SCHAUMBURG, IL – After sitting through a one-hour, 55-minute rain delay, the ThunderBolts fell just short in a 4-3 loss to the Schaumburg Boomers at Boomers Stadium Saturday night.
The Boomers scored in the first inning for the second straight night when the first two batters reached on singles. Justin Vasquez’s fielder’s choice scored Jordan Dean to put Schaumburg ahead 1-0.
The ThunderBolts tied the score three innings later when Kyle Robinson took the second pitch of the fourth inning over the left field wall for his fifth home run of the year.
The tie was short lived as the Boomers put together a big bottom of the fourth. With one out, Sean Mahley and Ryan McChesney hit back-to-back singles in front of Alexi Colon, who hit a three-run homer, making the score 4-1.
No one would score again until the eighth, when the ThunderBolts offense came to life. Jon Mestas led off with a single and he moved up on a wild pitch and a fly out. Robinson’s single scored Mestas to make it 4-2. Three batters later, Andrew Brauer singled home Robinson to make it a one-run game. The Bolts had the tying run on second but Boomers closer Dexter Price came in and struck out Justin Dalles on three pitches.
The ThunderBolts had another chance in the ninth when Ty Stetson singled and Mestas walked, putting runners at first and second with one out. Mike Torres moved the runners up on a groundout, but Robinson came up short in his bid for a fourth hit, grounding out to short to end the game.
Clark Labitan (2-2) pitched three shutout innings out of the Boomers bullpen to earn the win and Daniel Cropper (2-5) allowed four runs in six innings for the loss. Price earned his eighth save.
The ThunderBolts will try to avoid the sweep on Sunday afternoon. Game three will feature Jake Fisher (2-4, 5.65) starting for Windy City against Schaumburg’s Rey Rodriguez (1-2, 3.33). First pitch from Boomers Stadium is scheduled for 1:00 and the broadcast can be heard on WXAV 88.3 FM and wxav.com.
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