.
Corley walked just one and struck out eight, allowing just three hits. It was the second straight 1-0 loss for Corley, dropping his record to 4-8. Kaminsky, who extended his scoreless streak to 25.2 innings, improved to 10-4. Barrett picked up his 16th save.
The loss drops the Bolts to a game out of the playoffs.
The Bolts will head to Southern Illinois to start a three-game series with the Miners on Friday. Stephen Sauer (7-6, 3.72) will start game one for the ThunderBolts against Southern Illinois’ David Harden (9-4, 3.20). The game is scheduled to begin at 7:05 and the broadcast can be heard on sportsjuice.com.
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