The Windy City ThunderBolts hit three homeruns en route to a 6-2 win over the River City Rascals.
The win expanded the ThunderBolts lead in the West Division to 2.5 games over both River City and the Southern Illinois Miners.
Windy City took the lead straight away in the first inning as Gilberto Mejia walked, moved to second on a groundout, stole third and came home on a Kraig Binick single for a 1-0 Bolts lead. The lead would go to 2-0 the next inning as with two outs; Wilson Matos crushed the first pitch he saw from Daniel Howard over the leftfield fence for a solo homer.
The Rascals would get a run on a sacrifice fly from Jo-Jo Batten in the bottom of the fifth inning, but J. T. Restko would get the run back for the ThunderBolts in the top of the next inning as he drilled his 15th homer of the season, putting Windy City up 3-1.
The ThunderBolts would expand the led in the seventh as with Matos on first, Vinnie Scarduzio pounded a Howard offering over the rightfield fence for a two-run homer and a 5-1 Bolts advantage.
River City got a run in the bottom of the seventh on a Danny Sawyer homer, but Windy City rallied again in the bottom of the eighth as they plated an unearned run on a Gil Zayas single to go back up by four.
Ricky Meinhold (2-0) pitched six good innings for Windy City allowing five hits and two runs in getting the win. Daniel Howard (4-5) took the loss for River City.
The ThunderBolts have Monday off before returning home for a six game homestand starting with the Florence Freedom coming to town on Tuesday. Matt Jernstad (3-4, 3.50) starts for the Bolts against Everett Saul (9-5, 5.53) for Florence. Tuesday is Baldy Sour Night at Standard Bank Stadium. All fans coming to the game who participate in the pregame head shaving event to support St. Baldrick’s will receive free admission as well as a voucher for a hot dog and a soda. For information or tickets, call 708-489-BALL or visit the team’s website at
www.wcthunderbolts.com
