Windy City Uses Four Run 8th to Take Series Opener
Published on June 15, 2018 under Frontier League (FL)
Normal CornBelters News Release
CRESTWOOD, Ill. - The (11-18) Normal CornBelters had plenty of chances with runners on, but couldn't piece it together in a 7-2 loss against the (11-18) Windy City ThunderBolts on Friday night.
It didn't take long for Derrick Loveless to continue his consecutive on-base streak of 29 games. The former Blue Jays prospect went the other way for a single in the first.
Windy City returned from their nine-game road trip, on the right foot. An error from Sam Vega scored one run; the miscue was the sixth Normal error in three games. Then three pitches later from Landwehr, the ThunderBolts hit a two-run home run to take a 3-0 lead.
Joel Davis started the second with his first double as a Belter. Vega bounced back from his defensive mistake and doubled to right to bring in Davis. Out of his eight hits this season, the NIU graduate has four extra-base hits.
Normal chipped away at Standard Bank Stadium again in the next frame. Andrew Godbold hit a solo shot for his second home run of the season to cut the lead to one.
After giving up two earned runs in the first, Jack Landwehr (0-2) settled down and regained his composure. He went five innings, limiting the Bolts to only four hits. Although tagged with the loss, the Illinois State product picked up three strikeouts and only walked one to conclude his third career start as a CornBelter.
Jonathan de Marte pitched two perfect innings in the sixth and seventh to hold Windy City to a one-run lead. In his two appearances against the Bolts in 2018, he hasn't given up a hit and has struck out two.
The ThunderBolts starting pitching and bullpen went on to keep Normal off the board for the rest of the game. The Belters had plenty of chances, but couldn't piece it together as they had a batter reach in every inning including catcher Ryan Dickt who was hit by a pitch three times and drew a walk in the ninth. Normal concluded the series opener with stranding nine runners on base and bouncing into three double plays.
The bullpen and defense hurt the Normal comeback again. Trevor Simms left the eighth after giving up a run and loading the bases. Chris Weiss came in and got an infield fly, but the ball dropped between Vega and Santiago Chirino and allowed the runner on third to score. Then a single into center pushed the deficit to five runs.
Ryan Lawlor looks to snap the six-game losing streak, making his first start as a Belter tomorrow with first pitch at 6:05 p.m.
Frontier League Stories from June 15, 2018
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- Grizzlies Relinquish Lead, Fall in Joliet - Gateway Grizzlies
- Windy City Uses Four Run 8th to Take Series Opener - Normal CornBelters
- Encina Tosses Gem in Miners Shutout Loss - Southern Illinois Miners
- Slammers Continue Winning Streak Friday Night vs. Gateway - Joliet Slammers
- ThunderBolts End Slide with 7-2 Win - Windy City ThunderBolts
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- Beach Bums Drop Weekend Opener in Evansville - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Otters Topple Beach Bums in Series Opener - Evansville Otters
- Crushers drop fourth straight home game in 10-0 loss - Lake Erie Crushers
- Florence Scores Walk-Off Win in Opener - Schaumburg Boomers
- Wild Things Drop Series Finale at Gateway, Win Streak Ends at 9 - Washington Wild Things
- Piron, Grizzlies Salvage Series with Win - Gateway Grizzlies
- Normal Falls in Series Finale to Lake Erie - Normal CornBelters
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