CRESTWOOD, IL – The ThunderBolts’ two-game winning streak came to an end Tuesday night as Josh Lowey silenced the Bolts bats and the River City Rascals came away with a 5-1 victory at Standard Bank Stadium.
The Rascals firs cracked the scoreboard in the top of the third. After an infield single and two hit batters loaded the bases, Stephen Holdren singled home a run with two outs and Logan Parker followed him up with a two-run single making it a 3-0 game.
Guido Fonseca’s control issues continued in the fourth. He walked two and gave up a base hit, filling the bases again before Doug Sanders’ sacrifice fly made it 4-0. Another walked chased Fonseca from the game but River City did not score again in the inning.
The ThunderBolt bullpen did their job as Shane Zegarac, Mike Scudero and Kurt Frymier combined to 4.1 scoreless innings, but River City starter Lowey rarely faced any trouble. He allowed three hits and three walks through six before a one-out Alex Chavez single in the seventh chased him from the game. Brandon Cunniff entered and the first batter he faced, Lee Rubin doubled home Chavez, producing the only Windy City run.
The ThunderBolts put two on in the seventh with two outs but Kirkland Rivers struck out Tyler Keeble to end the threat. In the eighth, the first two Bolts reached on walks but Derrick Miramontes got the next three men in succession to end that potential rally.
The Rascals added an insurance run in the ninth on an RBI single for Parker to seal the final result at 5-1.
Lowey picked up the win (8-2) while Fonseca lost (2-10) and Miramontes picked up his 13th save.
The rubber match of the series will be played on Thursday night at 7:05 at Standard Bank Stadium. It will be $1 beer night for Bud Light Thirsty Thursday. The ThunderBolts also expect to welcome the 1,00,000th fan in franchise history through the gates. Anyone who cannot attend can hear the game broadcast on WXAV 88.3 fm and wxav.com.
