Crushers 5 Bolts 0
AVON, OH –Josh Spence threw the first complete game of his career Thursday night, but it was not enough for the ThunderBolts as they fell to the Lake Erie Crushers for the second straight day, 5-0 at All Pro Freight Stadium.
Ryan Hutchison’s two-run homer in the second got the scoring started. It was Hutchison’s second home run of the series.
In the third inning, the Crushers opened their lead up, sending eight men to the plate in a three-run inning. Craig Hertler started with a single and the bases were loaded on walks for Andrew Davis and Anderson Hidalgo. Vincent Mejia drove in one run on a single and Juan Sanchez made it 5-0 with a two-run base hit.
Spence settled in to start the fourth. He allowed just two hits the rest of the way and no Crusher moved beyond second base from the fourth inning on.
The ThunderBolts rarely threatened on offense against Lake Erie all-star Todd Kibby. Kibby gave up his first hit in the third, when Mike McGuckin and Ryan Soares hit back-to-back singles, but they were both left on base.
The Bolts’ best scoring chance came in the sixth. Garrett Carey dropped down a bunt single, and Kyle Robinson followed with a deep fly to right field. Ryan Hutchison made a leaping catch over the wall to rob Robinson of his 11th home run this year and, despite late doubles from Ryan Tufts and Ryan McIntyre, the Windy City offense could not push a run across.
Kibby (6-2) pitched seven four-hit innings for the win and Spence (0-6) took the loss in his 133-pitch effort.
The ThunderBolts and Crushers will wrap up their three-game set on Friday night. Eli Anderson (1-5, 6.81) will get the start in game three against Lake Erie’s Zac Treece (3-3, 3.29). First pitch from All Pro Freight Stadium is scheduled for 6:05 and the broadcast can be heard on WXAV 88.3 FM and wxav.com.
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