May 20, 2017 4 min read

Perhaps all the Windy City ThunderBolts needed was a driving rainstorm to wash away a week’s worth of bad hitting.

The ThunderBolts rolled into Washington with an anemic .177 team batting average – worst in the Frontier League – and actually had it drop two points by the ninth inning of the series opener Friday night against the Wild Things. That’s when the rain began falling and the ThunderBolts started hitting.

Three hits gave Windy City a brief lead before the game was suspended one out later. When play resumed Saturday evening, the ThunderBolts kept on hitting, winning the completion of the suspended game 4-3 in 10 innings then producing 10 hits in a 3-1 victory in the seven-inning nightcap.

“We had some guys off to slow starts, and we played in some cold weather, but we’ve also had good at-bats where balls were hit hard right at people,” Windy City manager Ron Biga explained. “We have experienced hitters. None of the guys in the lineup are in their first year of pro ball. If we keep doing what we do on the mound and we get our bats going, then we won’t have to score many runs.”

Brady Muller (1-1) allowed one run over 5 1/3 innings in the second game for his first win over Washington in five career starts. He combined with two relievers on a seven-hitter.

Washington made it interesting in the final inning, loading the bases with two outs before ThunderBolts right fielder Austin Darby ran down Jace Conrad’s fly ball at the front of the warning track for the game’s final out.

The Wild Things, who won four of six road games to start the season, produced only four runs over their first two home outings.

“That was a little uninspiring, to be honest,” Washington manager Gregg Langbehn said. “You can’t give away games like we did.”

The Wild Things and ThunderBolts were tied 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth when Friday night’s home opener was halted because of rain. Washington starter Chase Cunningham had pitched seven shutout innings but Windy City scored three unearned runs with the rain falling in the ninth against two Washington relievers.

When the game was resumed Saturday, Washington had Kane Sweeney, the potential winning run, at first base with no outs.

That advantage didn’t last long as Sweeney was thrown out attempting to steal on the day’s first pitch.

Windy City catcher Larry Balkwill threw out four Washington base stealers in the two games.

Windy City strung together three consecutive hits, including Blair Beck’s single that scored Kyle Wood from third base, off Washington reliever Brian O’Keefe (0-1) to take a 4-3 lead in the 10th. Brian Loconsole (1-0), who gave up the tying run in the ninth-inning rain Friday night, retired all five batters he faced Saturday to get the win.

“Chase pitched a fantastic game. I know there were some difficult situations in the ninth with the weather but that’s no excuse for guys,” Langbehn said. “We have to get the final out.”

Beck, the ThunderBolts’ third baseman, drove in three more runs in the nightcap. His sacrifice fly in the first inning scored Coco Johnson. Beck laced a two-run single in the third off Washington starter Jordan Schwartz (0-1) in the third to make it 3-0.

Schwartz pitched four innings and was in trouble during each, allowing eight hits and two walks, but he managed to wiggle out of several full-blown jams.

“Jordan didn’t have his best stuff,” Langbehn said.

Relievers Matt Sable and Davis Adkins combined for three shutout innings and kept Washington within striking distance. Hector Roa tripled to open the bottom of the fifth and scored Washington’s lone run on a single by catcher Kyle Pollock to make it 3-1.

In the seventh, the Wild Things loaded the bases on two-out singles by Kenny Peoples-Walls and pinch-hitter Kyle Reese, and a walk by Rashad Brown. Reliever Scott Kuzminsky was credited with the save when Darby made the lunging catch on Conrad’s long drive.

“Offensively, there’s ebb and flow at this point,” Langbehn said. “We’re no different than any other team. We’re trying to figure out what we have and what we need to clean up.

“Their pitchers were great. They are experienced guys, while some of our hitters are new to this league and trying to figure things out.”