Mike Recchia
CRESTWOOD, IL – Mike Recchia set a Frontier League record by throwing his fifth complete game shutout of the season as the ThunderBolts defeated the Rockford RiverHawks 4-0 at Standard Bank Stadium Friday night.
Both Recchia and Rockford starter Cody Hallahan were on their games early. Neither starter allowed a run.
The Bolts had some good early chances, putting a man at third base in three consecutive innings, but were unable to get anyone in. Their best opportunity was their bases loaded, two out spot in the second that Hallahan was able to get out of. Windy City stranded eight men on base through six innings.
The RiverHawks never had so many baserunners. They had just four hits through six innings but nearly broke through in the seventh. After back-to-back walks, they had runners at first and second with two outs. Greg Van Horn singled up the middle and Jet Butler was waved around third base, but Bob Glover threw him out at the plate. Despite a collision, Zach Aakhus held on.
Glover came up big offensively in the bottom of the seventh, driving in the game’s first run. With the bases loaded, he flew out to center, scoring Travis Weaver. Ryan Cuneo’s two-out, two-run single brought home Mike Torres and Chris Wade to make it 3-0.
Windy City added one more run in the eighth when Brandon Decker scored on a wild pitch to seal the score at 4-0.
Recchia (10-2) struck out seven and scattered seven hits in his sixth complete game of the year. His fifth shutout broke a four-way tie for most in a Frontier League season. Hallahan pitched six shutout innings but Nelson Curry (0-1) took the loss in relief.
The ThunderBolts will continue their three-game series with the Rockford RiverHawks on Saturay. Game two will be Fireworks night as well as Church Night. Windy City will have Dustin Williams (9-4, 4.75) starting against Rockford’s Kyle Schepel (3-3, 1.61). The game starts at 6:05 and can be heard on WXAV, 88.3 fm and wxav.com.
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