Freedom 3 Bolts 0
CRESTWOOD, IL – Jordan Kraus held the ThunderBolts to just two singles as the Florence Freedom shutout the Bolts for the second time in three days, 3-0 in front of 2713 fans at Standard Bank Stadium’s Big Splash Day III presented by Pirate’s Cay Indoor Water Park.
The Freedom (24-33) scored the only run they would need in the top of the second inning. Josh Henderson walked and went to third on an Isaac Wenrich double. Mason Salazar picked up his first RBI of the game on a groundout, scoring Henderson.
Corey Bass walked in the first inning for the ThunderBolts (27-30), who did not get another baserunner until there were two outs in the fifth. Johnny Eierman’s single snapped the no-hitter and a string of 12 straight batters retired. Eierman was left at first base.
Salazar went deep on the first pitch of the fifth inning to extend the Florence lead to 2-0. Later in the inning, Daniel Fraga walked and scored on a Taylor Oldham double, adding another run.
The ThunderBolts bullpen held the Freedom hitters down the rest of the way, not allowing a hit after the fifth.
Windy City could not get going, however, on the offensive end. After the Eierman single, Kraus retired another 11 in a row before Tim Zier singled with one out in the ninth. He was the only man to reach in the inning as Kraus finished his complete game.
Kraus (4-5) struck out seven and only allowed three men to reach base, all of whom were stranded at first. Brady Muller (2-6) took the loss, allowing three runs in 4.1 innings.
The ThunderBolts take Thursday off and return to the field Friday night in game one against the Gateway Grizzlies at Standard Bank Stadium. It is Fill ‘R Up Friday with $1.25 beer all night and Dueling Pianos will be featured postgame on a JULIE, Inc. Late Night Friday. Jake Fisher (5-4, 4.15) will get the start for the Bolts. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 and the game broadcast can be heard through wcthunderbolts.com.
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