Sean Toler pitched a complete game shutout and led the ThunderBolts to their 13th consecutive home win Tuesday night as the Bolts defeated the Evansville Otters 5-0 at Standard Bank Stadium.
The ThunderBolts gave Toler some early support in the second inning when Jeremy Hamilton singled with one out and scored on Michael Torres’s sixth double of the season.
That was about all that Toler needed, but he did face a little trouble in the third. Billy Killian led off with an infield single and Andre Alvarado followed him with a line drive single to right, the only two hits the Otters would get the entire game. Nick D'Amico tried to bunt them over but was ruled out when his bat touched the live ball. The ensuing argument resulted in the ejection of manager Andy McCauley. The play also killed the Evansville rally, which ended with Killian at third.
Toler allowed just two base runners the rest of the game. He walked Alvarado in both the fifth and seventh innings, but the Otters shortstop never made it beyond first base.
The Windy City offense delivered the knockout punch in the seventh inning. They knocked Evansville starter Cameron Aspaas, who had been excellent through six, out of the game with a walk and two hits, including a Brandon Anderson RBI single. The reliever, Chris Rollins, allowed both inherited runners to score on a Gilberto Mejia single. JT Restko knocked in Mejia to finish the scoring.
Sean Toler, whose career long had been six innings, threw 121 pitches in the complete game victory, improving to 5-0 on the season. Aspaas fell to 3-1.
The Bolts and Otters continue their series on Wednesday at 7:05. It is St. Baldrick’s Shave to Save Night. Any fan that gets their head shaved at the gate receives free admission. The event will benefit the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, fighting kids’ cancer. Donations can be made at www.stbaldricks.org. If you cannot make the game, it will be broadcast on WXAV 88.3 fm and wxav.com.
