The Windy City ThunderBolts Nate Hall collected four hits and Dylan Axelrod pitched seven fantastic innings as the Windy City ThunderBolts routed the Traverse City Beach Bums 12-2.
In the first inning with two outs, the Beach Bums seemed to get out of the inning on a fly ball by Vinnie Scarduzio. Centerfielder Mike Epping did not pick the ball up the ball off the bat as it dropped in front of him and between the shortstop and second baseman. Scarduzio, hustling all the way made it all the way to second with a double. J. T. Restko made Traverse City pay for the extra out as he drilled a long homerun down the line for a 2-0 Windy City lead.
Two innings later, the ThunderBolts broke the game wide open. With three runs already in, two on a Nate Hall double, Bryan Cook came up and drove out his sixth homer of the season, his first since June 23, putting Windy City up 7-0. A Guillermo Martinez single later in the inning drove home Dan Jordan, making it 8-0.
The Bolts would score two more in the fifth on a triple by Vinnie Scarduzio. Two more came over in the eighth off reliever Jared Locke. Traverse City would plate single runs in the eighth and ninth to cement the final score.
The runs came in support of Dylan Axelrod (2-0) who was magnificent going a career high seven innings, not allowing a run, walking none and striking out a career high seven. Brett Bostelman (5-2) game up nine runs (eight earned) in taking the loss.
Saturday will continue the Beach Bums series with Brandon Garner (1-1, 6.26) on the mound for Windy City against Jason Kiley (3-5, 4.64) for Traverse City. Saturday is the Best Bang for Nine Bucks as Thrivent Financial for Lutherans presents postgame fireworks. 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.
