EVANSVILLE, IN – Garrett Bullock threw seven shutout innings for Evansville and the host Otters defeated the Windy City ThunderBolts 2-0 at Bosse Field Sunday night.
Both starters were superb as Bullock and the ThunderBolts’ Tyson Corley each gave up only two hits over the first six innings.
The ThunderBolts had three baserunners in the first two innings but were unable to score and Bullock got into a groove after the second. He retired thirteen straight hitters, keeping the ThunderBolts in check in the middle innings.
Corley had not allowed a hit into the fourth, but he walked the leadoff hitter Taylor Black, who advanced to second on a groundout. The Otters’ first hit came off the bat of Nick Schwaner, a double to right field that scored Black to give Evansville the 1-0 lead.
In the sixth, Matt Sheely singled and moved to second on a throwing error. Corley departed and with Mark Kuzma in the game, Luis Parache singled to score Sheely and extend the lead to 2-0.
The Bolts had several chances to tie the game or take the lead in the late innings. They loaded the bases in the seventh on two singles and a walk, but Bullock struck out Weaver, his eighth strikeout of the game, to end that threat.
In the eighth, the Bolts put men on second and third with two outs, but Eric Massingham came out of the bullpen to strike out Zach Aakhus.
Brandon Decker led off the ninth with a single, his second hit of the game, but he was stranded at third as Massingham retired the last three hitters.
Bullock (2-4) earned the win while Corley (0-4) was the tough-luck loser. Massingham garnered his eighth save.
The rubber game at Bosse Field will be played Monday evening with Mike Recchia (4-2, 3.74) slated to take the hill for the Bolts. Matt Crim (0-5, 4.82) will counter for Evansville. The game begins at 6:35 p.m. CDT and the broadcast can be heard on WXAV, 88.3 fm and wxav.com.
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