CRESTWOOD, IL – The ThunderBolts scored four unanswered runs to erase an early 2-0 deficit on their way to a 4-2 win over the Schaumburg Boomers at Standard Bank Stadium Friday night.
Travis Tingle started for Windy City and after a 1-2-3 first inning, the Boomers got to him in the second. A single, a stolen base and an error put runners at the corners for Mark Nelson, who drove in a run on a base hit. Two batters later, Mike Valadez’s single scored Ty Nelson to make it 2-0. The Boomers then loaded the bases with one out, but Tingle got Bobby Martin to hit into a double play to finish the inning.
The ThunderBolts would not respond until the fourth, when they played small ball to get their first run in. Evan Button led off with a single and advanced on a wild pitch and a groundout before Jon Mestas’s groundout scored him from third.
The Bolts took the lead for the first time in the sixth with Kyle Robinson and Button beginning the inning with a single and a double respectively. With runners at the corners, Andrew Brauer grounded to short to bring in the tying run. Mestas’s single scored Button, making it 3-2.
They added an insurance run the following inning as Mike Torres reached on a walk and Robinson later singled him in.
Tingle (2-1) allowed just one earned run in his 6.2 innings to earn the win and his bullpen threw 2.1 scoreless innings, including the ninth, in which Reese McGraw struck out three for his first save. Cal Bowling (3-3) gave up three runs in five innings for the Boomers, taking the loss.
The Bolts and Boomers continue their series on Saturday night. Jason Kafka (0-0, 5.56) will start game two for the ThunderBolts and Schaumburg will start Anthony Smith (2-1, 3.26). It is Beatles Night at Standard Bank Stadium with a fireworks show following the game. First pitch from Standard Bank Stadium is scheduled for 6:05 and the broadcast can be heard on WXAV 88.3 FM and wxav.com.
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