Kyle Wright pitched a complete game, three-hitter as the Rockford RiverHawks routed the Windy City ThunderBolts 15-2.
Rockford did a good job of small ball in the first two innings as they plated a run in each inning, however, neither run scored on a play that involved a hit. In the first, Mike Goetz came home on a groundout by Ross McCoy. The second inning saw Jono Brooks score on a sacrifice fly by Ben Blumenthal to go up 2-0.
The ThunderBolts would put a run on the board in the third as Tyler Farrar reached on an error and moved to third on an errant pickoff attempt by Kyle Wright. Two batters later, Gilberto Mejia doubled, scoring Farrar and extending his hitting streak to 14 games, cutting the Rockford lead to 2-1.
The RiverHawks would tack on to their lead in a big way in the fifth inning as after the first out of the frame was recorded, Rockford recorded seven straight singles to score five runs to take a 7-1 lead. The advantage would be pushed further in the sixth as Robbie Knapp launched a 3-run homer to left to make it 10-1 Rockford. The RiverHawks would push an unearned run over the seventh inning to make it 11-1. Another four runs in the eighth made t 15-1. Bryan Cook homered in the ninth for the Bolts to seal the final score.
Kyle Wright (2-1) picked up the win for the RiverHawks, going the distance allowing three hits and two runs, walking two and striking out six. Tyler Kelsey (2-1) took the loss for Windy City. A bright spot for ThunderBolts was Billy Petrick, who became just the fifth player with Major League experience to appear in a Frontier League game.
Windy City remains on the road on Wednesday at Rockford. Shane Zegarac (1-1, 8.74) will start for the ThunderBolts against Brett Durand (2-0, 3.86) for the RiverHawks. Wednesday and Thursday’s games against the RiverHawks will air on 88.3 FM, WXAV. You can also follow the ThunderBolts on Facebook and Twitter or for information or tickets, call 708-489-BALL stop by the Standard Bank Stadium ticket office or go to the team’s website at
www.wcthunderbolts.com.
