Josh Horn and Brett Amyx slugged back-to-back homers in a four-run fifth inning, the second of two home runs for Amyx, leading the Windy City ThunderBolts (5-9) to a come-from-behind 7-5 victory over the Kalamazoo Kings (9-5) on Wednesday night at Homer Stryker Field.
Windy City trailed Kalamazoo, 5-2, entering the fifth, but Scott Billak knocked an RBI double and Horn crushed his second home run of the season to tie the game against Kings starter Sam Mann. Joe DiPietro (0-2) came on to relieve Mann and was quickly greeted by Amyx's roundtripper of the season, giving Windy City the lead for good.
Amyx, who entered the game without an extra-base hit for the season, had previously struck a solo home run in the second inning.
The 'Bolts' designated hitter added an RBI single in the seventh. That was all the Windy City bullpen needed, as five pitchers combined to allow one run over seven strong innings in relief of starter Brock Hunton.
Josh Lowey (1-0), the first of those relievers, earned the victory with 2 2/3 innings, striking out six batters while allowing four hits and one run.
Desmond Jones, Isaac Hess, Anthony Rebyanski and Matt Petty followed in succession, putting together 4 1/3 hitless frames. Petty pitched around an error in a scoreless ninth, recording his first save of the season.
The game was delayed 33 minutes at the start due to rain.
Having split the first two games of the series, Windy City and Kalamazoo play the rubber match on Thursday at 6:05 CDT. Stephen Flake (2-0, 1.93) will take the mound for the ThunderBolts coming off a complete-game victory in his previous start. �
The 'Bolts return home following the game's conclusion for a six-game homestand beginning Friday, June 6. Tickets are available through the team's website, www.wcthunderbolts.com; at the Standard Bank Stadium box office; or by calling 708-489-BALL during office hours.
