Belters 3 Bolts 2
NORMAL, IL – The Normal CornBelters erased an early two-run deficit to take a come-from-behind win from the ThunderBolts for the second straight night, 3-2 at The Corn Crib on Thursday.
Jonathan Garcia started the scoring for the ThunderBolts (5-12) in the top of the first. Mike Torres walked in front of Garcia, who launched his first home run of the year to make it 2-0.
The CornBelters (14-4) answered in kind in the bottom of the inning. Cameron Monger walked and Pat McKenna hit his league-leading eighth home run this year to tie the score at two.
The ThunderBolts had a good scoring chance in the second inning when Max White doubled and Ryan Deitrich singled to put runners at the corners with no outs, but Leondy Perez retired the next three batters and did not allow a run.
Normal struck again in the fifth inning, when Cameron Monger reached on a fielder’s choice. He stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. With two outs, McKenna drove him in on a single to give the CornBelters their first lead of the game.
Windy City had several more chances, outhitting Normal 9-4 in the game. The Bolts, though, hit into three double plays late in the game and stranded seven runners. In the eighth, they hit three singles but could not score the tying run.
Perez allowed two runs in five innings and won in his first start of the year while Austin Wright (1-3) allowed three runs in five innings, taking the loss. Race Parmenter threw two scoreless frames for his second save.
The ThunderBolts return home to begin a season-long eight-game homestand on Friday. The Rockford Aviators will make their only trip to Crestwood this season for a three-game series. Zak Wasserman (0-1, 10.00) gets the start for the Bolts. The series opener will also be Budweiser Fill ‘R Up Friday at Standard Bank Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 and fans not in attendance can hear the broadcast at wcthunderbolts.com.
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