Chirino One Hit Away From Tying The All-Time Hit Record
June 22, 2018 - Frontier League (FL)
Normal CornBelters News Release
SAUGET, Ill. - The (14-20) Normal CornBelters struck out 14 and didn't allow any walk as Santiago Chirino moved to just one hit away from tying the all-time hit record in the Frontier League, all while falling 2-1 to the (17-21) Gateway Grizzlies on Friday night.
In his second start as a Belter, Ryan Lawlor was wheeling and dealing. The southpaw entered tonight with a total of 12 strikeouts and went on to add 11 more as he dominated the Gateway bats. If that wasn't enough, Lawlor didn't allow any walks as well and just three hits. However, the two solo home runs he gave up in the first and fourth resulted in his first loss of the season.
"It was just Ryan Lawlor," said First-year manager Billy Horn. "A guy that just doesn't belong in this league. His fastball and breaking ball are well above average, he drills up the zone and no walks. 90, 92 from the left side, and I really don't think he will in a Belter uniform much longer."
Santiago Chirino didn't waste any time trying to tie the all-time hit record (635) and becoming the new hit king in the series opener. He singled in his first at-bat and doubled in the next, the Belter Veteran only needs just one more hit to tie the Frontier League record. When this is reached, he will have done it one less season than Chris Sidick, who owns the record.
After Lawlor left the game, Jonathan de Marte came in and picked up right where his starter left off. The former Richmond Spider went two innings, striking out three Grizzlies along with not allowing any walks and just one hit. The 14 combined strikeouts tied the season high in a game for Normal.
"Another guy that shouldn't be in a CornBelter uniform, he should be in an organization, no doubt about it. 93,94, and 95, he builds it up. Above average fastball, changeup, and cutter. Both of those guys (Lawlor and de Marte) pitched their tails off tonight and we deserved to win."
The CornBelters almost tied the low scoring affair in the eighth. With Godbold on second, Tanner Lubach knocked a single, but Godbold was thrown out on a bang-bang play at the plate by the Gateway left fielder to keep the 2-1 lead.
The lone Normal run came in the fifth inning off a two-out single from Godbold to bring in Justin Fletcher who led off the inning with a double. The Derrick Loveless consecutive on-base streak ended tonight at 33 games.
Both teams combined for a total of 29 strikeouts tonight, the Belters look to even the series tomorrow with sending Jacinto Garcia to the mound and first pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
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