Normal Splits Doubleheader against Windy City
May 26, 2018 - Frontier League (FL)
Normal CornBelters News Release
NORMAL, Ill - After getting rained out on Friday night, the Normal CornBelters spilt a Saturday evening doubleheader with the Windy City Thunderbolts.
It didn't take long for the Normal offense to get on the board in the series. Nick Cain hit a no-doubter out to left that almost left the stadium to put the Belters up 1-0.
After that, it was all Windy City and Billy Roth struggled on the mound. A hit-by-pitch then a balk moved the batter to second set up for a two-out home run to give the Thunderbolts a one-run advantage. Windy City continued to pour it on the Belters. Roth only lasted 2.1 innings and would be replaced by Mark Hendricks to finish the third as the Bolts put six runs.
Recently signed right-hander Jack Landwehr made his CornBelter debut in the fourth. A former Illinois State Redbird, he held the Bolts scoreless. Landwehr pitched four innings, allowed four hits, and picked up three strikeouts.
Normal showed life in the fifth. Derrick Loveless hit a ground-rule-double into right-center to continue his hit streak of 13 games. He moved another 90 feet after a wild pitch by the Windy City starting pitcher. Chris Iriart drew a walk then Cody Erickson reached on a hit-by-pitch. Tyler Beckwith came up and knocked his first hit as a Belter to bring in two and cut the deficit to five.
Tanner Lubach cut the Thunderbolts lead in half after he homered to left in the sixth, but Normal would fall 8-4 in the first game.
GAME 2
"One thing we preach to these guys is that we just want to win every series, but you come out in the first game of the series and you lose, it's a little tough to swallow, but the good news is we got a game 30 minutes later," said CornBelters Manager Billy Horn.
Windy City jumped to a two nothing lead after Matthews walked two and hit by pitch with two outs, loading the bases for the Thunderbolts. A double scored two, but the relay from Derrick Loveless to Justin Fletcher ended with Tanner Lubach tagging out the runner at home.
The CornBelters responded in the bottom half. Lubach doubled then Loveless continued his on-base streak (14) with a walk. Iriart flew out, which moved them up another base. After being activated for game two, Justin Fletcher didn't waste any time to help the Belters. He hit a sac fly to left to bring in Lubach. Then an error by the third basemen brought in Loveless to tie the game.
In the third, Santiago Chirino singled to tie for second all-time in the Frontier lLeague with 611 hits. The shortstop now only needs 25 more hits to pass Chris Sidick for the all-time hit record. He also leads the league with 23 hits on the season.
After a scoreless frame in the third, Windy City regained the lead (3-2) after a single brought in a runner that reached on an error.
Normal tied the game in the fifth. Erickson knocked his third double of the season. He would be later brought in after Bauer reached on an error.
Kevin Matthews didn't have his best stuff, but worked his way of trouble multiple times. The former Richmond Spider limited the damage to two runs in five innings and picking six strikeouts along the way.
"In the second game, Matthews gave us five good innings, had a little trouble with command, but he got out of everyone of his jams that he got into."
In making his team-leading 10th appearance, Anthony Herrera (1-1) came into complete the sixth and he did it in style. The converted infielder only needed six pitches that included his fifth strikeout. He now has 0.96 ERA in 9.1 innings of work along with one save and a win.
The Belter offense caught fire in the bottom of the sixth. Lubach started it off with his fifth home run (2nd in the league) to put Normal up 4-3. Iriart started the two-out rally on a ground rule double into right center. Fletcher came up big once again and single to put runners on the corners. Erickson walked to put ducks on the pond. Beckwith who had been struggling up at the plate found it a perfect time. He singled to left and brought in two more insurance runs to put the Belters up 6-3.
"Tanner (Lubach) called a great game, the kid is swinging the bat and he is really something special. We had a couple key injuries so we decided to move him up in the four spot and its paid dividends."
"The Lone Ranger," Trevor Simms, was called on to close the final game of the doubleheader. Windy City put up a run on Simms, but he would settle down to pick up his first save on the year.
"Garcia (Jacinto) will have the ball tomorrow and we will have a full bullpen."
The CornBelters look to take the rubber game tomorrow with first pitch at 6:05 p.m.
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