Bolts 1 Crushers 0
CRESTWOOD, IL—The ThunderBolts took a rain-shortened first game of their three-game series against the visiting Lake Erie Crushers with a 1-0 victory.
Before play was suspended between the top and bottom of the sixth inning, starter Travis Tingle had been pitching a gem, but he had some difficulties early. In the bottom of the first with two outs and runners on first and second, Lake Erie right fielder Seth Granger singled to right. But Windy City right fielder and inaugural Frontier League Player of the Week Ryan McIntyre came up with a strong throw to get the runner out at the plate and end the first-inning threat.
It took a few more batters before Tingle settled down completely. After allowing a single to Crushers third baseman Anderson Hidalgo in the third inning, Tingle retired 11 consecutive batters, including four strikeouts. One of those strikeouts came in a 10-pitch Seth Granger at-bat to end the third-inning threat. Tingle finished with six strikeouts in six innings while allowing four hits.
Windy City got their lone run of the game in the bottom of the second when Kyle Robinson hit a one-out double into the gap in right centerfield. Max White, the Frontier League’s leader in RBIs, came to the plate and delivered a single up the middle to put the Bolts up 1-0. That was all they would need in the rain-shortened ballgame.
With the win, Travis Tingle is now 1-0 on the season, while Lake Erie starter Roberto Padilla moves to 0-1.
The ThunderBolts will take on the Crushers in game two on Wednesday morning. First pitch from Standard Bank Stadium is scheduled for 10:35 CDT and Victor Larez (0-0, 4.50) will make his first start of the year for the Bolts against Lake Erie’s Mickey Jannis (1-0, 3.60). Fans not in attendance can hear the Internet broadcast on meridix.com.
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