For the second time in a week, the ThunderBolts split a doubleheader at Standard Bank Stadium against the Oakland County Cruisers. The Bolts took game one 2-1 then fell in the second contest 3-1.
Andrew Werner started game one and pitched well for the ThunderBolts allowing just one run in five innings of work. That lone run was scored by Oakland County in the fourth inning when Joash Brodin, Jeremy Jones and Robbie Tolan each hit singles, Tolan’s scoring Jones.
The Cruisers’ run was a response to the ThunderBolts’ third inning tally. Windy City scored when Kent Gerst doubled and eventually came in on a wild pitch. Aside from that inning, Kevin Asselin shut down the Bolts.
The two bullpens carried the game into extra innings and in the eighth, with the bases loaded, Michael Torres drew a walk forcing in new ThunderBolt Ryan Basham for a 2-1 victory. Nick Hall (3-1) picked up the win and Robinson Polanco (0-1) suffered the loss.
Game two was an even better pitcher’s duel between Dustin Williams and James Albury. Williams gave up just two hits in the first five innings, but they were both in the third inning resulting in a Cruiser run on Zach Pace’s RBI double. Albury was untouchable early. He was perfect through four and a third when Tim Alberts hit a long home run to left, his third of the season and the Bolts’ only hit of the game. It tied the score at one.
The tie was broken in the sixth. With two on and two out, Dustin Williams was lifted for Greg Johnson. The next batter, Martin Parra knocked in a pair on a single to give Oakland County a 3-1 lead. They would hold on by that score with Albury (5-1) pitching six great innings and P.J. Zocchi earning his league-leading twelfth save. Dustin Williams (0-2) was the tough luck loser.
These two teams wrap up their three-game series Friday night at 7:05 at Standard Bank Stadium. Brent Solich (2-3) takes the hill for Windy City with Nolan Shaffer (1-4) countering for the Cruisers. The game can be heard on WXAV 88.3 fm.
