Rascals 16 Bolts 7
CRESTWOOD, IL – The ThunderBolts allowed a season-high 16 runs as the River City Rascals sent them to their second consecutive defeat, 16-7 in the series opener at T.R. Hughes Ballpark Friday night.
The ThunderBolts (29-40) got off to a strong start with a Mike Torres solo homer in the top of the first. They proceeded to load the bases with one out but didn’t score again.
The Rascals (38-32) responded with a three-run first. Brian Hansen tripled and Taylor Ard hit his league-leading 22nd home run.
The Bolts were able to tie the score in the fourth. Marquis Riley picked up an RBI single and an error brought home another run.
The tie did not last long as the Rascals scored 11 runs over the next two innings. They put up six on six hits in the fourth with Josh Silver and Zach Kometani picking up RBI doubles and Jackson Slaid and Danny Canela hitting RBI singles. Their five-run fifth inning featured only two hits with a walk and an error. Ard’s double was the only RBI hit in the frame.
The Bolts brought the bats back out in the seventh inning, scoring four runs on five straight two-out hits. Max White had an RBI single and Cody Keefer, who had three hits in the game, and Jacob Tanis hit back-to-back run-scoring doubles to cut the deficit to 14-7.
It was too little too late for Windy City, though as the Rascals added solo runs in the eighth and ninth to finish the 16-7 win.
Dane Stone (6-3) pitched 6.2 innings, allowing five earned runs for the win and Zak Wasserman (3-4) went 3.2 innings, giving up 12 hits in the loss.
The ThunderBolts and Rascals will continue their three-game series on Saturday. Danny Jimenez (3-7, 4.46) takes the hill for Windy City against River City’s Tommy Lawrence (1-0, 4.76). First pitch from T.R. Hughes Ballpark is scheduled for 6:35 and the broadcast can be heard on WXAV 88.3 FM and wxav.com.
Box Score
