Normal Snaps Six Game Skid in Blowout of Windy City
Published on June 17, 2018 under Frontier League (FL)
Normal CornBelters News Release
CRESTWOOD, Ill. - Every CornBelter that started recorded a hit to snap their six-game skid in a 13-3 win over the (11-19) Windy City ThunderBolts.
After struggling to piece it together up at the plate in last night's loss, the Normal offense found it right away to begin game two as they batted around in the first and never looked back. Santiago Chirino began with an infield single. Derrick Loveless then doubled into left field to bring around Chirino for the first run of the game. The double also kept his consecutive on-base streak of 30 games.
The (12-18) CornBelters then loaded the bases and Joel Davis was hit by a pitch to bring in Loveless, which is the ninth Belter to be hit by a pitch in the last three games. A strikeout later, Cody Erickson kept the inning alive with a bases-clearing double down the left field line to conclude the five-run first. The top half marked the second time this season the Belters have scored five runs in the first, the other time was at Southern Illinois on May 30th.
The CornBelters added an insurance run in the next frame. Chi Chi knocked his second hit of the game for hit number 629. The three-time All-Star, then stole second and advanced to third from an error by the ThunderBolts catcher. Andrew Godbold doubled to increase the lead to 6-0.
Making his first start as a Belter, lefthander Ryan Lawlor looked to stop the six-game skid. He limited Windy City to two hits and two runs in four innings of work. The former Braves draft pick only walked two and struck out six to add to his total of 12 in only eight innings of work. Lawlor will move into the rotation due to Scott Sebald who officially signed with the Miami Marlins today.
In the fifth, Chris Iriart singled to bring in Lubach who leadoff with his first of two doubles to go up 7-2. The Belters continued to pile on the runs in the next frame. Justin Fletcher was brought in after a passed ball. With two outs, Lubach brought in the ninth run on a double to center field.
George Faue (1-0) made his second appearance on the season. One of three players from Northern Illinois University, he pitched three innings and only gave up one hit along with striking out three to earn his first win of the season.
Last night, the Normal bullpen gave up a four-run eighth, tonight the Belter bats put up their own. Sam Vega singled for his second hit and brought in two runs. Fletcher rounded out the inning with his third hit and second double of the game to bring around Vega and Erickson.
One of two new pitchers signed last week, Chris Weiss finished the eighth. In his back-to-back appearance, he only gave up one hit while fanning 1 and didn't allow any walks. Closer Kuehl McEachern got some work and finished the ninth to end the six-game losing streak.
Normal now aims to take the rubber match tomorrow at 5:05 p.m. and win their first series since the sweep of River City at the beginning of June.
Frontier League Stories from June 17, 2018
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- Florence Defeats Defending Champs on Father's Day - Florence Y'alls
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- Crushers Take Finale over Rascals - River City Rascals
- Slammers Sweep Gateway with Win on Sunday - Joliet Slammers
- Grizzlies Shut Out, Swept in Joliet - Gateway Grizzlies
- Normal Snaps Six Game Skid in Blowout of Windy City - Normal CornBelters
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