CRESTWOOD, IL – Dustin Williams allowed just two hits over seven innings and the ThunderBolts hit two six inning home runs to defeat the Joliet Slammers 4-2 at Standard Bank Stadium Saturday night.
Neither pitcher, Williams for the Bolts and Wander Alvino for the Slammers, had allowed a hit through four innings until Brandon Decker led off the bottom of the fifth with a single. After a Jareck West walk and Zach Aakhus sacrifice, Decker scored on a Bryan Burke two-out infield single.
Joliet did not have a hit into the sixth, but Williams walked two with two outs in front of Zach Mandelblatt, who hit a liner to center to score Hector Pellot. Travis Weaver’s error on a Brad Netzel liner brought Erik Lis home and gave the Slammers a 2-1 edge.
It did not last long as Chad Cregar tied up the game on a solo homer with one out in the bottom of the sixth. Two batters later, after an Andy Chriscaden single, Brandon Decker homered as well, putting the ThunderBolts back in front, 4-2.
Williams finished out the seventh inning and departed, having allowed only two hits and striking out six. Matt Costello and Shane Zegarac combined to record the final six outs, sending the ThunderBolts to their third consecutive win.
Williams (5-2) tied the league lead with his fifth win and is now just one away from tying the franchise record. Alvino (1-2) pitched 5.2 innings in the loss. Zegarac earned his third save.
The ThunderBolts will take on the Slammers in game two on Sunday night, Standard Bank Family Night at Standard Bank Stadium. Blayne Weller (0-0, 4.05) will get the start for Windy City against Joliet’s Tommy Mendoza (3-2, 4.46). The game begins at 5:05 and the broadcast can be heard on WXAV, 88.3 fm and wxav.com.
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