The ThunderBolts completed their fourth straight series victory Friday night as Sean Toler pitched six solid innings in a 4-2 victory over the Kalamazoo Kings at Homer Stryker Field in Kalamazoo.
For the first time in the series, the Bolts scored first as, with two outs, Pete Paris and Ryne White hit back-to-back singles. Michael Torres hit a groundball up the middle for an infield hit and when Jeff Helps booted the ball, Paris was able to come all the way around from second to put Windy City on top 1-0.
The Kings answered in the bottom of the inning with a manufactured run as Lee Rubin singled, moved up on a walk and a sacrifice bunt and scored on a Bryan Marquez groundout.
Windy City once again gained the lead on Zach Aakhus’s second home run of the year, a solo shot in the fourth inning. But once again, Kalamazoo answered in the same inning when Matt Greener walked and scored on a Destan Makonnen double.
The double, though, was the last hit Toler would give up over six innings. Overall he allowed just two and struck out six in improving to 3-0 with the ThunderBolts.
Pitching problems began for Kalamazoo in the fifth when David Goodenough departed with an injury. His replacement, Tyler Hyde loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth on a walk and two singles. He then hit Brandon Anderson, bringing in Paris, and walked Ryan Basham, scoring Torres.
That was the last of the scoring, and Brandon Garner, Greg Johnson and Nick Hall pitched the final three innings for the Bolts, not allowing a run. Hall picked up his ninth save. Hyde took the loss, falling to 1-1.
The Bolts are back in action Saturday as they come home for a three-game series with the Traverse City Beach Bums, who are currently one game ahead of Windy City in the East division. The ThunderBolts send Dustin Williams (3-3) to the mound against Traverse City’s Ryan Platt (7-2). The game starts at 7:05 on fireworks night at Standard bank Stadium. It can be heard on WXAV 88.3 fm and wxav.com.
