wcthunderbolts.com

CRESTWOOD, IL – Jake Welch threw a complete game and allowed only three base runners but found himself on the wrong end of a 1-0 final as the Washington Wild Things silenced a crowd of 2,624 and beat the ThunderBolts at Standard Bank Stadium Saturday night.

Welch retired the first nine Washington hitters of the game and the Windy City offense had it’s best scoring chance in the first inning. With one out, Tim Zier and Axel Johnson singled to put two on base. Chase Cunningham got Larry Balkwill to hit into a double play to get out of the inning. It was the first of three twin killings of the game.

Washington (47-36) got their first base runner when James Harris led off the fourth inning with a single. He scored on a Reydel Medina triple to give the Wild Things the only run of the game.

The ThunderBolts (35-49) outhit the Wild Things 7-3 in the game, but all seven hits were singles and they were unable to get anyone past second base against Chase Cunningham (7-5), who picked up the win by throwing eight shutout innings.

Zach Strecker allowed a single but nothing more as Zier was left at second base in the ninth. Strecker notched his 15th save.

Welch’s complete game was just the second of the year for the ThunderBolts and the first nine-inning game for any Windy City pitcher. After the fourth inning, Welch retired 16 batters before Roman Collins blooped a double in the ninth inning. Welch finished with four strikeouts and no walks but fell to 6-5 after the loss.

The rubber match between the ThunderBolts and Wild Things will be played on Sunday afternoon with Braulio Torres-Perez (2-4, 3.99) getting the start for Windy City. Washington counters with Dillon Sunnafrank (0-0, 0.00). Dave DiNaso’s Traveling World of Reptiles will be on hand for Family Day at Standard Bank Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 and the broadcast can be heard on WXAV 88.3 FM and wxav.com.

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